The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-02-03
A Doctors New Year Call,

A Doctors New Year Call.
JANUARY |, Is.
Dear Charley Il am laid up with sprained
ankle, and must turn over my patients to your
tender mercies. | incose list with names, ad-
dresses, courses of treatment &C., for YOUR edi-
tication. GODFREY HERMAN.
This was the note that DR.. Charles ste
venson stood perusing with a downcast
face and a clouded brow on New Years
morning, not many years ago. The gentle
man in question was Just twenty-five,
handsome and talented, possessed a mod
est income. and was Independent of his
practice. He was favorite in society,
and had a goodly list of lady friends upon
whom he might call on New Years day
Upon the morning in question DR.. Ste
venson had gone his professional rounds
very early, and had returned home to
make a proper toilet for the usual round
brought him the missve quoted above.
''Confound it all ~ he muttered "why
couldn't Godfrey wait until tomorrow to
sprain his ankle? And what a list Rheu-
matism pneumonia! Hem hem Here
is one that sounds interesting: Miss Gra-
ham, No. 29S - street, lung fever Dear
me! what detailed description and
symptoms Decidedly, Godfrey is inter
ested in Miss Graham's lung fever. Well,
| suppose | must 60, and cut down my
visits to few this evening"
He retired to his sleeping apartment for
a briet time, and emerged. no longer in
fashionable, new attire, but in what he
called his doctors toggery, warranted
tever-proof.'
In every youthful heart, though the ten
der love that makes a life may not yet
have come, there is ever one face, one
voice, upon which the fancy fingers as a
little brighter, a little sweeter, than other
faces or voices can ever be. To Charley
Stevenson this face and voice was the
memory OF Maude Middleton-a blonde
beauty, and an only child of one of the
leading lawyers of the city. AS yet love
had not come to either heart yet it is cer-
tain the beautiful blonde accepted the at
tentions OF the handsome young doctor
willingly, and gave him sweetest smiles
in return. Just a society Irritation So far,
but one likely to become something more
-ior Dr. Stevenson was eir-eXpectant to
Il wealthy maiden aunt and Maude Mid
dleton had been well taught as to the ne
cessity of securing handsome establish
ment with other matrimonial blessings.
The ripple OF her golden hair, the sparkle
OF her blue eyes, were the magnets that
hurried the Doctor in his round of profess
sional calls till he stood at the door OF the
last patient, Miss Graham-who had lung
! fever
Into a darkened room, where Poverty
had set her ugly seal, yet where some OF
those heartrending relics of better days
fingered, the Doctor was ushered by an ell
derry Woman-a gentewoman in the true
English sense Of the Worldwide bore the
traces of sorrow upon her sad face, and
who looked with pittul anxiety Tor his d-
rections.
"ohe seems much worse since last even
ing she said, when the Doctor had eX-
planned the accident that kept his friend at
home. The delirium continued, though
she is SO weak she can hardly speak"
y few professional inquiries followed,
and the doctor approached the bed. A face
thin, yet exqusitely delicate in every out
line and feature. fever-tlushed, with large,
black eyes, unnaturally brilliant, met his
gaze-a face stricken by illness, wasted
and worn, yet the most beautiful in all its
pain his eyes had ever rested upon
While he felt the rapid pulse at the del
icate wrist. and bent low to listen to the
murmurs of the delrious fancy, a knock at
the door summoned the mother away. 1t
was impossible in the deep stiffness of the
room to avoid hearing the conversation
between the newcomer and Mrs. Graham.
''I on have an answer to my note ?" the
lady said. eagerly
"No, ma'am Miss Middleton was dres-
sing for callers, and couldn't be bothered.'' y
"She sent me some money, .Joe-just a
dollar or two?"
''No, ma'am, You must wait till next
month"
did she read the note ?"
"Ies, ma'am l seed her read it while
the man was dressing of her hair And |
told her. ma am, how sick Miss Daisy was
But she said | was an impudence, and
might talk when | was asked. She's a
proud one -
"Well, Joe, you can do no more"
''But amt | to 90 for the medicines and
the wine?'
"No! There Never mind -
1t was whole tragedy to Charles Ste
venson's kind heart. Was the mother seek.
ing charity? Or did the blonde beauty
who haunted all his dreams-owe rightfu]
payment? Either way his idol was dim
med by the errand-boy. Yet he felt in
stinctively that charity would not be ac-
cepted from stranger here. The face OF
the elder lady, through all it's sadness and
gentleness, was proud; and every tone Of
the low voice showed education and refine.
ment
No money-not pitiful "dollar or two
and the patient wanted expensive med
icines and stimulants. A bright thought
flashed over Charlie Stevenson's mind
Mrs. Graham, he said, turning his eyes
sadly from the fearful face, ''your daugh.
ter needs a medicine do not like to trust
a druggist to prepare from written pre-
scription will return in an hour, and ad
minister the first dose myself"
Whether she understood the delicate
kindness or not, Mrs. Graham's grateful
eyes sufficiently thanked the young physi
clan, who hurried away-soon returning
with the medicines and wines cleverly dis
gulsed by prescription label plastereo
over the original one. More than three
hours slipped away while the Doctor
watched his patient, studying the effect
of his medicines. and finally beng reward
ed by seeing her fall into quiet slumber
1t was quite too late when he reached
home again to make calls and as he sa
over his CHEEKY CRATE, he dreamed not O
Maude's golden curls, but of the pale
sweet face of Miss Graham. 1t saddenel
him to think of a cofin-lid hiding it foreve
from the mothers loving eyes and yet hi
knew that she was lowering very close t.
the borders of the future life.