Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-06-06
From the St. Louis Republican,
DOCTOR FOSTERS FEE.
n story OF the Late Southern EpI-
demic.
By MRS EMILY II. sMANDER.

! DIR. Foster sister was not gwen to
expletives, the significant ''well''
saved breath, and answered the pur-
pose of dozen questions.
The doctor showed his appreciation
by prompt response, but abbrevi-
ated in the same degree.
"Spasms."
Miss Foster gazed at her brother
with a comprehensive scrutiny, and
with the wisdom for which women are
remarkable, she silently awaited the
volubility consequent upon this
course.
She brought him his slippers-not
one hundred and fifty pairs annually
sent him by the grateful young lady
patients and widows whose lives he
had saved SO frequently during the
year, but pair presented by herself;
his dressing-gown, also her own low
ing work; then che resumed her seat
opposite him at the table and looked
at him from under her half closed eye
lids. She detected something unusu-
al in his manner, and she knew the
less curiosity she exhibited the SOON
er would his anxiety to unbosOm him
self be gratiied.
"What a desirable physicians wife
you would make" he said, after a
pause.
"Why?7
"Y Ou never ask questions.
A peculiar smile passed over her
face, but she made no answer.
Another long silence; then he said,
impatiently, knocking the ashes from
his cigar:
"HOrribIe night out.''
''It is, indeed, L hope you will not
be called out again. What a disa-
greeable profession yours is, not
emitting the danger surrounding 1t. +"
"With all its dangers and unpleas-
antness it has a charm for me above
every other. Saving q soul is grand,
but saving a life, using natures Sc
crets to conquer her enemy is power
so beautiful, that the petty incon-
veniences only enhance the fascina-
ton"
''Fine theory for a young enthusi-
asst, but for man who has praeticed
as long as you have, 1 should think
the glory was pretty well worn off.
You didn't seem to bring any of it
back with you from your last visit. .
"Oh, you practical femalel while 1
admire the rainbow, you measure the
| depth of the mud. You women al
ways are in extremes. 1t is happy
thing we are not so singularly consti-
tuted-we, who buffet so many disap-
pointments, or hfe's treadmill would
be run by a blue set of misan-
| thropes."
Miss roster did not appear hurt at
his views. She knew how he had Ia
bored and suffered to gain the foot
hold that led him to his present pros
perity, and how, not this position
| alone, but the real ideal of his profess
sion had given him courage to strug-
gle-and conquer.
So she quietly reached over the ta-
BILE, and taking his hand in her two,
pressed them lovingly, saying, 81 un-
/ derstand you well, dear, but I can
not control the anxiety for your well
fare and safety when you go amongst
such inhuman people as you have inst
come FROM"
81 confess 1 did clutch my cane with
a frmer grasp, as I neared the neigh
/ berhoOd. It was villainous location,
but if you will think a moment, You
can recall few, if any, instances of at
tack or threatened danger to one OF
u.s."
'They surely seem to hold yOu sa-
cred, or possibly they know you leave
your valuables at home"
In nine cases out of ten, the doc
tor who accepts a cali from such a
quarter has no yaluables to lose, an
swered her brother.
"Ahl you see, my brother, prosperi-
ty has wiped out all ideas of youl
laborious glory" quickly answered
Miss Foster.
'There you are again, laughed the
doctor, ''ready to accept Iwifhoui
question, the disagreeable/ and con.
denim the whole as a matter Of course.
l wish somebody Just about half good
enough for you would gobble you III
matrimonially, and teach you the
) good there is in us"
"Ihank you" said Miss Foster
dryly.
"Come, sis, now don't be sarcastic
and I'll tell you, or rather. 1 wan
your advice"
II there is one thing more thar
another that pleases and hatters {
woman, it is to have the mighty
man" come down from his exalted
estate, in the realms of masculine
conceit, and call her into counsel.
''You know am always ready tC
advise you, replied Miss Foster, with
pleasing dignity.
CAS- 1 was hurrying along this even
ing to get to the child for whom wa:
called, 1 was turning over in my minC
> whether it would not be charity tC
let such miserable offsprings of vic'
and crime die?"
; "What a hideous thought"
"Oh, did not slacken my pace il
the least, during the undecided stat,
of mind, was merely revolving tn.
idea for future consideration"
SIS this the subject that requires
, my advice?"
"Do be patient, III get to that b,
and by. As I was saying, 1 expected
to find the child in a state of strangu
lation, by the frantic endeavors o
S two or three dozen tender-heartet
neighbors, as is generally the cas-
. with that class of people, each CLOSING
) around the poor thing TO prevent
: breath of air reaching the sufferer
r one holding it by the feet, head down
ward, another beating it on the back
| another thrO wing hot water on il