A Son of the HillsComstock, Harriet T. (Harriet Theresa)
General
A Son of the Hills
Comstock, Harriet T. (Harriet Theresa)
Fiction
"No one ain't damaged the building," he said drawlingly; "some of the
folks think it is han'ted. I reckon Smith Crothers owns it."
"That man owns too much!" Marcia Lowe gave again her penetrating laugh.
"And I should think the place would be haunted. Just think of boarding
Uncle Theodore up! He who loved sunshine and air and sweetness so much!"
At this Greeley dropped the pail to the ground, and the indignant horse
reared angrily. This was carrying things too far, and the man's eyes
flashed.
"Uncle?" he gasped sternly.
"Yes, Uncle Theodore Starr. He was my mother's brother. I have no one
to keep me away now--and I loved him so when I was a little child. They
say I am much like him--but then you never saw him. Lately I've been
real homesick for him. He seemed to be calling me from the hills. I'm
going to get your Smith Crothers to let me open up the little church. I
want the sunshine to get in and--and Uncle Theodore to--get out! I'm
going to find where they buried him, and make that a beautiful place too.
You see I've a good deal to do up here! Besides," and now the cheerful
face beamed radiantly on the gaping postmaster, "I'm like Uncle Starr in
more ways than one. He learned to mend men's souls and I have learned to
mend their bodies--it's much the same, you know--when you love it.
I'm--well, I'm an M. D., a medical doctor--Doctor Marcia Lowe!"
At this Greeley dropped on the bottom step of the porch, wiped the
perspiration from his brow with the back of his hand, and emitted one
word.
"Gawd!" He was not a profane man, but the audacity of this stranger who
was about to settle down among them for purposes best known to herself,
and them who sent her, quite overcame him. Marcia Lowe gave a hearty
laugh and gathered the reins.
"I suppose you never heard of such a thing up here?" she asked amusedly,
"but they are getting commoner down where I hail from. It's all very
foolish--the restrictions about a woman, you know. She can nurse a body
up to the doors of death, but it's taken a good while to bring people
around to seeing that she can mend a body as well, just as well as a man.
You will let me stay among you anyway, I am sure. I do not want to
physic you. It is so much more interesting to live close and help along.
Good-bye, Mr. Greeley--you see your name is over the door! I am, do not
forget"--the woman's eyes twinkled mischievously--"Doctor Marcia Lowe of
Torrance, Mass. Good-bye! You have been very kind and helpful. I feel
that you and I will be good friends. Get-up, pony!"
She flapped the reins in the most unprofessional manner, and the horse
turned to The Appointed Way with briskness that bespoke his impatience
and a desire for more familiar scenes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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