The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-09-16

man OF your husband in few months, at
the longest; but as true as / sit here be-
fore you, cannot do this alone"
Why have 1 not been informed of this
before?" broke in Mrs. Stephens, imperi-
ously.
Who was there to inform you, madam?
Your husband does not know his condition,
and l should really like to be 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 are nothing, compared
to my husbands" Mrs. Stepens was
weeping again. "There is no sacrifice l
would not make for him."
"Curious creatures r' muttered the Doc
tor; delightful bundles of contradictions
How the mischief should l 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 generally testify their
regard for their husbands? ?"
"Oh, don't, Doctor Ellis, please don't" !"
pleaded the terrified woman. "Iwill never
complain again-never-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. I shall take
it for granted, madame, that you know
something about physiology and can fol-
low me without difficulty %
"Oh yes-yes, for mercy's sake, 60 on. :"
very well; find that the pericardium"
"The pericardium ?" repeated Mr.. Ste
phens.
"You know what that is, ! suppose ?"
Evidently Mrs. Stephens anatomical
knowledge was limited. She shook her
head in despair. Something about the
heart, isn't it p'' she asked at last.
eyes, the pericardium is the membra-
neous sac that holds the heart. Well,
sometimes this sac-it is no matter about
particulars, Mrs. Stephens" and Doctor
Ellis suddenly came to stand still.
at is enough, though, for me to say
that we are both passably anxious that
this heart should remain where it belongs.
Mr.. Stephens must be amused. He wants
the opera, the lecture, the social circle,
entertaining books-a happy home-music.
You play and sing, do you not, Mrs. Ste
phens ?"
"Oh yes-I used to-" and Mrs. Ste
phens' tones were SO pitiful now that big
Doctor 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. "Well, try it again get
a teacher, and go to practicing."
"But how am / going to manage my
spasms ?" sobbed the lady.
"Well, perhaps between us both-you
using your will power, and thinking of
your husband, going out with him, and
taking care of him-and l doing my best in
my way, we may be able to subdue them
but you must remember this madam-do
not let Mr.. Stephens have the faintest sus-
picion that you think anything is the mat
ter with him and above all don't treat
him like an invalid. Just amuse him, and
all that you kno W, just as you used to
when you were first married"
Another series of sobs from Mrs. Ste
phens.
The Doctor arose to go. His patient had
entirely forgotten that he had left no pre-
scription.
"About tea, Doctor?" she asked, as he
prepared to leave. "Do you think it very
hurtful ?"
AS an occasional tonic, have no OBJ
lection to tea but as daily beverage,
madam, it is an invention of the devil.
Good morning"
John Stephens sought his home that
evening with heavy heart. His wife he
believed confirmed invalid, or hypochon-
driac-it mattered little which one was as
bad as the other. His remonstrances and
pleading had proved Of no avail; and he
was doubtful even whether his wife loved
him. He opened the door softly with his
latch-key This had become habitnal /;
seldom did the gentleman show himself to
his wife until after the dinner bell had
summoned the family to the dini ng-room.
A strain of music met and transhxed
him ON the very threshold. Abbot's beau
tiful song was being rendered, and his wife
was the musician. He was just in time to
hear
The eyes that cannot weep
Are the saddest eyes Of alp
For full year this charming voice had
IL.