Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-05-14


and cramps and fainting fits. Any body
would think it was pleasure to me to
feel every time 1 see funeral process
sion as if the hearse was going to stop
at our door next. o, yes such life
is very enjoyable, very, indeed"
DIR. Ellis took no notice of the last
words; the mans eyes grew luminous,
and his whole face declared that he con-
sidered himself master of the situation;
and if Mrs. Stephens had not been so
entirely taken up with her own ailments,
mental and physical, that honest coun-
tenance would have betrayed him.
You say" he began, settling him
self in the large easy-chair, and assum-
ing a strictly professional air, "taat
your husband has nothing to trouble
him but your health /; how do you know
that Mrs. Stephens
Chow? Why, how do I know any
thing? By the evidences of my senses.
Don't know that John Stephens has a
splendid business that looks after itself,
a magnificent income, and money enough
to live on the bare interest, as well as
family need to live, if he never entered
his office again while he has breath %
"But money isn't everything, Mrs.
Stephens" roceeded the physician,
with calmness almost Mephistophelean.
"There are other troubles besides
money troubles. How about health,
madam ?"
"Health ?" repeated the lady, with
smile she intended to be sarcastic to
the last degree. Health DIR. Ellis
Why, there isn't a.healthier or sounder
man than my husband in the United
States. He eats more in one meal than
1 do in three months"
THERE'S nothing the matter with your
husbands stomach, Mrs. Stephens.
DIR. Ellis shaded his face with his hand,
and waited further developments. Mrs.
Stephens mistook this attempt at forced
concealment for emotion, and immedi-
ately assuming asittingposture, brushed
her eyes, and looked piercingly into her
companions face.
"Why do you accent the word
stomach so strongly, DIR. Ellis ?" she
inquired, in anxious tones. Mrs.
Stephens was forgetting herself, and
omen.
"Only that might make you under
stand that mans digestion could be
most unexceptionable, and yet he be far
from sound IN other directions"
"Then you mean to tell me that my
husband is sick p
- do"
perhaps you will go still further,
and say dangerously?
SO Ii YOU desire it,"
go, DR.. Ellis, how cold and unfeel-
ing you are ! / should think you ought
to know by this time" and just here
Mrs. Stephens broke down entirely, and
sobbed as if her heart would break.
"Ought to know what, Mrs. Ste
phens ?" inquired the doctor, with un
called-for deliberation.
"YOu ought to know-to know-that
my-my husbands health and life are
of good deal more consequence to me
than my own"
"Ah, indeed" interrupted the physi-
clan, with an elevation of the bushy eye
brows, immensely suggestive of a con-
tIary opinion, as well as several very
excellent reasons for said opinion.
"Dr. Ellis, will you be kind enough
to tell me what's the matter with my
husband ?"
Mrs. Stephens was now on her feet
tears all wiped away, eyes flashing with
resentful spirits, and only the little
culver Of her lip to show how deep a
wound the kind heart in her bosom had
sustained. There che stood. reproach-
full, defiant, determined, momanly.
The doctor was delighted, and such an
honest face it was that he carried round
with him from door to door, from sun
rise to sunset, every day in the year,
that it was a mighty hard matter to
keep it from an immediate betrayal of
the whole purpose.
Mrs. Stephens" said he, "you
have no cause to be alarmed. If I can
only get your cooperation in this bust
ness, feel certain 1 shall be able to
make a we'll man of your husband in a
few months, at the longest; but, as
true as 1 sit here before you, I cannot
do this alone"
"Why have I not been informed of
this before ?" broke in Mrs. Stephens,
imperiously.
"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 suffi-
GENTLY calm to hear all that was neces-
sary for you to know"
But, DIR. Ellis, should think you
ought to have understood that my own
health and comfort are nothing, COM
pared to my husbands" Mrs. Stephens
was weeping again. "There is no
sacrifice that 1 would not make for
him."
"Curious creatures !" muttered the
doctor; " delightful bundles of contra
dictions. How the mischief should /
know, Mrs. Stephens, how muchyou care
for your husband am sure you have
spent the last hour complaining about
him. Is that the way women generally
testify their regard for their husbands ?"
Oh, don't, DR.. Ellis, please don't, :"
pleaded the terrified woman. 81 will
never complain again-never-if you
will only let me know what can do for
him. Do you know, doctor, | had be-
gun to think lately that something must
be amiss with him, he was growing so
irritable, Poor dear how wicked and
thoughtless L have been"