The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-02-14
BY 7. S. ARTHUR.

How are you to-day, Mrs. Carleton ~ asked
DIR. Farleigh, as he sat down by his patient, who
reclined languidly in n large cushioned chair.
Miserable was the family spoken reply
And the word vas Tepeated-'M Miserable"
The doctor took one of the lady's small white
hands, on which the network Of veins, most deli
eately traced, spread its blue lines everywhere
beneath the Transparent skin. 1t was a beauti.
full hand-a study for a painter or sculptor. II
was u soft, flexible hand-sOft, flexible. and vel
vsty to the touch, rs the hand Of a baby, for il
was as much a stranger to useful work. The
doctor laid his fingers on the wrist. Under the
pressure he felt the pulse beat slowly and evenly.
tie took out his watch and counted the beats
seventy in a minute. There was no fever, nor
any unusual disturbance Of the system. Calmly
the heart was doing its appointed work.
d" How is your head, Mrs. Carleton %
The lady moved her head from side to side two
or three times.
Anything out of the way there?'
MY head is well enough, but / feel so misera-
ble-so weak l haven't the strength of n child.
The least exertiOn exhausts me-"
And the lady shut her eyes, looking the picture
of feebleness.
"Have you taken the tonic, for which I left a
prescription yesterday"
Yes but I'm no stronger"
How is your appetite? ?"
8 Bad"
"Haye you taken the morning walk in the
garden that I suggested?'
90 dear, no! Walk out in the garden I'm
faint by the time i get TO the breakfast-rOOm [
can't live at this rate, doctor. What am l to
do Can't yJu build me up in some way7 I'm
a burden to myself and every one else"
And Mrs. Carleton really looked distressed.
You ride out every day?'
"I did until the carriage was broken, and that
was nearly q week ago. 1t has been at the car
riage-maker's ever since"
'You must have the fresh air, Mrs. Carleton
said the doctor, ernphaticaIly. '. Fresh air, change
Of scene. and exercise are indispensable in your
case You will die If you remain shut up after
this fashion. Come, take n ride with me-"
Doctor how absurd ~ exclaimed Mrs. Car
Teton, almost shocked by the suggestion. Ride
with you, What would people think"
"A fig for peoples thoughts, Get your shawl
and bonnet and take a drive with me. What do
you care for meddlesOme peoples thoughts
Come"
The doctor knew his patient.
q" But you're not in earnest. sureIy?' There
was Il halfamused twinkle in the lady's eyes.
Never more in earnest. I'm going to see a
patient just out of the city, and the drive will be
n charming one. Nothing would please me bet
ter than to have your company"
There was u vein of humOI, and a spirit of
= don't care" in Mrs. Carleton, which had once
made her independent, and almost hoyendish.
But fashionable associations. since her wOman-life
began, had toned her down to exceeding propriety.
Fashion and eDnyentiOnalitv, however, were losing
their influence, since enfeebled health kept her
A~@N 11n ia Wv VAA = 10y IlDIEG . IL EBt
doctors invitation 10 a ride found her sufficiently
disenthralled to see in it a pleasing novelty.
I've half n mind to CO." she said, smiling.
She had not smiled before since the doctor came
in.
I'll ring for your maid and Doctor Far
leigh's hand was ON the ~beIl-rope before Mrs.
Carleton had space To think twice, and endanger
a change of thought.
"Ifm not sure that ! am strong enough for the
EFFORT said Mrs. Carleton, and she laid her
bead hank rYrnp Tho nttzhTrpa - q. E.II 49,.
Trust me for that" replied the doctor.
The maid came in.
Bring me 4 shawl, and nv bonnet, Alice; 7
am going % ride out with the doctor" Very
languidly was the sentence spoken.
"Gm afraid, doctor, 1t viii be too much for
me. You don't know how weak | am. The
very thought of such IN effort exhausts me-"
:. Not u thought of the effort replied Doctor
Farleigh. "It isn't that"
"What is it?'
"A thought Of appearance-Of what people
will say"
" Now, doctor you don't think me 50 weak in
that direction
just 80 weak was the free-spoken answer.
% You fashionable people are all afraid of each
other. You haven't a spark of individuality or
true independence. No, not u spark You are
quite strong enough To ride out in your own ele-
CANT carriage-but with the doctor oh. dear,
no. IL you We're certain Of not meeting Mrs.
Met!imsey, perhaps the experiment might be adj
ventured. But, she is always out on fine days"
Doctor. for shame How can you say that?
And a ghost of color crept into the face Of
Mrs. Carleton, while her eyes grew brighter
almost flashed.
The maid came In with shawl and bonnet.
Doctor Farleigh, as we have intimated, under
stood his patient, and said just two OF three
words more half cOnteInptuOus.
=" Afraid Of Mrs. IcFlimsey >"
Not | /; nor Of forty Mrs. N~eEIimseys,"
IL was not the ghost of color that warmed Mrs.
face now, but the crimson Of a quicker
and strong heartbeat. She actually arose from
her chair without reaching for her maids hand.
and stood firmly while the shawl was adjusted
and the bOnnet-strirgs tied.
1--WE shall have n charming ride" said the
doctor, rs he crowded in beside his fashionable
lady-eOmpInion, and took up the loose reins. He
noticed that she sat up erectly, and with scarcely
a sign of the hinguOr that bIt a few minutes be-
had so oppressed her. LEAN back when
you see Mrs. McFlimsey's carriage, and draw
your vail closely. She'll never dream that it's
you"
I'll get angry if you play on that string much
longer ?" exclaimed Mrs. Carleton &. what do |
care for Mrs. NcFIimSey?" /
How eharmingly the r~osc-tints flushed her
checks, How the light rippled in her dark
eyes, that We're ieIden "A little while before.
Away from the noisy streets, out upon the
rnOOthiy-beaten road, and amid green fields and
woodlands, gardens and hower-decked orchards.
the doctor bore his patient, holding her all the =
while in pleasant talk. How different, this. from
the listless. companionless drives taken by the :
in her own carriIge-a kind Of easy, yibra- q
ing machine, that quickened the sluggish blood -
10 more than 4 cushioned rOcking-chair.
Closely the doctor observed his patient. He
aw how erectly she continued 70 sit; how the :
.,I,r daapened in her fIce- which actually ssemad "