The Portland daily press., 1876-11-18

manding his Epresence. The result was that
l agreed that we would examine the patent
and then | would stay until DIR. Barkers re-
turn.
A faint groan from the mattress saluted
| us as we turned to our patient, and as | held
the lamp over his face, and the light fell upon
the fair hair and long dropping moustache,
nearly dropped it.
"Nemeslsr' l thought. Mine enemy de-
ivered into my hand. Kate's lover lying
bruised and broken-crushed like reed at
my feet. And now l need not kill him for
all his cruelty to me, but stand by supine,
and he would die.
possessed greater knowledge than my col
league, and that if l withheld mine, nothing
which DR.. Barker could do would save the
flame even now trembling in the socket of
life's lamp.f
The scene Tin the wood flashed beforelme
| once again as 1 stood there-Kate's sweet
| face upturned asking for this mans kisses,
| and all so vivid that my brain reeled and a
mist floated before my eyes.
"What do you think, Mr.. Lawler? ?" said a
voice at my elbow, and started back into
THAT he'll be past saving in an hour" l
said. quietly.
ii fear So" said DR.. Barker. struggling his
| shoulders.
| "Unless-'
| Here unfoded my plans as 1 said bitterly
to myself, "And heap Goals of fire upon his
head. Kate, take your lover, and God for
l give your'
stExcellentr' exclaimed DIR. Barker, who
was frank, gentlemanly fellow, without pro.
fessional iealousies, and in an hours lime we
had done all that was necessary, our patient
/ was breathing easily, and DR.. Barker was
shaking my hand.
"He's fsaved, Mr.. Lawler. You've saved
his life. Now I'll be off and get back in an
hours time You have igiven me the greatest
lesson in surgery ever had in my life"
And then was alone thinking bitterly of
/ what l had done.
| Notwithstanding
Those words feebly muttered brought me
to myself, and l was the cold, hard man
once more as rose and taking the lamp,
bent down over my patient, whose eyes now
opened and stared at me.
"Where's Kate?" he asked; and where
what" He stopped short.
"Hush.' said, coldly; ''you have had an
accident"
"Accident? Oh yes, remember 1 was
going to catch the night train for Burnley,
| when that COMPOUNDED cab"
"You must not talk" 1 said, fighting hard
to contain myself. "You are seriously
hurt"
That last was not professional, but there
was grim pleasure in giving him some pain.
"That's bad, DOCTOR" he whispered, for
was going down-to see my darling-she's
very i'll"
'.Yes," he said, speaking with pain, and
could not stop him now, Consumption,
they say, broken heart l think. Some scoun-
drel-"
almost dropped the lamp as caught his
hand and gripped it and said IN a hoarse,
choking voice, for I was struggling to see the
full light:
"What do you wish me to do?"
Telegraph, at any expense, to my brother
in-law. Take it down or you'll forget. From
Christopher Anstey to John Brand, Green
mead Burnley. Say Kate is not to fret. You
know best"
"Yes, yes," 1 stammered, my hands trem-
bling as took out pencil and pretended to
write, "Miss Kate them" 1 faltered, is"
"My darling childp' sobbed the poor fell
low" and she's dyingv
He was too weak, too faint to hear me as
with bitter groan turned away stunned
mad almost at my folly. For saw it all
now, poor, weak, pitiful, jealous fool that
was. l had seen the girl worshiped, petted
and caressed by her own father, and without
seeking or asking an explanation, had
rushed away, leaving her to think me a
| scoundrel, nay worse.
When turned once more to the mattress
my patient had fallen asleep, and stood
there thinking.
In few minutes had made my plans
then, watch in hand, impatiently waited fol
| DR.. Barker's return.
He was back to his time, aud in few
words had made my arrangements.
Doctor" said, ''you said you were in
my debt for this nights work."
"My dear sir, III write you a check for
twenty guineas with pleasure" he replied.
"Pay me in this way" said: ''See that
these patients whose names have written
on this slip of paper are attended to well for
the next two days, and tell our friend here
that his message has been seen to-"
He promised eagerly, and the next minute
was in the street running to the nearest
| cab stand.
was just in time to catch the early morn
ing train, and half mad, half joyous sat i'm
patiently there until the train dropped me at
Burnley, where the fly slowly jolted me over
| to the Four Mile Farm.
1t was bright frosty morning and the sun
glanced from the river upon the trees, but
could only think of one thing as 1 kept urging
the driver on, and he must have thought me
mad as l leaped out and rushed into the we'll
known parlor.
"Katep' cried as half blind ran toward
| a pale lace lying back IN an easy chair by the
fire.
"You scoundrelp' was roared at the same
moment, and the sturdy farmer had pinned
me by the throat.
eyes. all that" said; ''only hear me-"
His hands dropped as Kate uttered low
cry and tainted.
"Quickr' said, water and some brandy
With low growl of rage my old patient
for govt obeyed me, and in a few minutes
Kate opened her eyes to look full in mine as
her head rested on my arm.
"Have you icome-to say good by?" she
said feebly; and there was such look of re-
proach in that poor worn face that could
only answer III whispe:
sNo, no-to ask you to give and bless me
with your love; to ask you to forgive me for
my weakness, for must have been mad.''
A deep groan made me turn my head, to
see that the farmers head was down upon
his arms and his broad shoulders were heav-
ing.
II thought you would never come again.
said Kate feebly; ''but l never gave up
/ hOneD