The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-02-11

Ao~-A oeHSA "a Se-@tAee1 1e@AAS oeASS Ooo VI
my husbands mouth and then, says
he-'and making me IS miserable a
wretch as walks the earth
':Pretty plain talk" interrupted
the Doctor, with a shrug OF his
broad shoulders.
'Oh yes" sobbed the victim, "and
SO awfully coarse and unkind. III
had had spell, and died there be-
fore his very face, I don't believe he
would have cared snap of his fin
ger. I tell you, Doctor Ellis, there
is such a thing as a man becoming
hardened"
Evidently replied the physician
with a laconicism absolutely painful.
But my husband has nothing in
the world to trouble him but just
my poor health; and 7 am sure I
can't help that" This remark was
more IN answer to her companions
tone and manner, than the one sin
gle word that had accidently escaped
his lips, and this the Doctor felt.
"Anybody would think by the
way he goes On, continued the irate
woman E'that I enjoyed myself with
spasm,s and cramps, and limiting
fits. Anybody would think it was
pleasure to me to feel, every time
I see a funeral procession, as if the
hearse was going to stop at our
door next. Oh yes, such life is
very enjoyable, very, indeed"
Doctor Ellis took no 2otice Of
these last words; the mans eyes
grew luminous, and his whole face
declared that ne considered 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
face would have betrayed him.
"You say" he began, settling him
self in the large easy chair, and as
suming a strictly professional air,
that your husband has nothing to
trouble him but your health; how
do you know that, Mrs. Stephens?
"How? Why, how do I know any
thing? By the evidence of my SEN
ses. Don't l know that John Ste-
phens has splendid business that
looks after itself, magnificent in
come, and money enough to live on
the bare interest, as we'll as a fami-
ly need to live, if he never entered
his Office again while he has breath ?"
"But money isn't everything, Mrs.
Stephens" proceeded the physician,
with 8 calmness almost mephisto-
phelian. "There are other troubles
beside money troubles. How about
health, madam?
'Health repeated the lady with
smile she intended to be sarcastic
to the last degree. Health? Doc
tor Ellis! Why, thereisn't a health
ier or sounder man than my hus-
band in the whole United States.
He eats more in one meal than I do
in three months"
''There is nothing the matter with
your husbands stomach, Mrs. Ste
phens." DR.. Ellis shaded his face
with his hand, and waited farther
developments. Mrs stephens mis-
took this attempt at forced conceal
ment for emotion, and Immediately
assumed sitting posture, brushed
her hair away from her forehead, and
looked piercingly into her compan-
ions face.
sWhy do you accent the word
stomach so strongly, Doctor Ellis?'
she inquired in anxious tones. Mrs.
Stephens was forgetting herself,
and this the Doctor hailed as an ex-
-cellent omen.
"Only that T might make you un-
derstand that a mans digestion
could be most unexceptionable, and
yet he be far from being sound in
other directions.
Then you mean to tell me that
my husband is sick?"
II do"
':Perhaps you will still go further,
and say dangerously"
eff you desire it,
s'Oh, Doctor Ellis, how cold and
unfeeing you are! I should think
you ought to know by this time,"-
and just here Mrs. Stephens broke
down entirely, and sobbed as if her
leart would break.
!, :'Ought to know what: Mrs. Ste
+ fense" inquired the Doctor, with
/ E,called-for deliberation.
= .'You ought to know-to know
| fat my-my husbands health and
r are Of good deal more conse-
::.l11ence to me than my own"
y ':Ah, indeed" interrupted the
5hysician, with an elevation of his
bushy eyebrows, immensely sugges-
tive Of a contrary opinion, as well as
several excellent reasons for said
opinion.