The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-11-06

began to be interested; the man might
be better than had thought: some poor
fellow, perhaps, who had been in the foot
ball of fortune, and had not received his
desserts.
els this woman your wife?" 1 kindly
inquired.
believe he heard me; but as he did
not answer, l concluded not to repeat the
question.
We soon turned into some small, mean,
dark, narrow streets, where none but the
poorer class live. We now walked for
ward in silence-the man, who still had
hold of my arm, as if he were afraid l
might otherwise give him the slip, taking
long, rapid st-;Gss, ~-.de~--s;-.ss NO Ito
tie exertion to keep step with him.
AT length he turned into dark court
where could see nothing but few din
gy buildings on either hand; and l thought
if his object was to rob me, was COM
pletely in his power. At the end of this
court he stopped, opened door, and led
me up flight Of creaking stairs, where |
could see nothing at all. At the top of
these stairs we groped our way forward a
few feet, and then he opened the door into
the room of the patient. The apartm ent
was small and plainly furnished, with
lamp standing on little table not far from
the bed. An old woman who was leaning
over the sufferer, looked quickly and eager
ly around at our entrance, and seeing me,
exclaimed:
'Is he doctor9"
"Yes, yes, I've got a doctor at last, God
be praised, if it amt too late !" replied the
man, hurriedly; adding, almost in the
same breath, "How is she, Mary? how is
she ?"
The old woman shook her head and
sighed out:
"She's had three on 'em since you left
and she's in the fourth now, poor dear"
"Oh, my God" groaned the man, sink
ing down upon the nearest seat. "Doctor,
you hear! Oh, save her! save her?
l hurried to the bed, and found the pa
tient in convulsions. The spasms ceased
almost Immediately, a quantity of viscid
matter was elected, and u snoring rcspira-
tion followed. The face was flushed, the
head hot, and the pulse rapid. decided
that she must be bled, and lost no time in
opening vein. | then sent for ice, and
applied it in moderation to her head. l
remained with her through the night, and
left her at daylight il a tranans4 S-IeeP,
with directions to be followed in caee Of II
return OF the spasms.
The man who gave his name as Ralph
Wagner, came down to the door with me
and thrust a half eagle into my hand.
'How is she?" he asked, in trembling
voice. is she better? can you save
herW
''She is better, l think, and hope she
can be saved" L replied.
ooh, doctor, will you come again to-
day."
"Yes, this afternoon, toward night, after
l shall have got some sleep and visited
some few patients that cannot be neglect
ed"
"Don't desert us, doctor for Gods sake,
don't!" fairly pleaded the man, with tears
in his eyes. at ia
assured him l would not, gave him
my address, and bade him send for me at
any time, if change should take place for
the worse.
From that time the patient gradually
mended, and in the course Of week was
out of danger and had her reason. 1 had
seen her every day during this time, and
had become not little interested in her.
She was not an ordinary woman. Her
age judged to be about twenty-five or
SIX, and her features, though marked by
suffering were intellectual and still beau
tlful. Her hair was light brown, soft
almost to sickness, and she had the sweet
est blue eyes and prettiest mouth l ever
beheld. Her voice, too, had that rich
mellowness which so captivate the ear,
and her language denoted education, and
her manners refinement.
Great was the contrast between this
pretty, delicate flower, and the big, coarse
featured, awkward, uneducated and, |
must add, totally unpreposessing Ralph
Wagner: and though 1 tanciod could
comprehend how such man might love
her to the whole extent of his rough ma
ture, L confess was at loss to account
for true reciprocity, if indeed there was
any such thing. That his ardent attach
ment to her might excite some kind of
sympatby-some emotion akin to pity. and
PSAA"Po SA"oieuuO tuOuSuI possible Dut
that there should exist anything like true,
mutual love, seemed as contrary to the
laws of nature as for the dove to love the
tiger. And yet how many such incongru-
tiles we see paired, if not mated-married
by law, if not in spirit
The day that 1 made what intended
should be my last visit, l found my fair
patient sitting in chair and crying as if
her heart would break. She was alone.
"This is very bad for you to be exciting
your nervous system in this mannerl' /
said in kindly, reproving tone. elias
anything happened too serious for little
calm philosophy to masterS"
"Oh doctor" she exclaimed, ~ am a
poor, miserable, heart-broken woman, alone
and friendlessW
"Oh, not quite so bad as that, I think p
l answered lightly. "Where is your hus-
band 2"
This was the first time l had ever spo-
ken the word to her, and looked to sea ii
she received it as a familiar, unquestioned
| fact. She shuddered and covered her
eyes with her hands. rs a,,