Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-06-28

breaking in upon the Doctors train Of thought.
be stsmmeFed, ''That is-ah, yes-exouse me
don't think quite understood your question"
Kate, although intensely absorbed in her book,
j was forced 10 take refuge behind it to hide q
malicious little smile, and reading softly to her,
self the closing line Of a verse in " The Raven,
"only this and nothing morep
She could with difficulty resist the temptation 10
give 1t aloud, 81 an appropriate supplement to
the Doctor'sreply to her grandmother's question
Even this neat opportunity for shot at the enc
emy did not, however induce Kate to open her
lips, for she WAS 30 incensed at the reception
which the Doctor had given her, that she de-
clared to herself she would neYer speak to him
again unless compelled to do 80.
Being young lady Of no little spirit size
might, for Rught we know, have adhered to her
resolution had not little Bob fallen ILL., Typhoid
fever prevailed in tha village and he was one Of
it's earliest victims.
Bob had been Kates pet and darling ever since
he Icy, tiny baby, in his cradle. Now she be-
came his untiTing nurse, watching over him, ad-
mnisteTing all his medicine, and scarcely leaving
him by day or by night The Doctor. too, was
often at Bob'B bedside noting with keen anxiety
every symptom of his disease lifting him gently
in his strong arms, aud soothing his pain and
restleasneas with every possible device, until In
his anxious tenderness for the little sufferer Kate
half forgot her former enmty and found no room
In her heart for any but grateful thoughts, But
little Bob, in spite of all their care, grew worse
and worse, until at last life hung by the slender.
est thread.
Kate was worn out with care, anxiety and the
want of rest. The Doctor found her one after
noon lowering over Bob, with cheeks glowing
fevsrshly, aud q look Of awful weariness in her
face. Pouring few drops from a small bottle
into tumbler, and filing it with water, he said
TO her;
Drink this, and go and lie down Immediate
y"
Kate protested, but the doctor insisted, prom
Using to call her should there be any change for
the worse.
=" Don't be afraid to trust him with me- he
said II love hun too"
"a But not M / do" said Kate, with quivering
lip.
Nevertheless she went to her room and under
the influence of the soothing drink which tue
doctor had prepared tor her. was soon sleeping
soundly. It was not until two hours had passed
that she awoke, amazingly refreshed. but shock
cd at the length of tune she had been absent
from the sick room Hurryiug thIther, she
found the doctor standing al the bedside. gazing
at Bob with look Of intense relief and satlsfac-
ton The small, wasted frame that for many
weeks had seldom rested from its painful tossing
was quiet and the little fellow lay in a sweet
and natural sleep, with tiny drops OF cool per.
spration standing all over his white forehead,
THE crisis is past" said the docior.-"L Little
Bob Ia safe
" Oh Doctor are you sure p cried Kate.
Quite sure" was the doctors reply and
poor Kate, half crazed with au iden JOY seized
his hand frantcslly with both her. own. She
would haye dropped 1t quite % quickly had she
not suddenly fouui herself held fast aud the
doctor eagerly asking:
Kate can't we be friends 2"
We must suppose that Kate concluded they
could, and thai Il variety OF interesting exp.ana-
tions were entered into within the next half
hour for when little Bob awoke, and seeing
the two together, seemed to wander back IN his
mind to the day of Kate's return from her long
visit he asked, with his weak, thin little voice :
Doctor you are glad to SEQ Kate, aren't youl"
very" the doctor again replied, and this time
proceeded to demonstrate his satisfaction after
Bobs own fashion
I'm 80 glad" said little Bob with contented
sigh, as his heavy eyeds dropped and he fell
into q sweet untroubled sleep.
Dear little Bob! who was quite content to find
out that those whom he loved, loved each other
And poor little Bob who must toss and moan
through the weary weeks of pain. theae two
Watching by bis bedside might also find 1t out.
And the Widow Fletcher, what did sue say on
discovering whstvery social attentions DR., Brent
was paying TO her granddaughter Dear old
lady! we never heard that she was in the least
offended by them.