The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-03-12

away from nef fofenead, ana i0okeQ
piercingly into her companions face.
why you accent the word sstom-
ach' so strongly. Doctor Ellis ?" she
inquired in anxious tones. Mrs. Ste
phens was forgetting herself, aud this
the Doctor hailed as an excellent
omen.
"Only that might make you under
stand that a mans digestion could be
most unexceptionable, and vet he be
far from sound in other directions"
''Then you mean 10 tell me that my
husband is sick 2"
81 do"
perhaps you will go still further,
and say dangerously p
eff you desire IT."
"Oh, Doctor Ellie, how cold and un-
feeling yoR arel | shonId think you
ought to know by this time, and
just here Mrs. Stephens broke down
entirely, and sobbed as if her heart
Weuld break.
Ought to know what, Mrs. Ste
phens p inquired the Doctor, with nn-
called-for deliberation.
"Yonsonght to know--to know
that my-my husbands health and life
are Of good deal more consequence
to me than my own"
HAh, indeed" interrupted the ply
sician, with an elevation of his bushy
eyebrows, immensely suggestive of a
contrary opinion, as well as several
excellent reasons for said opinion.
@Doctor 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 spirit, and only q little
qniYer of the lip, to show how deep a
wound the kind heart in her bosom
had sustained. EEihera she stood, re-
proachful, defiant, determined, wo-
manly. The Doctor was delighted,
and such an honest face it was, that
he carried round with him from door
to door from sunrise to sunset, every
day in the year, that it was mighty
hard matter to keep it from an i'm
mediate betrayal of the whole pur-
pose.
sMrs. Stephens, said he, ''you have
no cause to be alarmed. If l can on
ly get your cooperation in this busi-
ness, feel certain that shall be able
to make we'll man of your husband
in few months, at the fongestr but,
as true as sit here before you, l can-
not do this alone"
'fWhy have | 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 should real
ly like to be told when you have been
sufficiently calm to hear all that it was
necessary for you to know 2"
HBut, Doctor Ellis, I should think
you ought to have understood that my
own health and comfort are nothing,
compared to my husbands" Mrs.
Stephens was weeping again. There
is no sacrifice would not make for
him."
aCurious creatures ?" muttered the
Doctor; delightful bundles of con-
tradiction How the mischief should
l know, Mrs. Stephens, how much
YOU care for your husband | am sure
you have spent the last half hour COM
planning about him. Is that the way
women generally testify their regard
for their husbands ?"
sob, don't, Doctor Ellis, please
DON'T" pleaded the terrified woman,
"I will never complain again-never
If you will only let me know what
l can do for him. Do you know, Doc
tor, had begun to think lately that
something must be amiss with him,
he was growing so irritable. Poor
dearl how wicked and thoughtless I
have been.~
ssThis, then, is the trouble. l shall
take it for granted, madam, that you
know something about physiology.
and can follow me without difficulty ?''
"Oh, yes-yes, for mercy's sake go
on.p
every well; l find that the perieard-
ium-"
''The pericardium ?" repeated Mrs.
Stephens.
Evidently Mrs. Stephens anatomic-
al knowledge was limited. She shook
her head in dispair. eSomething
about the heart, isn't it ?" she asked at
last.
eyes, the paricardium is the mem
branous sac that holds the heart. Well,
sometimes this sac-it is no matter
about particulars, Mrs. Stephens" and
Doctor Ellis suddenly came to a stand
still.
sIt is enough, though for me to say
that we are both passably anxious
that this should remain where it be-
longs. 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. Stephens?'
"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 aud his
nose. Before he was aware, the lach-
rymal duct had got the upper hand.
"Well, try it again get teacher,
aud go TO practicing."
"But how am going to manage nay
spasms?" sobbed the lady.
/ "WelI, perhaps between us both
you using your will power, and think
ing of your husband, going out with
him, and taking care OF him-and l do
| ing my best in my way, we may be
able to subdue them but you must
remember this, madame-do not lei
Mr.. Stephens have the faintest suspi.
cion that you think anything is the
matter with him; and above all, dc
not treat him like an invalid. Jusi
amuse him, and all that you know
just dS you ueOO " HAOA EOu NOlt
first married"
Another series of sobs from Mrs
Stephens.
The doctor arose to go. Ills patien
had entirely forgotten that he had
left no prescription.
"About tea, Doctor ?" she asked, q
he prepared to leave. "Do you thinl
it very hurtful ~
"As an occasional tonic, I have nC
objection to tea; but as daily bever
age, madam, it is an invention of th,
devil. Good morning"
John Stephens sought his hom
that evening with heavy heart. Hi
wife he believed confirmed invalid
or ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS littl'
which; one was as bad as the other
His remonstrances and pleadings ha'
proved of no avail; he was doubtful
even whether his wife loved him. ii
opened the door softly with his latch