The Two Elsies | Page 4

said at length, "to hold out to
you any hope of restoration to health. I cannot do that, but will write
you a prescription which will, I trust, by God's blessing, give relief to
some of the most distressing symptoms."
"Even partial relief will be most welcome," sighed the patient. "Ah, if I
can but find strength for promised work!"
"Better let it alone and take what rest and ease you can," was the
parting advice of the physician.
"What a long, long visit the doctor is paying!" Evelyn had said to
herself several times before her eyes were gladdened with the sight of
his carriage rolling away down the drive.
"At last!" she cried, springing to her feet and hurrying back to the
house.

She found her father lying on a sofa, his face very pale, his eyes closed.
She drew near on tiptoe, thinking he might have fallen asleep; but as
she reached the side of his couch he opened his eyes, and taking her
hand drew her down to his breast.
"My darling, my beloved child!" he whispered, putting his arm about
her and holding her fast with tender caresses.
"What did the doctor say, papa?" she asked, nestling closer to him and
laying her cheek to his. "Does he hope to make you well very soon?"
For a moment there was no reply, and Evelyn, startled at her father's
silence, suddenly raised her head and gazed earnestly, inquiringly into
his face.
He smiled, a little sadly, and gently smoothing her hair back from her
forehead, "I was thinking," he said, "of a text in the psalm we read
together this morning--'My soul, wait thou only upon God, for my
expectation is from him.' He and He only can make me well, daughter."
"Then why send for the doctor, papa?"
"Because God works by means; it pleases Him so to do, though it
would be no more difficult to Him to accomplish His designs without.
He has provided remedies, and I think it is His will that we should use
them, at the same time asking His blessing upon them, feeling that
without it they will be of no avail."
"Then you are to have some medicine, I suppose?"
"Yes; and to be out a good deal in the open air."
"Oh, then, won't you come out to the summer-house and lie in the
hammock there, with me close beside you to wait on you?"
"Presently; but I must write a letter first," he said, putting her gently
aside and resuming his seat at the writing-table.

"Can't it wait till to-morrow, papa?" she asked. "You may feel stronger
by then."
"It is to be only a few lines, to your Uncle Lester; and I want it to go by
this afternoon's mail, that, if possible, it may reach Fairview before they
have arranged their plans for the summer. I want them to come here to
spend the hot months. Should you like it?"
"Yes, indeed, papa! I've always been fond of Uncle Lester, as you
know, and I quite fell in love with Aunt Elsie and the baby when he
brought them to see us on their return from Europe."

CHAPTER II.
"How sudden do our prospects vary here!"
It was the breakfast-hour at Fairview. The young husband and wife
chatted pleasantly over their coffee, omelet and rolls, strawberries and
cream, the principal subject of discourse being the expected trip to
Nantucket in company with her mother, grandparents, and the rest of
the family at Ion.
Lester and his Elsie had been there the previous evening, helping to
celebrate the first anniversary of the marriage of Edward and Zoe, and
had readily fallen in with the plans for the summer outing proposed by
Captain Raymond.
"You will go with us, of course, Elsie?" their mother had said, several
of the others eagerly echoing her words, and they had answered that
they knew of nothing to hinder, and should be delighted to do so.
So that question seemed fully settled, and now their talk was of needful
preparations and arrangements for so long an absence from home; of
the anticipated pleasures of the voyage and the proposed lengthened
sojourn upon Nantucket Island, including the sketching of the most
attractive features of its scenery.

Young, healthy, in easy circumstances, entirely congenial in opinions
and tastes, they were a very happy couple.
Lester was meeting with marked success in his chosen profession--had
received only yesterday a large price for one of his paintings; and as
Elsie and he were essentially one in all their interests, her joy was fully
equal to his, if not greater.
In consequence they were unusually gay this morning, and life seemed
very bright and beautiful before them.
They lingered over their meal, and were just leaving the