The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-08-19
SELECTED STORY.
A Visit with the Doctor.
BY I. 8. ARTHUR.


most delicately traced, spread its blue mr.
everywhere beneath the trans parent shiiI:
was a beautiful hand-a study for paih,ei
or sculptor. 1t was a soft, neNioIo h" a.
soft, flexible, and velvety TO the ,ouoi % .iie
hand of baby, for it was as nuGn d stranger
to useful work. The doctor iau ni 10 LIZ III, oh
the wrist Under the pressure lie ielt the |
nuIsa heat slowly and evenly. lie took out
his watch and couLted the beatS-seventy in
a minute There was no FEVER, nor unusual
disturbance OF the system. Calmly the bea, I
was ping its appointed work.
GLOW IS your head, Mrs. Carleton?n
The lady moved her head from side IN side
two or three times.
Anything out OF the way there 2,
"My head is well enough, but feel so mis-
erable-so weak, haven't the strength of
child. The least eXertion exhausIs me.n
And the lady shut her eyes, Looking The very
picture of feebeness.
Have you taken the tonic, for which left
a prescription yesterday"
yes, but Pm no stronger"
a.. CIV is your appetizer"
Lave you taken the morning walk in the
garden that l suggested?"
20 dear no! Walk in the garden? l am
faint by the time get to the breakfast room
L can't live at this rate, Doctor. What am |
to DO? Pm a burden to myself and every
one else"
And Mrs. Carleton really looked distressed.
"You ride out every day2"
II did until the carriage was broken and
that was nearly week ago. 1t has been at
the carriage makers ever SINCE"
"You must have the fresh air, Mrs. Garlic
ton" said the doctor, emphatically. "Fresh
ar, change OF scene, and exercise are indis-
pensaple IN your case. You will die if you
remain shut up after this fashion. Come.
take ride with me-"
DoctorW how absurd" exclaimed Mrs
Carleton, almost shocked by the suggestion.
'"Ride with you! What would people think ?"
"A fig for peoples thoughts! Get your
shawl and bonnet and take drive with me.
What do you care for meddlesome peoples
thoughts?" Come"
The doctor knew his patient.
"But you are not in earnest, surely?" There
WIS a halfamused twinkle in the lady's
eyes.
Never more in earnest. Pm going to see
a patient just out of the city, and tue drive
will be charming one. Nothing would
please me better than to have your company"
There was a vein of humor and a spirit
of don't care" in Mrs. Carleton, which had
once made her independent, and almost hoy
denish. But fashionable associations, since
her woman lire began, had toned her down IL
TO exceeding prop iety. Fashion and conven-
uonallty, however, were losing their influence
since enfeehed health kept her feet back
from the worlds gay places; and the doctors
invitation to ride found her sufficiently dis
CENTRALIZED to see in it pleasing novelty
i've halt a mind to CO." she said, smiling.
She bad not smiled before since the doctor
came in.
"Pll ring for your maid," and Dr. Farleieb's
hand was on the bel-rOpe before Mrs. Carrie
ton had space to think twice, and endanger
change Of thought.
m hot 3p,
the effort" SAID Mrs. Carleton, and she laid
her head back upon the cushions in feeble
way.
Trust nae for that" replied the doctor.
The maid came In.
bring me a shawl and bonnet. Alice. 7
am golng to ride out with the DOCTOR" Very
languidly was the sentence spoken.
I'M AFRAID, doctor, it will be too much for
me. You know how weak | am, The very
thought OF such an effort exhausts me.n
NOT thought of the effort" replied the
doctor. at isn't that"
"What is it."
"a thought of appearance-of what people
will say" "''' poopie
"Now, doctor, you don't think me so weak
in that direcuion?"
"Just so weak" was the free spoken an
swer You fashionable people are all afraid
OF each other. You haven't spark of indi-
vlduahty or independence. No, not spark!
lou are quite strong enough to ride out in
your own elegant carriage-but with the doc.
tor-O dear, no! If you were certain of not
meeting Mrs. McFlmsey, perhaps the expert
ment might be adventured. But She IS al
ways out on fine days."
Doctor, for shame! How can you saw
that?" '
And 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
VI. farlelgh, as we have intimated, under
stood his patient, and said just two or three
words more, in tone half contemptuous.
Afraid of Mrs. McFlimsey? Not I.nor of
forty Mrs. McFlimseys."
1t was not the ghost of collar that qor,oaa
Mrs. Cartoons face now; but the crimson of
quicker heart-beats. She actually arose from
her chair without reaching for her maids
hand, and stood firmly while the shawl was
adjusted and the bonnet strings tied.
we shall have charming ride" said the
doctor, as he crowded in beside his fashiona-
BILE lady companion and took the loose reips.
lie notced that she sat up erectly, and with
scarcely sign of the languor that but few
minutes ago had so oppressed her.
Lean back when you see Mrs. McFlmsey's
carriage, and draw your veil closely. She
will never dream that it is you.n
"Pll get angry if you play on that strino
much longerr' exclaimed Mrs. Cari Istans
what DO care for Mrs. McFHmsey?"
How charming the tints flushed her sweet
eyes, that were leaden little before.
Away from the noisy streets, out upon the
smoothly beaten road, and amid green fields
ana woodlands, gardens and flower decked
orchards, the doctor bore his patient. HOLDING
her all the while in pleasant talk
How different this from the listless. COM
panionless drives taken by the lady in her
own o, carrlage-a kind OF easy vibrating ma
chlne, that quckened the sluggish blood no
more than cushioned rockingham.
Closely the doctor observed his patient. He
saw now erecty she continued to sit: how
the color deepened in her face, which actual
~ seemed rounder and fuller; how the sense
OF enjoyment fairly danced in her ewes,
returning to the city by different road
tne doctor, after driving through streets en-,
h Sny uniaular 10 ms companion, drew up
peIore row OF mean-looking DWELLINGS, and
dropping the rens, stepped upon the pave
ment, al Inc same time reaching out his hand
10 MRS. Carleton. But she drew back. say
ing:
What is thesmeaning of this, doctor?n
see her." ~" "
"oh no; excuse me, DOCTOR I've no taste
for such things" answered the lady.
Come can't leave you alone in tbe oar
with YOU" w vain on
MRS. Carleton glanced at the patient old
morse, Whom the doctor was slander;no nil
slightly alarmed manner. Will
Don't you think he will stand dooton oy
she asked uneasily. uo''or g.
he likes to go home, like Others of bis
TRIBE. Gomez" and the doctor held ont his S
hand in persistent way. '"' LIS
Mrs. carleton looked at the poor tenements
before which the doctors carriage had stnn
pea, with something of disgust and sometbippo
OF apprehension. something
"Why not?" N''oi
~ might take some disease.v
there" S u una panacea /
Inc last sentence was in an undertono
MRS. Carleton left the carriage. and cross
ing Tue pavement, entered one of tbe ionSas
anu passed up with the doctor to the secnnJ
STORY. 10 his light tap at a chamber door q
woman's voice said. ''''oi uoor'
"Come in"
re w door was pushed open. and the doctor
ANU anu MRS. Carleton went in The room was
b Inaa,, ana furnished in the humblest manner,
cIao, Sne alf was pure, and everything looked
Seen ana tidy. In chair, with a pillow
paosseu oack Tor support, sat pale, emaciat
e Gu mInhah, whose large, bright eyes looked up
IS a ~ so unexpected visitor as the lady
baby was seepiug, as sweet and n,,ra iap
beautiful baby as ever Mrs. Caratn 1 tn9
looked upon. The first impulse of her tr, ao
woman's heart, had she yielded to If Wy LIZ
have prompted her to take it in her arn,s so n1
cover it with kisses. "iin' ald
The woman was too weak TO risa tro,,
chair, but she asked Mrs Carlaton o. Hol /