The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-08-07
,D,IocroR DuBoIs.

r,.x.. r,uhois had just. fnished,a dinner
~ e. - served up according TO the
,s;io.crnssaI principles of fiIlat,Savafian,
Pn a. n nv rte both succulent and sabstan-
ssI Hs kad turned his fest towards the ire
= - in the month of December and
- sIowiy cracking his nuts and almonds,
snd occasionally moistening them with
.is~ Of genuine Beaune. Evidently be con-
as;derAd tkat hiB day had been well employed;
~ Nrve15tlv hoped that the goddess Hygeia
-cnld vatc6 for that evening at least over
his rutnefCus patients. A pair Of comforta-
HE sIippers- presented by nervous iaoy
for hin assiduous attendance upon scratcn
an the little finger of her LEFT hand-aooaneo
his mail fat feet. A black velvet skullcap
liz. r.iiad half over his ears, and . brilliant
morning gown fell in graceful folds about
his legs Bobonne had retired to prepare
the customary coffee. The evening paper
had arrived, Fraught with interesting, be-
cause as vet unknown intelligence, II was
waiting on the edge of the table to be open
ed. There might be news OF new war OF
of an unexpected peace; some miraculous
rise or fall of the funds might have TAKEN
place. The worthy doctor had already .nrice
glanced at the damp paraileiogram OF Iol1eo
paoer; but il was his custom to tantalise
himself agreeably before satisfying his curl
osity. He dallied with the little stone-col-
CURED strips that held the journal in cross,
and bore his name and address, before he
liberated Il; and was alancing at the hrst col.
umn when be was startled by melancholy
shrek of wind that came up the Rue de
Sevres, mingled with the crash of falling
tiles and chimneypots. the dashing OF shut
ters. and loud splashing OF the ram. .,.
'Whew! pestee calculated Doctor Dubois.
IN a tone of pleasant wonder, what night
How fortunate it is that / am not called out.
This weather will protect me. All my friends
are going on nicely, bless them No one ID
in danger of q crisis. Madame Favre has
promised to wait till tomorrow. Nothing
but very desperate case could make PEG.
ole disturb me at such time. Decidedly, !
shall have one quiet evening this week.
The words were scarcely out of the doc.
tor 8 mouth when the bell of the apartment
rang violently. A phisiognennist would have
been delighted with the sudden change from
complacent security to peevish despair that
took place on the doctors countenance. He
placed both his hands firmly on his knees
and, turning round towards the door, waited
for the announcement that was to chase him
from his comfortable freside.
MY poor gentleman said B0bonne bust
ling Il, with q platter, on which was the ex-
pected coffee you mast be off at once
Here is . lad who will not believe that you
are out, although told him you are from
home twice. He says that his mother is dy-
iro, ftw -.&T ~ ca at
'Diable!' exclaimed Doctor Dubois, half
in compassion, half in anger. .GdSt me my
coffee-tell him to come in. Where are my
boots? Indeed if she be dying-really dy-
ing--I am scarcely wanted. A priest would
have been more suitable. However, duty,
duty, duty,
We shall be eternally grateful, said a
young man, who, without waiting to be sum-
Iponed, had entered the room, but who had
only caught the last words. When duty is
willingly performed, it is dcubly worthy
Certainly, SIR replied the doctor, ques-
tioning BobOnne, with his eyebrows to know
whether his previous grumbling could have
been overheard Il shall be with you direct
". Warm yourself by the fire my dear
young man, whilst arm myself for the COM
bat ~ G.
The youth-who was tall and slight not
more than eighteen years of age-walked Inn
patiently up and down the room, whilst Doc.
tor Dubois pulled on his boots, swallowed
his scalding coffee, wriggled into his great
coat, half strangled himself with his muller,
and received his umbrella from the attentive
BObonne.
Il have fiacre,, said the youth.
so much the BETTER quoth Doctor Dubois;
but precautions never do any harm. Now
| am ready. You see q man may still be
sprightly at fifty. Go to bed, Bobonne; and
take little tisne-that cough of yours must
be cared fOr-hot, mind r E.
The buxom housekeeper followed her mas
Ter to the door; and no old bachelor who
witnessed the little attentions with which she
prosecuted him-buttoning his coat tighter,
pulling his muller higher over his chin, Civ
ing tug to the brim of his hat and most
significant of all, stopping him in the passage
to turn up his trousers nearly to the knees,
lest they might be spoiled by the mud-no
one of the doctors bachelor friends who wit.
messed all this land the occurrence was fire.
quent) failed to envy the doctor his excel
lent housekeeper. The youth saw nothing.
He had gone down stairs three steps at a
time, and was in the vehicle and angry with
Impotence long before the man of science
hustled out, thinking that he had been extra
ordinarily energetic, and wondering how
much more decision of character was re-
quired to make a general of division or an
emperor. r sit a-is
Now that we are in full march, quoth
he, as the driver was endeavoring to make
his drenched hacks step out briskly, 1 should
like to know something of the case not the
particular symptoms, but the general facts.
What is your mothers age?'
The youth replied that she was about for.
~, and had been ill some time. Her family
had supposed, however, until tn en-, that her
disease was rather mental than physical
He said other things; but the doctor felt Ger
tain that there was something behind which
shame had concealed
The vehicle continued to roll; but it had
lett the Rue de Sevres, and was threading
some of the sombre streets between that and
the Rue de Varennes.
'Yoa-eame long way to look for me, ,
said the physician, half enquiringly.
The youth muttered some answer that was
unintelligible, and was saved from further
questioning by the stopping ofthe cabriolet.
On getting out, the doctor recognized the
house as one of the largest private hotels in
that quarter. He had often passed by, and
thought it was uninhabited The porte
cochere was opened by an elderly serving.
man, who looked sad and sorrowful.
She is not yet exclaimed the youth. not
daring to utter the word of the omen.
No, no! but she has begun to talk reason
ably.
BE frank whispered Doctor Dubois, as
they crossed the court under the hastily
opened umbrella. Has your mothers mind
been affected? 1t is necessary that should
know thisf
.Yes-in one particular-in one particular
only. will explain all butt is very hu.
initiating
Medical men are confessors,' said the
nnctor aAntanfiously