The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1875-10-23
THE SECOND WIFE.

|
set up practice in that place there liv-
ed about a mile from the centre, in an
old stone mansion. a family by the
| name OF Crosby. The senior Crosby
was bale, stout man of sixty, retir-
| ed sea captain, and considered wealthy.
He had an only son, who, with his
second wife, and four children by his
first marriage, occupied the house With
him-or, more correctly speaking, the
old gentleman lived with his son, and
ate at the same table with the family.
Long before l became acquainted
with the Crosbys, heard the second
wife spoken of as one of the sweetest
and loveliest of women and when |
came to know her was pleased to find
report had not belied her. She was of
medium size, slender, graceful, and
with a face of the most charming
beauty and her sweet smile, and soft.
melting eyes, would have captivated
the heart of an anchorite.
There were two other doctors
in the town at the time of my arrival,
and it was the fortune of one of those
to be the family physician of the tros-
bys, which position he held through
life. At his death, which occurred in
the fifth year of my practice, arrange
ments were made with me to take his
place, which as the family was wealthy
and influential, | considered marked
triumph over my remaining rival. AT
this time, all those l have mentioned
were living, with one additional mem
Der, an infant son Of the second wife,
making eight children in all.
One day, shortly after this, as | was
driving past the stone mansion, one Of
the Crosby children came running out,
and asked me to stop and see her grand
father who was not at all well.
"Oh, doctor, | am so glad you have
cbanced to pass at this time ?" said
Mrs. Crosby, meeting me at the door.
and looking pale and sad, but very low
ely. "The captain is III, and my hus'
band Is away gone to London, to be
absent several days, Oh, hope moth
ing serious will happen to Father Cros-
by and more especially while my hus-
band Is from home -
al hope not" l returned,in cheer>
ful tone. When was Captain Crosby
taken i'll ?" / inquired land what
are the symptoms Of his ailment?"
"He fist complained this morning." I"
replied Mrs. Crosby, as she turned on
her heel, in q quick nervous manner,
and led the way to the sick mans
chamber "but / discovered nothing
serious till about an hour ago. was
just on the point of sending for you,
and am 50 glad you have come"
She did not mention his symptoms,
and as was approaching the room
of the patient, did not repeat the ques-
tion.
found the captain very III, COM
planning of violent pains in different
parts Of his body, and sense of severe
internal burning. He had been troub-
led with good deal of retching. and
had voDited some two or three times,
indicating as 1 thought considerable
hillary arrangement. He appeared to
have a high fever and cerebral dstur-
bance. AS / carried my medicines with
me, left what | thought he might
need through the day, promising to
call again in the evening, on my return
from visiting my other patients.
"What do you think of the captain 2"
anxiously inquired Mrs Crosby, as she
followed me out OF the sick mans cham
Der.
A bilious attack, judge"
Serious, doctor? Dangerous
"Serious certainly, but | trust not
dangerous. hope to find him better
when l return."
"You will not be gone long, doc
tor ?" said Mrs. Crosby, her soft eyes
appealing with an eloquence greater
than words.
al will be back as soon as possible
say in three or four hours"
" suppose tou think me selfish
but i cannot help It. No one knows
how dear the captain is TO all OF US
how much we love and venerate him
and the bare thought OF losing him
makes my heart ache"
"Be comfOrted, madam" returned
/, In q cheerful tone; "we are not
going to lose him yet awhile. trust
to see him well again in day or two"
then repeated the directions, and
bowed myself out, not givirg her an
opportunity for another rejolnder. 1t
was then about three O'Clock In the af-
terno Don, and / did not get back till
after dark. As entered, Mrs. Crosby
met me at the door, pale, trembling and
fearful.
"Oh, doctor /" she cried, covering
her face with her handkerchief, and
sinking upon the nearest seat.
" The captain ?" almost gasppd /.
dead dead He died an hour
ago, in awful agOnies."
went up, took brief look at the
corpse, and hurried away. The house
of death is no place for the physician.
That was the first death that happen
ed in the Crosby family after ] knew
them-but 1t was by no means the last.
The long funeral train of the captain
was followed by another in less than
| six months, and the son literally slept
with his father, leaving q beautiful
widow and loving children to mourn
his loss. Then the children commence
ed dying, one after another, and, in
two years more, only the widow and
her own bright little son remained OF
tha afuht I hava manfinnad VT