Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-05-07

A VISIT WITH THE DOCTOR.


ssHow are you to-day, Mrs. Carlton ?'' asked
Dr.. Farleigh, as he sat down by his patient, who
reclined languidly in large cushioned chair.
ssMiserable,'' was the family spoken reply
And the word was repeated-"Mserable.''
The doctor took one of the lady's white hands,
on which the net work of veins, most deliber
ately traced, spread its blue lines everywhere
beneath the transparent skin. It was beautiful
hana. A study tor painter or sculptor. 1t
was soft flexible hand-soft, flexible and vel
vety to the touch as the hand Of a baby, for it
was as much stranger to useful work. The
doctor laid his finger on the wrist. Under the
pressure he felt the pulse beat slow and evenly.
He took out his watch and counted the beats
seventy in minute. There was no fever nor
any usual disturbance of the system. Calmly
the heart was doing its work. -e
elbow is your head, Mrs. Carlton ?''
The lady moved her head from side to side two
or three times.
ssAnything out of the way there 2''
ssMy head is well enough, but feel so miser
able-so weak. haven't the strength ola child.
The least exertion eXhausts me-.
| And the lady shut her eyes, looking the pic
ture Of feebeness.
ssHave you taken the tonic lor which left the
| prescription yesterday ?'' ,.st4 r
| eyes, but l. M no stronger
! ssHow is your appetite 90
/ ssBad. -
|
| den that suggested 70 ----e- '--4f- .10teod
| go, dear, no = Walk out in the garden2 Pm
faint by the time that get to the breakfast room.
can't live at this rate, doctor. What am to
| do? Can't you build me up some way? Pm a
burden to myself and every one else.o a9Isod
| And Mrs. Carlton really looked distressed. -
| ossYou ride out every day ?''s .3ai-
81 did until the carriage was broken, and that
was nearly a week ago. 1t has been at the car
lrlage-makers since.''
ssYou must have fresh air, Mrs. Carlton,'' said
the doctor, emphatically. ssFresh air. change
of scene and exercise, Indispensable in your
case. You will die if you remain shut up after
this fashion. Come, take a ride with me.''
| ssDoctor, how absurd - exclaimed Mrs. Carl
ton, almost shocked by the suggestion. ssRide
with you! What would people think ~ G
| GA fig for peoples thoughts. Get your shawl
and bonnet and take drive with me. What do
you care about meddlesome peoples thoughts 7?
Come ?'' VIZ t.t-1 r-ls $50 .fos e-.ief efsa.s-
| The doctor knew his patient. -sa5
| ssBut you're not in earnest, surely ~
| There was half-amused twinkle in the LADY,
eyes. .i5oH su 1ovaE- s-sse.. s..s .. 0na
| ssNever more in earnest. I'm going to see a
patient just out of the city, and the drive will
be charming one. Nothing would please me
| better than to have your company" ~
! There was vein of humor, and spirit of
| esdon't care'' in Mrs. Carlton, which had once
made her independent, and almost hoydenish.-
i BuL IaSQ1OQaDIe dSSOCIdtlOuo, cluCO uCI WOmdu-
| life began, had toned her down into exceeding
propriety. Fashion and eonventionality, how
| ever. were losing their influence, since enfee-
bled health kept her feet back from the worlds 5
gay places; and the DOCTORS invitation to ride
found her sufficiently disenthralled to see in it
pleasing novelty. e
e.Ive half mind to go,'' she said, smiling
She had not smiled before since the doctor came
"I'H ring for your maid," and DR.. Farleigh's
hand was on the bell-rOpe before Mrs. Carlton
had space to think twice, and endanger change
of thought. 9- a-l -.a ,lS.+'9 @12
ssI,m not sure that am strong enough for the
effort" said Mrs. Carlton, and she laid her head
back upon the cushions in feeble way.
ssTrust me for that, !" replied the doctor.
The maid came in. a-4cse p I.o
ssBring me shawl and bonnet, Alice, am
| going to ride out with the DOCTOR" Very Ian
| guidly was the sentence spoken.
"I'm afraid, doctor, it will be too much for
me- You don't know how weak 1 am. The
very thought Of such an effort exhausts me-"
ssNot thought of the effort" replied doctor
Fareigh. esIt isn't that"
ssWhat is it.''
GA thought of appearance-of what the people
will say"
s.Now, doctor, you don't think me so weak in
| that direction
ssJust so weak,' was the free spoken answer.
ssYou fashionable people all afraid of each
other. You haven't spark of individuality or
| true independence. You are quite strong enough
| to ride out in your own elegant carriage but
with the doctor-oh, dear, no! If you were GER
tain of not meeting Mrs. McFlmsey, perhaps
| the experiment might be adventured. But she
is always out on fine days.
ssDoctor-for shame! How can you say that ?''
| And ghost of color crept into the face of
Mrs. Carlton, while her eyes grew brighter-al-
most flashed.
nloo n cbo
| DR.. Farleigh, as we have intimated, understood
his patient and said just two or three words in
| half contemptuous tone.
sAfraid of Mrs. McFlimsey mot 1, nor of
| forty McFlimseys!'' 20
1t was not the ghost of color that warmed
Mrs. Cartoons face now, but the crimson of
quicker and stronger heartbeat. She actually
arose from her chair without reaching for her
| maids hand, and stood firmly while the shawl
was adjusted and the bonnet strings arranged and
| tied.
"We shall have charming ride,'' said the
doctor, as he crowded in beside his fashionable
lady companion, and took up the loose reins.-
He noticed that she sat up erecty, and with
scarcely sign of the languor that but a few
minutes before had so oppressed her.
clean back when you Mrs. McFlimsey's
carriage, and draw your veil closely. She'll
never dream that IT'S YOU"
"I'll get angry if you play on that string much
for Mrs. McFlimsey?"
How charming the rose-tints flushed her on
her cheeks How the light rippled in her dark
sweet eyes, that were leaden little while be-
fore.
Away from the noisy streets, ont upon the
smoothly beaten road, and amid green fields and
woodlands, gardens and fower-decked orchards,
the doctor bore his patient, and held her all the
while in pleasant talk. How different this from
the listiess, companionless drives taken by the
lady in her own carriage kind of easy, vibra-
ting machine, that quickened the sluggish blood
no more than cushioned rocking chair.
Closely the doctor observed his patient. He
saw how erectly she continued to sit; how the
color deepened in her face, which actually SEEM
ed rounder and fuller how the sense of enjoy
ment fairly danced in her eyes,
Returning to the city by different road, the
doctor, after driving through streets entirely
unfamiliar to his companion drew up his horse