Читать книгу How Hartman Won. A Story of Old Ontario - John Price-Brown - Страница 10
ОглавлениеHOW DR. HARTMAN CAME TO SETTLE IN LINBROOK.
Dr. Hartman had been less than a year in Linbrook. He came fresh from college, and the opportunity to settle there occurred in a peculiar manner, which was an agreeable surprise to him.
One day just before his final examination, the secretary of the college, Professor Dwight, tapped him on the shoulder, and intimated that he would like to see him in his private room.
"Mr. Hartman," he said, as he took his seat at his desk; "we don't often have direct openings to offer our men when they graduate; but I am happy to say we have a specially good one now. It came two days ago, and the Dean and I have had a long talk over it. We finally decided to offer it to you as a man who had won our confidence, and who, we felt sure, was worthy of the place."
The young man's face flushed with pleasure, as he attempted to reply in suitable terms to such an unexpected offer.
"Perhaps you know the locality," continued Dr. Dwight. "It is at Linbrook, a large village near the centre of the Province in the County of Z."
"Yes, I know Linbrook. It is a thriving place in a lumber region on the Powan river. But are there not one or two doctors there already?"
"Yes, but they are said to be weak men, behind the times, and in whom the better class of the people place little confidence. Being a lumbering region, too, accidents will often occur, and, as a skilful surgeon, you should find plenty to do."
"I assure you, sir, I cannot be too grateful, and I shall do my best," said the young doctor. "How soon should I go?"
"As soon as you can make satisfactory arrangements after graduation," was the answer.
The requisition that had been forwarded to Dr. Dwight bore the signatures of a number of the leading men in the village, as well as those of several farmers living within a few miles of Linbrook, including that of Richard Finlayson, Esq., the father of Hugh and Winifred. The document promised the cordial support of the better class of the people to any good graduate whom the College authorities would send up to settle in their midst.
After passing his examinations, Hartman again sought an interview with Professor Dwight before leaving for Linbrook.
"Have you any special advice to give me before I go?" he asked, looking questioningly into the kindly eyes of the good doctor.
"You know it already," he answered, grasping warmly the young man's hand. "I will only remind you of the physician's motto—Honus habet onus. Be true to your alma mater; and remember that the old biblical teaching of 'Do as you would be done by' is a pretty good one for a doctor to keep in mind."
In Linbrook Dr. Hartman was received with much warmth. The houses of the people were thrown open to him, and he was soon driven round the country by the leaders of the movement, to be introduced to his prospective patrons.
Among the earliest of the farmers that he visited was Mr. Finlayson. He was charmed with the quaint house, sweeping orchard, wide fields, and verdant woods. Birds were singing in the linden tree and in the top of the tall maple, while roses and orchids were in flower along the pathway leading up to the open door.
Perhaps what gave additional significance to that first visit was the fact that it became fixed in his memory by a bright vision that suddenly appeared. As he sat in the little parlour, the garden gate opened, and a girlish figure, crowned with golden ringlets and a gipsy hat, tripped lightly toward the house.
She was a very composed young lady, however, for while her eyes sparkled when introduced to the stranger, she retained full control of herself, notwithstanding the expectancy with which she, and every one else, had looked forward to the arrival of the promised doctor from the city.
"My daughter teaches at the school-house, Section 5, which you passed in driving along the 14th," said Mr. Finlayson.
"That pretty white building down by the creek," returned the doctor. "Just the kind of one I would like to attend if I were a boy again."
"But you are glad that you are not, I am sure," said the teacher.
"When I was a boy, I did as a boy, I suppose; but now as a man I must needs put away childish things," he replied with a laugh. "Still, I assure you the memory of my school-days will always be a pleasure to me."
"I might say the same thing," said Miss Finlayson; "I really think most people feel as you do about it. The real task probably falls to the lot of the teacher."
"You are right, Miss Finlayson, if you have many large boys to control. I know from individual experience that they are an unruly lot."
"Several of my boys are as tall as I am," she said, drawing herself up to her full height; "but they behave themselves pretty well," and she smiled as she looked back at the doctor. Her lips were full and flexible, though firm, and, with her dark hazel eyes, gave to her face the expression of combined gentleness and strength, although one would judge that she had not seen more than twenty summers.
"Winifred is all right," said her father. "She manages the school very well, and the trustees say that she keeps better order than Mr. Cane did, although, of course, it is summer-time now, and most of the large boys are away."
A few minutes later the doctor took his leave, carrying with him a cordial invitation from Mrs. Finlayson to call again any time he should happen to be in the neighbourhood.
"It will take you some time to get acquainted," said that lady, as she accompanied him out to the gate. "We may be plain people; but the farmers on the 14th always welcome their friends."
"That is a compliment I hope to deserve," he replied, as he lifted his hat and drove away.
Dr. Hartman was not an impressionable young man. He had philosophically made up his mind not to fall in love with the first pretty face that he should happen to meet with in his practice; or, in fact, with any one for a good long time at least. But he was fresh from college, and had absorbed physiology with all his might and main at the feet of Bovell; and he smiled to himself as he thought of the apt illustration of the professor's teaching, which Miss Finlayson afforded.
She was at least seven years his junior, and in many respects the direct antithesis of himself. While her hair was divinely auburn, his was as black as midnight. Her eyes a chestnut brown—his were grey. Her complexion the fairest he thought that he had ever seen, while his face had the rich olive of a brunette. Oh, shade of Bovell! long since gone to that unseen world, which thy fancy painted replete with divine beatitudes!—if thy teachings were lived out in practical life, how different would be the issues! How much more of poetry, and love, and truth, in their essence, would be found in the lives of men!
Hartman smiled to himself almost audibly, for ideas such as these flashed through his mind as he drove home to the village in the afternoon of that beautiful May day, deeply impressed with what he had seen of the fair maiden of the 14th Concession; and although he felt convinced that there was no danger of his own affections getting entangled, he caught himself wildly speculating as to the possibility of her already being in love, and who the fortunate suitor might be.
