Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-01-26
A Visit with the Doctor.
BE rs. ARTHUR

Miserable was the faintiy spoken reply.
! And the word was repeated--"Miserabls
The doctor took one Of the lady's small
/ white hsuds, on which the network Of veins,
most delicaiely traced, spread its blue lines
| everywhere beneath the transparent skin. Il
was a beautiful hand--a study for a painter
I or a sculptor. u was soif flexible hand
/ soft, flexible and YelFety to the touch, as the
hand Of a baby, for It was as ouch stranger
I to useful work
The doctor laid his finger on the wrist
Under the pressure he felt the pulse beat
slowly and evenly. He took out his watch
and counted the beats-ssVenty minute
There was no fever, nor any unusual dis
turbance Of the system. Calmly the heart
was performing its appointed work.
"HOw is your head, Mrs. Carlton 2P
The lady moved her head from side to side
two or three times.
Anything out Of the way, there2"
HMy head is we'll enough, but feel so mis-.
erable-so weak ] haven't the strength Of
a child. The least exertion exhausts ms"
Aud the lady shut her eyes, loo King the
picture Of feebleness.
'Have you taken the tonic, for which left
a prescription yesterday
Eyes; but am no stronger
''HoW is your appetite ?"
'Bad.n
'Haveyou taken the morning walk in the
garden that suggested 2"
20, dear, no. Walk out in the garden
I'm faint by the time get to the breakfast
room Icanit live at this rate, Doctor What
am to do Can't you build me up in some
way? I'm burden to myself and every
body else ~
And Mrs, Carlton really looked distressed.
'You ride out every day ?"
81 did until the carriage was broken, and
that was nearly e week ago. Il has besn at
the carriage maker ever since then"
''You must have the fresh air, Mrs Carlton, p
said the doctor emphatieally. "Fresh air,
change of scene and exercise are indispenss-
bic in your case. You will die, if you remain
shut up after this fashion. Come, take ride
with me"
doctor how absurd r. exclaimed Mrs,
Carlton, almost shocked by the suggestion
''Ride with you. What would people think?
"a fig for peoples thoughts Get yoU
shawl and bonnet, and take drive with me
What do -Eou- care fnr meddlesoms peoples
thoughts7 Come"
The doctor knew his patient
"But you are not in earnest surely 2"-
There was half amused twinkle in the Ia
dy's eyes.
"Never more in earnest. I'm going to see
patient just out of the city, and the drive
will be a charming one. Nothing would
please me better than to have your com
pany.
There was vein of humor, and a spirit o.
don't care in Mrs. Carlton, which had cnce
made her Independent, and almost toydenish
But fashionable associations since her woman
life began, had toned her down to exceeding
propuety. Fashion and conventionality,
however, we're losing their influence since
enfeebled health kept her feet back from the
worlds gay places; and the doctors invita-
ton to ride found her sufficiently disen-
thralled to see in It a pleasant novelty.
'Tve a mind TO gop she said, smiling
She had not smiled before since the doctor
came in.
am ring for your maid, and DR.. Far
leigh hand was on the bell-rope before Mrs.
Carlton had space to think twice, and endan-
ger a change Of thought
@Tm not sure that am strong enough for
the effort, said Mrs Carlton, and she laid
her head back upon the cushions in q feeble
way.
'Trustm me for that, replied the doctor.
The maid came in.
"Bring me shawl and my bonnet, Alice;
am going to ride out with the Doctor
Very languidly was the sentence spoken.
Sim afraid doctor, it will be too much for
me. You don't know how weak am. The
very thought Of such an effort exhausts me. y
'Not thought Of the effort, replied Dr..
Farleigh. "Itisn't that"
"What is it2p
"a thought of appearances-of what reo-
pie will say"
'.Now, doctor youdon't think me 50 weak
in that direction"
gust SO weak" was the free spoken an
swer. "You fashionable people are all afraid
Of each other. Yo1 haven spark of indi-
viduality or true Independence. No, not a
sparki You are quite strong enough to ride
out in your own elegant carriage-but with
the doctor2- oh, dear, no If you were not
certain Of meeting Mrs. McFlimsey, perhaps
the experiment might be adveutured But
she is always out on fine days"
doctor, for shame How can you say
that2''
And a ghost Of color crept into the face
of Mrs. Carlton, while her eyes grew brighter,
almost flashed.
The maid came in with shawl and bonnet.
DR.. Farleigh- as we have intimated, under
stood bis patient and said just two or three
words more, in tone half contemptuous.
"Atrsid Of Mrs. MeFlimseyP'
mot Il nor Of forty Mrs. McFlimseysp'
IL was not the ghost Of color that warmed
Mrs CARTONS tseS now, but the crimson Of a
quicker and stronger heart beat. She actual
ly arose from her chair without reaching for
her maids hand, and stood firmly while the
shawl was adjusted and the honnet strings
tied.
"We shall have charming ride" said the
doctor, as be crowded in beside his fashiOna-
ble lady companion, and took up the loose
reins. He noticed that she sat up erectly,
and with scarcely sign of the languor that
but few moments before had oppressed her.
Lean back when you see Mrs MeFlimsey's
carriage, and draw your veil closely. She'll
never dream that it's you."
''Ill get angry if you play on that string
much longer" exclaimed Mrs. Carlton;
what do care for Mrs. McFlimsey ?"
How eharmiugly the rose-tints flushed her
eneeksl How the light rippled in her dark
sweet eyes, that were leaden little whils be-
Away from the noisy streets, out upon the
smoothly beaten road, and amid green fields
ano woodlands, gardens and hower-decked
orchards. the doctor bore his patient, holding
her all the while ia pleasant ak. How dit
ferent, this, from the listless, companionless
drives taken by the lady in her own carriage
Ia kind Of. easy vibrating machine, that
quiekened the sluggish blood no more than
a cushioned rockingham.
Closely the doctor observed his patient
He saw bow erectly she continued to cit;
bow the color deepsnsd in her face, which
EI