Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1870-09-09
THE DOCTORS STORY.

coffee ready -
"Yes, it is all prepared, and the
slippers toasting in front of the big
easy chair. / wish he would come
I wish he would come! Mildred
suppose You and make solemn
mutual contract, never to marry q
doctor ?"
l laughed involuntarily at my lit
tie sisters face of comic serious
ness.
I'VE had much better wait until
a doctor woos u.s." l said, with 6
grave, elders -sisterly air "Get your
book, Minnie; we can read page
at least in that odd old German
story while we are waiting"
How the tempest ragged around
our house on that dreary December
night! Minnie and l shuddered in
stinctively, safe and sheltered as we
knew ourselves to be, beside the
white hot CRATE, with velvet carpets
underneath our feet, and crimson
curtains, shutting out the tempestu-
Gus storm and darkness of the outer
world. We had closed the piano
and laid aside our drawing, and
were now sitting side by side,
thoughtfully awaiting Uncle Nor
daunt's return, for the clock pointed
to midnight and he had been absent
since comparatively early hour in
the evening.
AT length there was sharp,
quick ring at the door bell, a fa.nil-
lar footstep, stamping off the snow
in the hall below, and Uncle Nor
daunts genial face appeared framed
in furs. and rosy as winters ap-
pie with a touch OF the keen night
air.
Well, girls, sitting up for me,
Ell ? Upon my word, l think you're
in a fair way to spoil the old bach
elor," he said cheerily.
eve could not 60 to bed while
you were out on such a night as
this, uncle" said Minnie, a house
wifely little sprite, as she rang the
bell for the customary cup of smo-
king coffee; while /, the eldest, yet
most petted one, took my seat
close beside the big arm chair, with
my cheek nestled upon my uncle's
knee.
"How did it happen that you
were detained so late, uncle ?" asked
Minnie.
81 have been at the death bed of
an old friend toni yht," said Dr.
Mordaunt, thoughtfully gazing at
the ruby red glow of the Goals as he
stirred his fragaEt coffee.
San old friend, uncle! Who can
it be?
sDo you remember seeing Thorn
ton Gray here occasionally 2"
"What! that tall slender man.
with large black eyes, that Minnie
calls caves of smouldering fire. and
hair curiously streaked with gray ?"
EXACTLY, my lovep' "Well, it
was to his bed side that l was sum-
moned tonight, and he is dead.
Fortunate man, repeated my un-
Gle slowly, she is deadF
Why do you call him fortunate,
Uncle Mordaunt p | asked, half
awed by the singular tone OF his
voice.
because, Mildred, his life has
been sorrowful dream-a success
sion of mistakes, darkly shadowed
with mystery; and now, at last, the
curtain of gloom is lifted on the
other shore of the dark river!'
Tell VS. about it, UNCLE" 1 said.
"Listen, then, my DEAR" said Mr..
Mordaunt stroking down my curls
with an involuntary movement of
his hand-a motion that l felt was
only semi conscious s'Let me see;
it is now eighteen-nineteen-yes,
twenty years-how time flies; to be
sure since | went down from the
vicinity of New York to a small
inland village by stage coach, then
the most usual method of travel. 1t
vas dismal stormy night, not un,
like the present one, and my fellow
passenger was woman closely
yelled, and apparently in great dis
tress of mind. Once when the
stage-coach stopped for moment
in front of some brilliantly lighted
inn-door, caught glimpse Of ner
face as she restless'y adjusted the
folds Of her thick black veil. 1t
was that of a young girl, scarcely
more than sixteen and surprisingly
lovely. Once or twice, in the dark
ness, l thought heard a sob, anu
was almost tempted to speak, and
ask her what her troubles were."
"Oh, uncle, why did not you?"
reproached Minnie.
Il probably should, were l placed
in similar circumstances now; there
is no knowing what good a chance
word of cheer, or sympathy, may
sometimes effect, but was younger
and more timid then, and she was a
total stranger to me. At village
called Branford, the stage stopped
for the night, and l saw no more of
my mysterious companion.
"The next morning l was adjust
ing my fur wrappings on the steps
of the unpretentious hotel, and
waiting rather impatiently for the
numbering old stage coach to report
itself, when boy came rapidly up
the one main street of the village.
"Please, sir" he calculated breath
lessly, "are you physician ?"
AYE, my lad; what's wanting ?"
"Will you step this way, sir"
They've just taken a woman's body
out of the river, and father SAYS may
be there's spark of life In it yet.
Oh, sir, make haste please" he adj
ded, "she's so pretty and SO girlish
looking!'
"What was it that reminded m