The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1872-07-12
A Story Told by a Physician.

1
was sitting in my Office, half dozin.
over an interminable article on defect
i've nutrition, in the last medical re-
| view.
The fire in the CRATE was low, the
night was stormy and the clock was OF
the stroke of eleven. I was just
about to turn off the the gas and re.
tire, for, being bachelor, I slept in the
room connected with my Office, wher
there was pull at the bell.
I started up suddenly, for this was
something new. Middlebury was q
decorous sort of place, and people
usually managed to be taken sick al
seasonable hours.
Old Mrs. Jerome had been threaten
ing to die for the past five years, anG
at every visit paid her she solemnly
informed me that when the decisive
moment did come she desired me pres
ent. But as nothing allied the old
lady beyond now and then an indigest.
ion from too much high living, 1 had
never yet been called upon to be pres
ent at her death.
Now, I thought, it must be old Mrs
Jerome is going.
took up my night lamp and went
to the door. A strong gust of damp
sleety wind nearly extinguished tn,
light, but shading it with my hand,
dimly discerned the form of woman.
"Come in," said holding open tn,
door, but she declined with a gesture
Of impatience.
"You must come out, she said in ;
sharp incisive voice, 'and be quicl
about it,"
l put on my oyercoat without dcmur
locked the surgery door, and stepped
into the storm. As / did SO the woman
laid firm hand on my arm, and put
ting her face close to mine, said:
cdr Lockwood, can you keep a
secret?'
Il think so, madam"
"Swear it..
els this secret of a professional char
acter? That is, is it anything you wish
to con6de in me as a medical MANI"
ssItis."
Every well, then, I swear it,"
"That is right" ..
A man respects an oath, though why
he should is a mystery, since men,
mouths are running over with them.
"Whither are you taking me and fo
what purpose?"
ITO the Clifton house to see the mis-
tress."
l started. ......
Clifton house was the old mansion
recently taken by DR.. Spencer, stran
ger to every one in Middlebury. spen
Ger was a tall, dark, rather distinguish
ed looking man, who had hung out hi
sign in the village, only a few doors
above mine, but as yet he had got nc
practice.
He was unsocial in the extreme
avoiding his neighbors persistently, ant
when he did speak it was in such cur
half-savage way, that one was not likel.
to attempt prolonging the converse
ton.
The doctor had wife, it was said
but no one ever saw her. She was al
invalid, and Miss Melrose, friend o.
the family presided over the establish
ment and sat at the head of tn
table.
Miss Melrose was yet beautiful, an,
won the admiration Of all who visite.
Clifton House by her grace Of name
and facinating conversation.
CAS- we walk along" said my com
panion, "let me explain to you jus
what it is necessary you should know
My mistress is very ILL.,"
Il beg your pardon-is it Mrs
Spencer OF Miss Melrose?"
She laughed bitterly.
Miss Melrose! I would stab her t.
heart sooner than own her as mistress
| My mistress is lady-noble, royal ant
Of gentle birth. 1t is an honor to serve
my mistress"
\ .,,a IT "a,