The Van Buren press., 1873-10-28


troubles. How about health, madam ?"
Health ?" repeated the lady with a
smile, she intended to be sarcastic to the
last degree "Heslth1 Doctor Ellis !!
Why, there isn't a healthier or o sounder
man than my husband in the whole Uni
ted States Ho eats more in one meal
than | do in three months.
"There is nothing the matter with
your husbands sfomcth, Mrs. Stephens
DR. Ellis shaded his face with his hand,
and waited further Developments. Mrs
Stephens mistook this attempt at forced
concealment for emotion, and immediate
iy assumed sitting posture, brushed her
hair away from her forehead, and looked
plercngly into her companion's face.
"Why do you acccpt the word .stom-
ach' SO strongly, Doctor Ellis2' she en-
! Quired in anxious tones Mrs Stephens
was forgetting herself, and this the Doc.
tor hailed as an excellent omen.
Only that might make you under
stand that a mans digestion could be
most unexccptionahle, and yet he be far
! from sound in other directions.
Then do you mean to tell me that my
husband is sick p
~ do
Perhaps you will SO still further, and
say dangerously 7
"If You desire it. "
"Oh, Doctor Ellis, how cold and an
feeling you are should think you
ought to know by this time, and just
here Mrs Stephens broke down entirely,
and sobbcd as if her heart would break.
"Ought to know what, Mrs Sta-
phens ?" inquired the Doctor, with un-
called for deliberation.
You ought to know-te know--that
my-my husbands health aud life are Of
good deal more consequence to me
than my own"
"Ah, indeed, interrupted the physi-
clan, with AN elevation Of his bushy eye
brows, immensely suggestive Of acontra
nv opinion, as we'll as several excellent
reason. for said opinion.
doctor Ellis, will you be kind enough
to tell me what's the matter with my hus-
band 7"
Mrs. Stephens was now on her feet
tears all wiped away, eyes aashiug with
resentrul spirit, and only little quivcr
of the lip, to show how deep wound the
kind heart in her bosom had sustained.
There she stood reproachtul, defiant, de
tcrmined, womanly. The Doctor was de-
lighted, and such an honest face 1t was,
that he carried round with him from door
to door, from sunrise to sunset, every
day in the year, that it was q mighty
hard matter to keep it from an immediate
BETRAYAL Of the whole purpose
Mrs Stephens, said he, "you hays
no cause to be alarmed. II can on.
" get your co operation in this business,
feel certain that shall be able to make
we'll man of your husband in few
months, at the longest; but. as true rs
sit here before you, ! cannot do this
alone.
"Why have / not been informed Of
this before p broke in Mrs Stephens i'm
periously
am? Your husband does not know his
condition, and should really like to bc
told when you have been sufficiently calm
to hear all that was necessary for you to
know"
"But, Doctor Ellis, should think you
ought to have understood that my own
health and comfort arc nothing, compar-
ed to nv husbands (" Mrs Stephens
was weeping again. d" There is no sacr-
fee would not make for him. "
"Curious creatures' muttered the
Doctor. "dtlightful bundles Of contra
dictions! How the mischief should ]
know, Mrs Stephens. how much you
care for your husband? | am sure You
have spent the last half hour complaining
about him. Is that the way women gen
orally testify their regard tor their hus-
bands ?"
"Oh. don't Doctor Ellis, please don't,
pleaded the terrified woman 81 will
never complain again nevcr-if you will
only let me know what ! can do for him.
Do YOU know, Doctor had begun to
think lately that something must be amiss
with him. he was growing so irritable
Poor dear how wicked and thoughtless
| have been.
"This then. is the trouble. shall
take it for granted, madam, that yon
know something about physiology, and
can follow me without difficulty ?"
"Oh yes-yes, for mercy's sake, 60
on"
every we'll; and that the psricardi
UNI"
"The pericardium Z" repeated Mrs
Stephens.
rYou know what that 10, I suppose p
Evidcs.lv Mrs. Stephens anatomical
knowledge wa. limited. She shook her
head in despair. Something about the
heart. isn't it :" she asked 1T last.
"Ycs, the pericardium is the membra
pcous sac that holds the heart. Well,
sometimes this sac--it Is no matter about
Mrs. Stephens, and Doctor
Ellis suddenly camo to q stand still.
ct is enough, though, for me to say
that wo are both passably anxious that
this heart should remain where is 0elongs
Mr.. Stephens must be amused. lie wants
the opera, the lecture, the social sirclo,
en!ertaining books-a happy home -mu-
sic. You play and sing. :" YOU not
Mrs. stephens9"
"Oh yes--I used to-" and Mrs Ste
phens' tones were 50 pitiful now that big
DR. Ellis really and truly was obliged to
wipe both his eyes and his nose. Before
he was aware, the lachrymal duct had got
the upper hand. "Wsll, try it again
get a teacher, and go to practicing. F"