Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-02-20

II would be glad to help you,
Doctor, but this would seem like
profanity to me-"
SIT is to save a fellow creatures
life, and be all the blame on me-"
~ wish l could do it, but what an
awful thing 1t is for girl to dow
clean appreciate your hesitation,
and yet, if you were my daughter l
would say it was your duty to do
it."
"Thank you for saying that, Doc.
tor; it decides mo. will do what
you ask"
"Thanks; l will call for you this
evening, and explain your part to
you."
Later in the night there gathered
around the bed Of the sick man, his
mother and sisters, the Doctor and
Kate Dallas. The Doctor had ex-
planned to the others the part he had
pursnadcd Kate to act, if it should
be necessary, and they had thanked
her over and over for consenting.
They sat near each other; the moth.
cr and sisters wondering in their
own hearts that any girl could know
their Harry and not love him; but
yet, they are women enough to know
that love cannot be forced or reas.
oned.
"How is he now, Dcctor?" the
mother whispers, and his reply is,
"Thcre is no change!' They await
the slow turnings of another hour,
and then the sleeper makes some
movements with his lips, ana the
doctor, bending over, catches the
word, "Kate," but he does not tell
it to the others. By.and-by there is
another movement, and the doctor
beckOns them out of the room
Sin a quarter of an hour more he
will awaken" he says. "You, Mrs.
Gilman, and Ruth, will stand near
me and be ready to catch the first
question he asks and answer it.
Miss. Dallas you will stand at the
door and come if l speak to you,
and act as have told you before.
If we are prompt and careful, and
God wills it, we will save his life."
The mother and sister step softly
back to the bedside, and the doctor,
reading the tremor in Kate's eyes,
waits to speak with her.
"You will not have to say a word,
Miss Dallas. l will play the tyran-
nical doctor to perfection, and save
you, as well as quiet any apprehen,
sions that come to his mind. God
bless you"
1t was no common case with DR..
Brown, this attendance on Harry
Gilman. When he came to Melville
a poor, unknown graduate seeking
to establish himself and earn his
daily bread, it was Harry Gilman's
father who had been the first to say
a kindly word to him, the one who
had taken him to his own tiresidc
and made him feel he was in the
house of friend; the one who had
honored him with his friendship in
all the succeeding years. DR.. Brown
was now, with skill and care, repay
ing to the son the debt he owed the
father, and he could not have done
more for his own child. AS he look
cd into the face Of. Kate Dallas he
could not but feel that it was fear
full experiment he was about to make
in two lives, but he brushed these
thoughts aside, and returned to his
patient.
There were the premonitory
symptoms of awakening upon the
part OF the sick man, and the hearts
of the women around him seemed
almost bursting with suspense and
anxiety. AT last the eyes opened;
the wild look in them soon gave
way to one Of recognition, and the
lips feebly uttered:
"Mother."
She could not speak; her heart
was too full for words out she bent
over and kissed him.
''Have been here long?"
"Not such great while," said the
CHEEKY voice ofthc d .ctor, 'but plen-
ty long enough. Here, take a drop of
this" and he gave him some stimu
la,ing drops.
"Have been very sick?"
"You have been pretty sick, my
boy, but you must not talk. Turn
over and go to sleep again, and you
can talk rs long as yoa wish TO- NOR
row."
"Is that Ru,h?''
eyes. Harry"
"Tell Kate"
"Nonsense," broke in The doctor,
"take little more of this and go to
sleep without another word," but he
turned to Kate and his eyes said sit
will have to be DONE"
She tried to still the beating of
her heart, but she had no fear for
herself.
"rell Kate" Harry started again
but the doctor--after quiet draught
had been administered-said:
"Why don't you tell her yourself?"
"Who? Is she here?" he asked
excitedly, but the doctor caught his
hand, quietly saying:
"Do not get excited Harry, but
listen; obey me exactly and all will
be we'll. Miss Dallas and you have
had some misunderstanding, but you
have fancied it to be much worse
than it really was. She is here now
to see after you; she wants you to
get we'll and if you obey me you
will"
The sick mans eyes opened wi.
der and wider as the physician pro-
cceded, and when he said, "She is
here now," he would have raised
himself but the doctor was watch
ing, and prevented his making more
than the first effort. He turned to
Kate, and in answer to his look she
came close TO his bedside.
"My orders," said the doctor,
care that you may look at Miss Dal.
las moment, but you must not say
o word, and then she and your own
people must leave the room."
Kate's face was almost deathly
white as she turned towards Har-
nv.