The weekly standard., 1869-09-08
The Yellow Ribbon.

DR.. Amman sat in his Office, casting up
yearly accounts. "Yes," he said, after care
full consideration, II think can get carpet
and some new chairs here next year.
want one new chair, anyway" moving un-
easily; 81 ought to paint and paper. too. 1
wonder if 1 could afford to do both If
made my old harness last, could perhaps
l can find a secondhand one''
Like many other country physicians, DR..
Amman, though well educated and of unusual
ability, was poor. His was hard, prosaic
life to one of his temperament and culture,
but he saw no CLEAN of hope in the future.
There he was settled, there he must die.
He was interrupted by summons to a
lady visitor at the rectory. In moment he
had stepped from the dingy office and his
dingy figures to room filled with bits of
tropics, in the shape of rich bright shawls
and jewels, with fragments of Partisan
fancy, with flower cups dispensing the hues
and glow Of a last summers heaven, and
on sofa woman, pressing her hand to her
brow
DR.. Amman sat down by her, laid his finger
on her pulse, and looked down on her
face. Where had she come from, this con-
cretion of creamy delicacy and deep spark
ling bloom, with full, rich life kindling
every fbre2 In the world, whence she had
wandered hither, were there others like
her, fit to be her mates. nurtured as she
had been, living the life she had lived DR..
Amman was a plain country doctor, thirty
years old, just from calculations about
secondhand harness but as he sat with his
hand on that hot brow, am afraid his refec-
cyrnr pnfn aotl,, Nf 80,
and his infallible pharmacopaia. =,
"Have you been subject to these attacks 2"
he asked at length.
"Yes," answered Miss Emo, for the last few
weeks. This is the worst, though"
"There is a serious arrangement of the
nervous SYSTEM" he said, "and it will take
time to cure it." E
"But you can give me something to re-
lieve this pain, can't you, doctor 2" and the
large, melting eyes looked up at him with in
finite entreaty. ~
"Certainly," he replied, something tenn
porary, for tonight. But must see you
again if am to do you much good"
eff you will only give me relief now,"
said Miss Emo, II shall be so grateful that 1
will be glad to see you again as often as you
will come" -. ..-''... .......
At home once more in his shabby office
there came another knock, and his landlady
appeared at the door. Its Mrs. Green's
child again, sir"
"And what is the matter now with Mrs.
Green's child9" asked he impatiently.
'.His mother thinks he's eaten something
that Isn't good for him, and it's gor tangled
round his heart" replied Mrs. Tompkins.
Tangled round his granny N exclaimed
Dr. Amman. It's the woman outside ~
SC Yes, she's here"
''Tell her to come In. Well, Mrs. Green,
what has your boy been gorging himself
with now 2"
II can't tell, sir" said Mrs. Green. sTve
given him every remedy know Of"
mo wonder he don't get better then,n
muttered the doctor, and sat without speak
ing for several minutes.
"rd been taking home some fine things.n
pursued Mrs. Green, shat I'd been getting
up for the lady at the rectory, and as see
the light in here thought I'd stop.n
DR.. Amman faced round and stared fixedly
at the woman She had the handling, then.
of the lace and frills that clung to that
soft, warm neck.
"She's quite poorly tonight" continued
Mrs. Green. "Maybe you've been there
''That night DR.. Annan's mind was filed
with images of Guinevere and Cleopatra.
"Confound it |" he exclaimed, starting up
as the clock struck twelve, 'what does this
mean 2" and he went resolutely to bed.
Two hours after saw him again seated by
Miss Eno's couch. His drops had failed to
quiet that surging brain. He tried magnet
izing her. While the hours of the night
throbbed away, he sat with his hands press
ed on her knotted temples, her pale, palpi.
! tating face beneath his intense gaze, her