LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2479, 17 March 1882, Page 4

LITERATURE.

THE DOCTOR’S CHOICE. [BY ELMER PERCY.] Mabel Derrino stood leaning sadly over the low white gate. Golden batter-cups, snowy hearted daisies, and blue-oyed violets were smiling softly in the April twi ight. Mabel gazed sorrowfully into the purple gloaming with an aching pain at her heart. To-day her father had been laid in tho grassy old churoh-yard, leaving her friendless and homeless. Her father’s long illness had completely exhausted their resources, and at his death Mabel’s slender purse was only sufficient to pay the last sad rites for the dead.

The dear little cottage—the scene of so many pie am res and pains—would pass into the bands of strangers, and on the morrow she was going to the great house on the hill to apply for a situation as governess. The next day, with beating heart, Mabel ascended the steps and rang the bell at Glenwood. A pompons servant ushered her into a pretty little morning-room where a gentleman and two Isdiea were sitting.

Dr. Stanley, the owner of Glenwood, was a bachelor of about thirty, tall, grave, and dignified. His aunt, a widowed lady, had charge of his house. She was a bard, ambitious woman, whose principal object in life was to establish her daughter as the wife ot Dr. Stanley and mistress of beautiful Glenwood.

Ihe doctor rose as Mabel entered, and walked to the opposite side of the room, so as not to embarrass her with his presence. Mrs Stanley put np her eye-glass and surveyed the orphan coldly, while Grace, a rather pretty but haughty looking girl, stared at her snpercilionsly. ‘You are too joung,’ objected Mrs Stanley. Mabel’s lips quivered. ‘But I am well educated, and will try. Ob, .so bard, to do as you wish,’she said, entieatingly. Dr. Stanley had been watching the sad-faced, black-robed figure, over his paper, with pity and interest. He called to bis annt.

She rose and went to where he was

standing. After a long conversation with him she came bach with a look of annoyance in her face.

• I am very particular about a governess for my children,’ she said. ‘ I wish ono that understands French and German perfectly. ’ Mabel’s face brightened a trifle.

* 1 understand those branches quite well. My father ’ —in tho faltering tones we always speak of those we haye recently lost 1 wa» a very fine scholar, and taught me h'mself.’

She took tho book and correctly read and translated tho passages Mrs Stanley pointed out. That lady frowned. ‘Music ?’ she said, briefly. Mabel seated herself at the piano, and played with a skill and brilliancy that only perfect understanding and thorough practice can acquire. Mrs Stanley was in despair ; she had nothing else to object to. But she had no inclination to have a pretty, gentle young girl in the bouse with Ur, Stanley until Grace became his wife—if she could only bring about that occurrence—for she was fuhy aware of Grace’s shortcomings. Dr, Stanley had requested her, however, to employ Mabel, and she always made It a point to yield to his wishes. ‘ Well,’ she said, slowly, ignoring Grace’s discontented, frowning face, T suppose I wiil take you on a month’s trial, if you prove iueffijient at the end of that time, which I have no donbt you will, I can make other arrangements.’

Poor Mabel! The words and tone were crushing, bat she had no other recourse, so she had to school her heart to endure.

‘ I will send a servant for your boxes, ’ said Mrs Stanley, * and you will begin your duties at once. I don’t w ish the children to be out of school any longer. ’ Mabel followed a servant up the stairs to a retired, plainly furnished, but very pleasant room. She threw herself into a low chair by the open window, and buried her face In her hands, while burning tears streamed through her fingers. *Oh ! papa,’ she moaned. • why did you not take me with yon ? No one cares for me now. If I could only die and be at rest.

Several months had passed since Mabel came to Glenwood as governess. At the end of the first month Mrs Stanley tried in vain to find some excuse to send her away, bu* Mabel had proved faithful and efficient, in every particular, so much against her will she had permitted her to remain. At first Mabel found her duties perfect torture. The children were rude and unmanageable and completely exhausted her strength and patience. At night she would throw herself across the bed, quivering with pain, and press her hands tightly to her throbbing temples. She was becoming more accustomed to it now, but it was telling visibly on her delicate constitution. Her face was thin and pale, and her large, dark eyes had grown sad and mournful with their weight of unshed tears, Mrs Stanley was harsh and exacting, and Grace rendered her Ufa unpleasant by a thousand little words and innendoes that deeply wounded her sensitive nature, ‘Really, mamma,’ the would say, ‘she quite startles one at times, looking so ghostly with her white face and black dress.’

Dr. Stanley was the only friend that brightened Mabel’s cheerless life. He always had a plea'ant word and smile for her, and rendered her numberless little acts of kindness that were very fgratefnl to her weary heart. Stern and grave with others, he was tender and gentle with her, and nnconsciously to herself, her heart had gone out to the tall strong man, for whom another was so intensely striving. It was a sultry rummer evening. Mabel was seated In the rose arbor, reading, when Mrs Stanley and her daughters, Grace and May, approached. * I do think yon are just frightful in that horrid black, Mias Derring,’ said May, with the frantnsas of twelve years. ‘I wonder If I can’t make you look better.’ She had some white and pink roses In her hand, and going to Mabel’s aide she twined them in her d&rk, waving hair, and fastened a spray at the slender throat. ‘ Oh, Miss Herring,’ she a«id, clasping her hands, ‘ you look just lovely.’ Grace laughed scornfully.

‘What a paragon of beauty Mias Deoring is. What a pity some fairy prince don’t cone along. I dare say he would— ’

Mrs Stanley touched her warningly on the arm.

A soft rose color suffused Mabel's face. Her eyes deepened and darkened, and she looked, as May expressed it, ‘ just lovely.’ Dr. Stanley’s eyes lingered on her face with admiration that did not escape Grace. ‘lt is all May’s fault,’ she thought, with a blind rage ; * It is the flowers that make her look so pretty ’ ‘ What was it you was saying about a fairy prince, Grace ?’ asked the doctor. * Oh, nothing,’ replied (’race, fanning herself violently. ‘How very warm it is. Don’t you think so. Cousin Guy ?’ * Extremely,’ said the doctor, seating himself by Mabel, and fanning her as well as himself with his broad straw hat.

Grace controlled herself with difficulty. May, who had rushed off as the doctor approached, now appeared, with her apron full of floral treasures.

‘ Ain’t they beauties, Cousin Guy V she said, emptying them into his lap. The doctor selected some fragrant tuberoses, waxen lilies, and starry janamino, and placed them in Mabel’s hand. Mrs Stanley frowned. ‘ I want to see you on a business matter, Guy ; will you come now ?’ The doctor rose reluctantly and followed her away. As soon as they disappeared, Grace darted forward, and snatching the flowers from Mabel’s hand, threw them to the ground and crushed them under her foot.

‘Mabel D-Tring,’ she said, in a loud, angry tone, ‘you artful, designing girl! How dare you ?' Intense surprise kept Mabel silent for a moment. She then rose to her feet, drew her ta l ! form to its utmost height, and lifted her small head proudly, A crimson spot burned on her cheek, and Grace quailed before her flashing eyes. ‘Miss Stanley,’ she began, when a heavy hand was laid on Grace’s shoulder, and Dr. Stanley, white with anger, ashed : • Grace’ how dare you address such words to Miss Derring ?’ Grace uttered a frightened cry, and breaking from the doctor’s band, fled to the house.

A sudden reaction took place with Mabel. Pho turned deadly pale, and caught against the arbor for support. Dr. Stanley came forward quickly, and took her bands in a warm, strong clasp. * What is the meaning of this. Miss Derring ?’ A bright scarlet drifted across Mabel’s white face.

‘lt means, T)r. Stanley,' she said, controlling her voice with an effort, ‘that I leave here immediately.' ‘ And where will you go, Mabel ?’ Mabel’s Hpa quivered, and the tears swelled through her dark lashes as she thought of her friendless condition. *1 do not know. Dr. btanley, ’ she said, sadly. * God will take caro of me.’ The doctor was deeply touched. ‘My little Mabel,’ ho whispered, tenderly. ‘ Come to me.’

Mabel uttered a startled cry. ‘Dr. Stanley, you do not mean it?’

* Indeed I do,’ said tho doctor earnestly. Why, Mabel, my darling, I have loved you since I first saw your sweet, sid face. I have not told yon of it before. I feared you might consider me presumptuous to ask for your love when yon had known me so short a time. I cannot see you Insu'ted longer. Can you love me, Mabel 7 Will yon give me the right to protect you 1 ’ Mabel raised her tearful eyes to hla face. She saw the tenderest love shining in his splendid eyes, and with a sigh of rest and contentment, she laid her head on his bosom.

When they returned to the house Mrs Stanley was standing on the gallery with a white face and angry eyes. Dr, Stanley led Mabel np the steps. ' Annt Clara,’ he said, ‘let me present to you my betrothed wife.’ Mrs Stanley laughed shrilly. ‘ Have yon permitted that artf il girl to entrap you In that manner, Gny ? I thought you bad more sense.’ Dr. Stanley crimsoned. ‘You forget yourself, Annt Clara,’ he said, sternly. ‘ Mabel Is my betrothed wife, and must be treated as snob.’

He conducted Mabel into the honse, and came back to where his sunt was standing.

‘ Aunt Clara,* he said, ‘lt pains me to ray th's to yon,- but your own actions have rendered It necessary. It is impossible for yon to remain here longer. Yon and Grace have made Mabel’s life perfect torture ever since she has been here. Now, as I have a right to protect her, I cannot permit it to continue.’ Several days later Mrs Stanley and her family drove away. There were tears of rage in her eyes and those of Grace’s as they took a last look at beautiful Glenwood, which they had striven so hard for and failed to obtain. On a soft, golden October day Mabel, in trailing robes of silver gray, entered the old moss-grown church, and in the solemn stillness was pronounced the wife of Gny Stanley. In his devoted love the troubles and trials that once darkened her young life were only remembered as far-away dreams of the past.