Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 January 1891 — Dr. Elfenstein's Mission [ARTICLE]

Dr. Elfenstein's Mission

A Remarkable Romance. BY EMILY THORNTON. CHAPTER XIV.-Continuert. Sir Reginald was a very unpleasant sick person. Of a fiery disposition, he would rate soundly any person who did not instantly acquiesce to his opinions. This failing, together with his rough and ungcntlemanly words, often brought tears into the eyes of Ethel, who was entirely unused to such harshness. Often she would question her own heart, whether it was her duty to remain and bear the many petty trials that daily arose to meet her. Then she would remember the promise given her aunt, and would try to banish each unpleasant scene from her mind, by striving to think of some way in which to lead his thoughts into a purer and better channel. “I must have been sent here for some especial purpose in the providence of God, and it may be that it was to be instrumental in saving the soul of this poor man. But how can I obtain the least influence over him, when he is so eccentric and unapproachable. The only way that seems at all feasible will be to introduce some religious reading, and perhaps now and then drop some thoughtful and holy sentiment. But he is so rank an unbeliever, utterly profane, I fear every effort KWts behalf will prove a failure.” That afternoon she found an opportunity to put in force one of her good resolutions. Sir Reginald had asked her to read the daily newspaper. This she had done, and after a tedious nour spent in that manner, she took a Bible from the table near by and with--sut a word commenced reading the fourteenth chapter of St. John. “Let. not your heart be troubled; ye aelievc in God, believe also in mo. “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have old you. Igo to prepare a place for I’OU. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where 1 am, there ye may be also. ” Thus far had she progressed in her ronscientious effort to bring something Holy to bear upon the sufferer’s mind, ivhen suddenly the book was snatched from her hand, and hurled across the loom, while in a tone of thunder, and with wicked oaths, he bade her — “Stop that canting, hypocritical work, and never dare read from that old book of fables again in my presence. It is bad enough to lie here suffering, without having religion thrust in my way at every turn.” “But, Sir Reginald,” pleaded the girl with a trembling voice, “a few words from God’s own book, has often proved a source of great comfort to Christians, upon a bed of pain—— ” “Oh, yes! I know all you wish to say, but I toll you, once for all, it won’t comfort tpc, for lam no Christian. Ido not believe in that folly, and I won’t have it around. K With a sigh of weary resignation, Ethel crossed the room, and picking up the volume she loved so well from the floor, she tenderly smoothed its rumpled leaves, and restored it to its place on the table. “Stop!” he roared, as it left her hand. “I said I would not have it around! I warn you it shall not even remain in this room. Carry it instantly away, and never let me hear a word regarding it, or its contents, from you again. ”\ Reluctantly obeying the bold, impious command, Ethel carried the sacred book to her own apartment, and again resumed her task of reading long political articles and descriptions of races and events that had occurred in the fashionable world, while her soul was yesfMnfe to give to the wicked master of this strange old Hall the true bread of life. In one of Dr. Elfenstein’s visits, he had been presented with a quantity of exceedingly choice flowers, by a grateful patient, and suddenly remembering the dismal life Ethel Nevergail was leading, he resolved to divide them with her. Driving then, first to his own home before seeking the Hall, he selected the most beautiful, and forming them into a graceful bouquet, drove into the ramble with them in his hand. , Belle was to the drawing-room, and saw him leap from the gig, with his floral prize, so stepped quickly from the window that reached to the floor, in order to attract his attention, supposing, in her extreme vanity, that he would instantly present them to herself. But, to her deep chagrin, be merely

made a few passing observations, and walked on, carrying the coveted flowers with him. Biting her lips in keen vexation, she muttered as she retreated to the room shb had left; “I will stay hero and watch for his return. Something seems to tell me that those flowers are for that odious Ethel Nevergail. If they are ” She did not finish her sentence audibly, btrt the ominous look in her eyes told of bitter feelings that would seek petty revenge. Ethel was passing through the upper hall to her room, when Dr. Elfenstoin ran lightly up, and as he pronounced her name to detain her she tarried until he reached her side. “Miss Nevergail, I do not know whether you are as fond of flowers as I am, but I have brought you a few, hoping they may cheer you in your lonely duties. ” “Oh, thank you, Doctor!' They will, indeed, as I love them dearly. These are perfect beauties and I shall prize them highly. ” “That rose, I think, will adorn your hair to perfection. Allow to fasten it there. May I?” With a pleased blush the, young girl bent her head, and with skillful fingers Earle placed it just above her small, white ear, where it nestled lovinglyaadding a new charm to her bright yflung face. Just as he was finishing, a stop approached, and Belle, who could not restrain her curiosity another moment,’ as she had heard him pause on- the above, and then make some remark in a' low tone, came upon the scene. Just jn time to see his > hand leave the rose, and to see Ethel turn toward her own room, and disappear with the bouquet in her hand and a gratified smile hovering around her lips. Waiting until she had seen the Doctor leave the premises, and Ethel again repair to Sir Reginald’s side, j,he malicious girl proceeded directly to that room where she found the flowers carefully bestowed in a fancy vase upon the dress-ing-case. Seizing them without a moment’s hesitation, she turned directly to the baronet’s room. Ethel sat by the bed, and at his request was striving to cool his. heated brow by gently moving a fan. Raising her eyes, to her astonishment she recognized her flowers, but before she could claim thorn Belle’s angry voice arrested iier attention. “Sir Reginald,” she exclaimed, “I think it my duty to inform you that Miss Nevergail seems to have forgotten her position as your assistant nurse and paid dependent, and seizes every opportunity that offers to carry on sly flirtations with gentlemen. I just surprised Dr. Elfenstoin placing that rose in her hair outside your door, while at the same time he gave her these flowers. Do you approve of such behavior?” “Approve? No; of course not!” he returned, flying into a passion at once, as she well knew he was sure to do. “Miss Nevergail, what business have you to conduct yourself in that style? Did I bring you here to form intrigues with gentlemen?” “You certainly did not,” was the calm reply, “nor have I done so. Dr. Elfenstsin is aii old friend, and as such ho presented me with the flowers Miss Glendenning lias taken from my room. Being my own property flow, I will thank her for their restoration.” So saying, she reached forth her hand for them. But Belle drew back and scornfully replied: “You shall never have them again, I assure you, as I shall instantly see that every stem, leavo and bud is destroyed. If you do not know your place better in this house than to put yourself on an equality with its visitors, you must be taught. Do you not think so, Sir Reginald?” she added, appealing to him. “Certainly. Just take the trash away and see that it is destroyed. I shall myself inform Dr. Elfenstoin.” “You will not do that, surely, uncle. He would then be vexed with me,” Belle hastily exclaimed. “I will destroy them, since you wish it also, but not until you promise to say nothing to him about it.” “Well, have it your own way; but if I do not, perhaps Miss Nevergail will.” “She darp not! she knows it would seem unmaidenly to mourn over the loss of a few flowers that were his gift, in his presence. lam not at all afraid of ber doing so.” So saying, regardless of Ethel’s beseeching words and looks, the spiteful girl left the room with her ill-gotten treasures, and Ethel saw them no more. Sir Reginald remained excited, cross and nervous, for some tipm after this scene* and poor Ethel found it almost impossible to please him in anything she ai tempted. The sight of the flower she still wore seemed to aggravate him, although lie made no further comments upon the subject, but Ethel felt that without a direct command she was not required to remove it. Therefore it remained, and when DrElfenstein returned in the afternoon for his usual second visit to the sick man, he smiled as his eyes rested upon it, but never was told the fate of the rest of his offering nor heard of the hard words she had endured on account of his friendly gift. CHAPTER XV. ANOTHER STARTLING ADVENTURE. After Robert Glendenuing had been so justly repulsed by Ethel in the grounds of the hall, he felt exceedingly ill-used, and the more he pondered over the coldness of this beautiful girl toward himself the more he felt inclined to punish her want of appreciation of his merits as a handsome, wealthy, and popular young man. Her decided repulse of every overture that he had niade served but to enforce the desire he felt to subdue her pride and turn her feelings into fawning admiration. , . Robert Glcndenning was not, ass Ethel had supposed, a dissipated and depraved man, but owing to the strange influences of his childhood he was a vain, reckless and utterly selfish one, having a strong will of his own, together with a teasing, mischievous temperament. Under proper government while young he might have made a noble man, but neglect and indulgence, together with the baneful examples of both his uncle by marriage and his spoiled 9ister, he had allowed his nature to become perverted, and drifted into the weak character we now find him. Immediately after, his last adventure with Ethel, while yet chafed and sore on account of it, his sister gave him a graphic account of the presentation of the flowers by Dr. Elfenstoin, and her own bold destruction of them, then concluded by saying: “She’s a proud, stuck-up thing, and I dc delight in humiliating her lofty feaiings. I intend to do all I can to

bring her from the high pedestal on which sho has perched, and if I can oniy'-incense Sir Reginald against her. so that ho will send her awaly, I shpll be delighted. Bob, I wish you would help me.” 4' “I will do all 1 can to reduce her abominable pride, I assure you, though I do not care to have her ■sent away. She shall, however, repent snubbing mo as she did yesterday. ” “Snubbing you! What do you mean? Did she really dare to do that?” “She did, indeed. ” Robert then related his experience with the object of their discussion. “The idiot! She does not deserve your further notice! However, if 1 see a chance to lower her in Sir Reginald’s es-, teem, I shall call on you for assistance.” That afternoon the wished-for opportunity arrived. Belle happened to be in her uncle’s room a ,few moments, when she heard the following conversation take place, which gave her a plan upon which to work. Sir Reginald had received a note from a neighbor in reference to some very important private business, which l)e found necessary to attend to immediately. Wishing some intelligent person to see and converse with Mr. Perkins in regard to the matter, he had explained his views to Ethel before Belle had entered, and was just saying: “Do you think you could find Mr. Perkins for me and attend to this important work, Miss Nevergail?” “I do. I understand your wishes perfectly now; so if you can direct me there, I will go at once.” “You had better not go around the road, as the walk would be full a milo and a half, but go from "the rear of the Hall and take a short cut through the fields. There will only bo a couple of bars to lower, and the path is direct and plain.” “Then I will start at once.” “It will only take you until, about 5 o’clock to go and return. Please be as quick as possible in getting back, as I shall need you 4 by that time. You understand, I wish you to hurry. 1 never like a person to loiter when I send them upon an errand. “I will certainly return, as quickly as possible,” returned Ethel, as she left the room to prepare for her walk. This, as I said, was Belle’s opportunity. Seeking Robert at once, therefore, she informed him of the errand Ethel had tc transact for Sir Reginald, and his strict injunction that she should hasten back to hfs side.

“He told her the whole work could be accomplished by five o’clock. Now, Robert, I think it would provoke him greatly if she were detained until seven. Can you not intercept her on her return, and manage to keep her away?” “Yes, indeed. It will be splendid fun. I will do it. If I cannot keep her in any other way I will force her into a phaeton and take her off upon a ride.” “Do; then I* will inform his lordship that she was seen riding with some strange young man.” “Ha, ha! good; and if she says it was this chap, I will deny it in full.” “And I will come in to prove an alibi. Where will you meet her?” “Just the other side of the Perkins wood. I will have a horse and phaeton waiting on this side. There Is a woodman’s road there that leads to the main road; we can take that, and have a jolly long ride. But I shall have a fuss to get her into the expect; however, I shall manage it some way, never fear.” Laughing gayly over the fun in prospect, the two separated to put in force the mischief they had brewed. Poor Ethel left the house without a suspicion of what awaited her; glad, in fact, that she could thus enjoy a stroll after the confinement of that close, hard day. The way was perfectly direct, but she saw,at once that it was lonely, though very beautiful. Crossing several fields, she at length entered quite a dense wood, but a small path had been cut directly through, and the whole way was wild and full of interest. The atmosphere was made delicious with a woody, spicy fragrance from mints and woodland treasures of all varieties, and the whole combination was so new to her experience that she really enjoyed every step of the long walk. Arrived at the placp she sought sho found Mr. Perkins at home, and soon explained the cause of her visit, and transacted the business with which she had been intrusted. This completed, she turned her face homeward. All went well with her until she approached the woods. At the entrance she found, on consulting her watch, that it was quarter past four. “I shall reach the Hall just about five,” she thought, “and so please Sir Reginald. I would not have liked being late, after what he said.” Suddenly she. was startled by a sound at her side, then, to her surprise and chagrin, Robert Glcndenning stepped directly in her path. “My dear Miss Nevergail, this is a delightful meeting in a delightful place. Where may your curiosity have taken you to?” “My curiosity, Mr. Glcndenning, took me nowhere. I have merely been to transact a matter of business for Sir Reginald, and am now on my way home. Being in a hurry, I would be glad to pass on.” “Not so fast* not so fast, my pretty girl (don’t shudder so—you know you are pretty); surely you will linger awhile in this romantic place, you have some One to enjoy the beauties of the wood with you?” “No, Mr. Glcndenning,” was the dignified reply; “I cannot linger a moment. Sir Reginald desired my immediate return, and I cannot keep him waiting.” “Nevertheless, my . sweet creature, he will wait; for you cannot return just now. as I intend for once to fully enjoy your society. ” So saying, the bold young man attempted to take her hand, to draw it under his arm. Snatching it instantly away, Ethel fixed on him a 6tern look, and ordered him to stand aside. Not heeding her in the least, he impudently slipped his arm around her waist, exclaiming: “Perhaps you would like this way of walking better. It makes no difference to me. ” Shaking off his arm, Ethel pushed him aside indignantly, then with rapid steps pressed onward. [TO BE CONTINUED.] Nothing external constrains the gods, but their own eternal will makes for them a law. Never do the gods repent of their first intentions. —• Anon.