The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-12-25

fully at her, and said to Mrs. Brown :
"There's no time for nonsense bring
me some cold water and Landages at
once, and send somebody to the hotel
for DIR. Chester's small case of surgical
instruments.
Mrs. Smith, left to herself, soon re-
covered, and insisted upon an explana-
tion of the affair.
Its nothing serious, hope. I
have accidentally sent charge of shot
into this young lady's arm. Are you
her mother ?"
| No, indeed, she is poor dependent
creature that we've taken in for chari-
tvs sake; ; a niece of mine, and what I'm
to do with her ow I can't see. Ican't
take care of her, and indeed, sir, it's
mighty inconvenient to have her laid
up just at this time. She is very neces-
sary to my comfort. l need sight of
care aud swaitin' on, night and day."
| "Well, madam, She'U need sight of
care and waitin' on herself now for
awhile, and must have it."
BY this time the young girl revived
again under the vigorous treatment she
received, and the instruments were
brought to him.
"Now, madam, will you tell where to
take this young lady, for she must be
put to bed at once"
"Well, she sleeps in little closet off
my room"
"That will never do. Show me the
largest, best room you have in the
house." Taking Meta gently in his
arms, the doctor followed Mrs. Smith
up stairs to large, pleasant chamber.
| Shn cpnonol -, ,Ni,it che INV aJ
down the white counterpane, and as
sisted the doctor in getting Meta un-
dressed and into bed but he was not
to be trihed with at such time. "Now,
madam, l will excuse you, but let Mrs.
and soft, old linen, and remain to assist
me. And [ want aservant close at hand
| to get whatever else L may require while
dressing the arm"
1t was terrible hour to Meta while
he probed each wound and removed the
shot that were deeply imbedded in the
tender flesh. Fortunately no bone was
! broken, and at last it was neatly
bandaged with soft linen and wet with
healing lotion, and she fell asleep
Mrs. Brown proved an efficient helper
and as they passed quietly out of the
rOOul uue uOcUOr SAID.
My patient must have the best of
care and attention. Could you stay and
! nurse her for awhile ?"
Yes, might"
every well I will pay you well if
you will do it, for everything will de-
pend upon keeping her quiet now"
He met Mrs. Smith in the hall.
Madam, this woman has consented
to stay and take care of your niece, and
Twill Gee that she is well paid for it.
But mind what I say: you must not
see her, nor must any one else see her
but Mrs. Brown and myself for week
at least, for she will have a serious time
of it at the best. l regret it exceeding
ly, more than I can tell you, that 1 have
been the cause of all this suffering, and
will do my best to have her about again
as soon as possible" So saying, the
doctor wished them good day, and soon
disappeared from their view.
Well, now, if that isn't cool And
what am / to do all this time ?" groan-
ed Mrs. Smith, rocking herself vigor-
ously in her great armchair. "And
my best spare room, too ! Say, did he
muss everything up dressing that arm ?"
"Oh no he was very careful about
that"
"Well, that's a comfort any way. To
think L should have such trouble with
that girl just when 1 needed her most
think it IS very mysterious dispen-
sation of Providence"
The next morning the doctor found
Meta in a high fever, moaning with
pain and delirious. The arm was bad
ly swollen and infamed, and altogether
her case had assumed very alarming
aspect. He did not go hunting or fish.
ing that day, but stayed by her bedside
administering medicine with his own
hand, and doing everything in his pow
er for her relief. He was greatly dis |
tressed over the accident, and inwardly !
vowed he would never fire off another
gun as long as he lived.
But what q revelation of toll, hard !
ship, and cruel wrong the unconscious
Meta made in her delirium She fan
cied the doctor, as he bathed her hot !
would a child, was her mother, and she
drew his head close to her lips and
o mother I'm so glad you have
come for me I'm tired to death.
Auntie has no mercy or feeling for me
She has kept me at work over her night
and day, and I've gone hungry many
and many time, because 1 couldn't
bear to eat the food so grudgingly
gwen. o, I am so glad you have
come !"
Now Meta was not beautiful girl,
though she had sweet, pure, womanly
face, and great, wistful eyes, and an
abundance of dark, silky hair. But her
small hands were brown and hardened
with toll; she was poor, dependent
alone in the world except for this sci.
fish, unnatural aunt, and the cousins
who scarcely deigned to notice her.
Doctor Chester was a rich, old bach
elor, not so very old either, only thirty
six. Why he had never married no one
could tell, but true it is he had remain
ed heart whole these years in spite of
he many beautiful women who had
smiled gracefully upon him. But some-
low this poor suffering orphan won his
leart completely during that week of
He was charmed with
ler sweet prattle about her childhood
md her innocence and helplessness, to-
,ether with the suffering he had so un-
caused appealed, strongly to
lis sympathy, and he fully resolved to
vim her love and make her his wife if
possible. Never had a patient more
lssiduous doctor than did poor Meta.
Mrs. Snith fumed and fretted over all