The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1876-08-02

Yet he felt instintively that charity
from stranger wound not be accept
ed here. The face of the elderly lady,
through all its sadness and gentleness,
was proud; and every tone of the low
voice showed education and refine
ment.
No money, not a pitiful "dollar or
two" and the patient wanted expensive
medicines and stimulants. A bright
thought flashed over Charley Steven
| sons mind.
"Mrs. Graham" he said, turning his
eyes delicately from the fearful face,
'your daughter needs medicine l do
not like to trust to druggist TO pre-
pare from written prescription. 1
will return in an hour and administer
the first dose myself"
Whether she understood the deli.
cate kindness or not, Mrs. Graham's
grateful eyes sufficiently thanked the
young physician, who hurried away,
soon returning with the medicines and
wine cleverly disguised by a prescrip-
tion label plastered over the original.
More than three hours slipped away
while the doctor watched his patient,
studying the effect of his medicines,
and finally being rewarded by seeing
her fall into quiet slumber. 1t was
too late when he reached home again
to make any calls, and as he sat over
his cheery CRATE he dreamed, not of
Maud's golden curls, but the pale,
sweet face Of Miss Graham.
1t saddened him to think Of cof-
fn-lid hiding it forever from the mo-
theirs loving eyes, and yet he knew
that she was lowering very close to
the borders of the future life.
His first call the next day was at
the house of this patient, and by the
glad eyes of the mother he knew the
life-giving sleep had been prolonged
and followed By consciousness.
Very weak and i'll she was yet, but
there was hope now, and Charley Ste
venson wondered that this fact should
so tighten his heart wheD but twenty.
four hours before he had never even
heard of Miss Graham. But in his
morning travels natty little phaton
passed him, paused till he came up,
and Maud Middleton, leaning forward,
held out her hand to the young ply
sician.
"You don't deserve to be spoken
to-" she said, with her great blue eyes
merrily cordial, 'for you should have
followed your bouquet yesterday"
81 was only too sorry / could not"
was the reply. "One of my friends
sprained his ankle, and kindly turned
over his patients to me-"
"Dolefull" with a shrug. @Sick-
ness is a horrid bore. / am out now
hunting up a su bstitute for my dress
maker, who sends me word she has
lung fever. / dare say it is only a
cold; but in the meantime l must find
some one else. Shocking, amt it?"
Do come to see US soon."
And after a few more parting words
Maud carried her golden curls from
Charley's vision.
1t was debt, then. She owed the
money she had heartlessly refused to
send to the sick girl. All the glamour
faded at once and forever from Char
ley Stevenson's heart. 1t was impos-
sible for man whose every action
was controlled by honor and Christi
anity to give even admiration to wo-
man for whom he felt no respect, and
Charley Stevenson was conscious of
feeling Of bitter contempt for Maud as
the ph@ton bore her out Of sight.
1t was with new interest he found
his way toward evening to Daisy Gra-
hams sick room, and when her eyes
met his, full Of gratitude, and a whis-
per thanked him, he wondered how he
had ever seen any beauty in the fair
face Of Maud Middleton.
But that young lady did not pro-
pose to lose her admirer so easily. Old
Miss Stevenson, the doctors aunt, had
taken The blonde upon her list of
spaoial favOrites, and it was astonish-
ing how often the gay beauty found an
excuse to visit her elderly friend; and
often Charley was there, ever courte-
Gus and pleasant, but never again with
that air and voice that had once told
Maud her charms were winning their
way to the young doctors heart. 1t
troubled him, too. that his aunt had
so evidently set her heart upon
match between himself and Maud, for
he dearly loved her, and was 10th to
cross any Of her wishes. So not wish
ing to make any violent rupture, cum
ming Charley, one evening in the early
spring, said;
"Auntie, do you remember once