Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-08-09
Tired Little Book EgpYp.

She rested her head against the high
back of the couch, and hastily closed
her eyes, but not until the doctor saw
tho gathering tears. He scanned the
thin face and the shabby black dress
Then he said, abruptly: $50 you are
not sick2"
Becky shook her head. She could not
trust herself to speak after the sympa-
thy IN the doctors voice as he said:
Tired little Becky Eggy."
But his voice was not sympathetic
now. 1t was brusque. People that are
well, usually have a little color in their
faces and plumpness in their cheeks. :"
sits walking so far in the snow and
cold." said Becky, family.
You are not strong enough to walk.
You ought to ride"
Becky attempted to smile "But
the ought doesn't provide the
horses"
ut does in this oase,~ still more
abruptly.
Becky's eyes opened widely now in
spite of the tears. DR.. Chaffee was in
comprehensive. She made no reply,
and he seemed to expect none. "Your
school worries you, does it notP The
big boys are bad lot"
Becky gasped. It was the school
after all. She dropped her eyes, and a
pitiful expression came into her face.
Her voice fSltered.
'I'll try to do better, doctor. You
see, 1 am not strong enough to punish
them Maybe if triedfharder, could
shake them-I1l try" There was
choke in her voice.
DR.. Chaffee looked at the thin hands
moving nervously on the black skirt.
and at Becky's strained, anxious face.
She did not look equal to the emer-
gency of shaking even the smallest
Greeni
The doctors lips smiled, but not his
eyes. They filed as they looked into
Becky's, and her perplexity increased.
His abrupt tone vanished, and his next
words were very gentle:
'Will you take my prescriptionP"
She glanced down at the medicine
chest on the floor, and said, submits
sively; "Are you going TO give me a
tonic?"
DR.. Chaffee laughed q little, and
pushed the case away with his foot.
II brought that along as a bulwark
against the Green's"
Becky responded with a smile, and
went on more cheerfully: al am will
ing to take anything you advise, doc
tor"
DR.. Chaffee suddenly sat up very
straight. Il prescribe home He
was looking at the fire now, but he saw
Becky's lips culver, and her hands
touch her black dress, and care and
love-"
mo, no." she whispered "you know,
perhaps you do not know-they are all
gone. There ir no one left except me -
DIR. Chaffee looked at her with n
smile which made his rugged face
beautiful. ''But it's my home I'm pre-
scribing, dear little Becky Eggy, and
my care, and my love. IF they could
bring you happiness" The doctor
did not finish the sentence, but looked
wistfu1ly at Becky.
She gazed at the fire now. It's
warmth seemed TO have settled. sud
denly. around her heart. She had felt
so useless few moments before. so
shorn of ali womanly power and dig
nifty. Now, her soul suddenly expend-
ed In the knowledge of a satisfying
love.
She looked up shyly, and said. hest
tatingly: III your home and your
love-would bring me happiness,
would be the only one benefited by
your prescription?"
Dear little girl" said DR.. Chaffee.
He bent and kissed her face soft in a
new pink glow. "It Is useless to con-
TESS that have been prescribing for
myself first of all."-Boston Globe.