Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-06
for the sound OF her carriage wheels
over the blue gravel drive.


A beautiful young lady who wrote
prescriptions and compounded pills
and potions was a novelty in the town
and by no means a disagreeaple one
People rather liked the idea, once tney
bad convinced themselves that the
| lady doctor thoroughly understood
herself and her patients.
| 1t was a brilliant December day
when the young physician stood In the
reception room. drawing on her fur
gloves previous to entering her neat
phaeton again, while she reiterated to
the white capped maid directions re-
speeding Ann Mudgett's rheumatism.
when the matron hurried In.
"Oh, / beg your pardon, Doctor
Clairmont," said she; but / clean
forgot the new old woman"
The new old woman?' repeated
Doctor Mary. with a smile.
THAT is" explained Mrs. Cunning
ham, "she only came last night--a
quiet old soul half blind, and quite
bad with the asthma. Perhaps you
had better just see her before you go.
She brought card of admission from
Doctor Morton, the New York clergy
man; he is one of our directors, you
know. And she seems q decent body
enough"
Doctor Mary went into the little
brick paved room, with its white pal
let-bed, cushioned rocking chair. and
neatly draped easement where sat |
poor, little shriveHed-u woman |
wrapped in faded shawl. She |
looked up timidly from under the |
borders of her cap as Doctor Mary
came In.
I'm a poor body, miss" said she, I
and I'm sensible I'm making a deal of
trouble. But the Lord don't always
take us, miss, when we'd like to CO."
This is the doctor" said Mrs. Cum
bingham.
The little woman would have risen
Up to make a feeble courtesy, but
Doctor Mary motioned her to keep her
'eat
What is your name?" said she.
pleasantly.
Louise NARROW, miss"
NARROW? That is an unusual
anne. isn't it," said Mary Clairmont
oloring in spite of herself.
We're English, miss" said the old
struggling bravely with her /,
sthma. There amt many of us in
his country. I've a son, miss, in the
wv business, as any mother might be
roud Of"
"A son!" echoed Mrs. Cunningham;
and you in the almshouse!" :.
mot that it's his fault, ma'am," the !,
a at,,,.n
My son is to be married to a fine .. q
Dung lady, and of course he can't ex- =
act to burden himself with a help u
IS old woman like me. He says I'm
write and let him know how / get =
ong, and If I'm sick or anything, he :.
i'll try to see me. / sewed carpets :,
it'll the asthma got hold of me, and ~
lpported myself comfortably. But =
course l couldn't lay up anything -
r a rainy day-who could? And
enry couldn't help me, for he was 4,
tting ready to be married, poor lad! :.
, l went to Doctor Morton and asked "
m if he knew of any decent place ~ ~
here an old woman like me could
d her days in peace: and he gave p
: card to come here, and some
Dney to pay my travelling expenses,
God bless him!-ani here I am" az,
Mary Clairmont had listened quietly.
t the color had varied in her cheeks II
IRE than once. If
is your sons name Harry Mar
W" she said, slowly and thought l.
ly. :.
Yes. miss, at your service" said the
woman. with a duck of her white To
oped head, which was meant to do
ty in place of the impossible cour- On
y. IN.
Is he like this?" said Doctor Mary. we
ing a photograph from her pocket AM
The old woman, with trembling fri
Ids. fitted on her iron-bowed spec OH
les, looked at the picture, and ut 80,
I'd a little cry of recognition. On,
Sure. miss, it's his own self" she for
ID. You're acquainted with him. too
M" mu
said Doctor Mary. pen
lposedly. as she returned the pho
raph to its place. And now will
Re you something to relieve this
Guilty in breathing
ut the old woman eyed her visit Con
v Con
Perhaps you know the young lady wSs'
son is TO marry?r Mea
Tes" said Doctor Mary. writing MI MI,
ething in her prescription book: Colt
lave seen her" BraI
miss" faltered the old Prov Prov