The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-10-01
"A Prescription
For Two.

moments confusion. and then Mrs.
Green. assisted by six little Greens,
opened the door.
"Why. doctor" she cried In surprise.
The little Greens lined up and held
their mouths open.
1.-The governess. I hear. Is ILL.," DR..
Gilman announced the fact deliberate
ly. He stepped into the hall. holding
his medicine .ase with one hand while
with the other be made an opening IN
the line OF little Greens.
Mrs. Green closed the door and pro-
Rested. The governess Is here. but
she isn't III. That Is. no more'n usual.
She's always alling." In Il disparagtng
voice. Ibid she send for Your
The doctor ignored her question He
threw OF his fur coat. picked up his
medicine case again and asked calmly:
S:Where Is sher'
I'm the sitting room." replied Mrs.
Green. her arms akimbo. Instantly
six small voices cried. In here" and
the noisy troop made a dash for a
weary looking figure lying on q couch
near the fireplace.
Doctor Gilman paid no attention to
The figure on the couch. He blocked
the entrance against Mrs. Green and
said firmly: Come. children. I'm here
10 visit the sick only"
The Greens. unused to obeying.
looked sulky.
FURRY up." came the doctors strong.
cheerful voice. and as they fled slowly
past him, casting longing slances be-
hind. he added: Now don't let me
see any Of you back here again until
my visit ends" His glance included
both mother and children.
Then ne closed the door. drew chair
In front of the couch and sat down.
II have come to prescribe for you.
Miss Eggy." he said, looking for the
first time at the girl on the couch.
At lis abrupt entrance Becky Eggy
had sat up. She leaned an elbow
against tie back OF the couch and
rested her throbbing head on her hand.
She was perplexed at this unasked
call from DR.. Gilman.
Life was always offering perplexities
10 Becky Eggy. The FIRST had been
her queer little rame. and the last and
greatest was what to do with her
queer little sclr.
Il. least Becky Eggy had thought she
must be q queer little self because ey-
erything she loved had been taken
away and so many things she did not
love had been substituted. while she
stood BY. powerless to shape her life.
In the midst Of such great perplexities
DR.. Gilman's visit was the least.
II eE, not III. DOCTOR" she said, in O
wondering tone.
d.. Gilman smiled inscrutably at
the fire and held his palms up to the
warmth. Tken te turned suddenly and
looked keenly at Becky Eggy. She
fdgeted nervously with her black dress
with one transparent hand. What was
going to kappen? Had he come to
tell her she must give up her little
school? Poor little Becky Eggy! Wha,
would become Of her then?
All her faults swept in order beforf
her: she could not make the big boys
mind. How was that possible when
she had not strength enough even te
shake the little ones? Her head ached
90 badly she often had to rest it on the
desk: perhaps he had heard how. only
o few days before. she was 50 tired
she had insisted that six times eighI
are nfty.four. Sitting there before Dr.
Gilman she felt painfully ignorant and
weak.
She looked at the doctors hand lyini
on his knee. Once. when she had been
20 III that even she was obliged to ad
NIT the fact. he had taken her heat
between his hands and pressed the
ache out and she had slept.
Al II In response to the memory the
doctor lenned forward and laid hi,
hanC q moment. in his most profes
sional manner. on her hot forehead
Then he settled back in his chair ant
said In a most unprofessional tore
'-Tired little Becky Eggy."
She rested her head against the higl
back Of the couch and hastily close,
her eyes, but not until the doctor saw
the gathering tears. He scanned tn
thin face and the shabby black dres
with a curious expression on his face
Then he said abruptly. $50 you are no
mr.
Becky shook her head. She coul,
not trust herself to speak after tn
sympathy In the Doctors voice as b
said, Tired little Becky Eggy."
But his voice was not sympatheti
now. 1t was brusque. People VIII
are well usually have little color 4
their faces and p,umpness in thel
cheeks"
Its walking 50 far in the snow an
cold" said Becky. family.
you are not strong enough to wall
Hou ought to ride"
Becky attempted to smile. But th
ought doesn't provide the horses"
1T does In this case" still more al
suptly.
Eacky's eyes opened widely now.
ep!te Of the tears. She made no repl!
and he seemed to expect none. "Yor
school worries you. does It notr IT
Nis boys are . tiresome lot"