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

JANUARY 1, 18-. Dear Charley: 1:
Laid up with sprained ankle, and
must turn over my patients to your
tender mercies. / inclose list of names,
addresses, course of treatment, ETC.,
for your edification.
GODFREY HERMAN.
This was the note that DIR. Charles
Stevenson stood perusing with down
cast face and clouded brow on New
Years morning, not many years ago.
The gentleman in question was Just
twenty-five, handsome and talented,
possessed a moderate income indepen-
dent of his'practice, 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.
Stevenson had gone his professional
rounds very early, and had returned
home to make proper toilet for the
usual round Of New Years calls, when
his Office boy brought him the missive
quoted above.
-"Confound it ALI he muttered
"Why couldn't Godfrey wait until to-
morrow to sprain his ankle2 And
what list F! Rheumatism, pneumania.
Hem hem here is one that sounds
interesting; Miss Graham, No. 29S
- street, lung faver. Dear me,
what detailed description Of treat
ment and symptoms Decidedly God
frey is interested in Miss Graham's
lung fever. Well, 1 suppose 1 must
go, and cut down my visits to a few
this evening"
He retired to his sleeping apartment
for brief time, and emerged, no
longer in fashionable attire, but in
what he called his doctors toggery,
warranted fever-proof."
In every youthful heart, though the
tender love that makes o life may not
yet have come, there is ever one face,
one voice, upon which the fancy lin
gers, as little brighter, a little sweet
er than other faces or voices can be-.
To Charley Stevenson this face and
voice was the memory of Maud Mid
dleton, blonde beauty, and only
child of one of the leading lawyers of
the city. As yet love had not come to
either heart, yet it is certain the love-
ly blonde accepted the attentions of
the handsome young doctor willingly,
and gave him sweetest smiles in re-
turn.
Just society Irritation SO far, but
one likely to become something more,
for DIR. Stevenson was heir expectant
to wealthy maiden aunt, and Maud
Middleton had been we'll taught as to
the necessity of securing a "handsome
establishment" with other matrimonial
blessings.
The ripple of her golden hair, the
sparkle of her blue eyes were the mag
nets that hurried the doctor in his
round Of professional calls, till he
stood at door of tie last patient, Miss
Graham, who had lung fever.
Into darkened room, where power
ty had set her ugly seal, yet where
some of those heart-rending relics of
better days fingered yet, the doctor
was ushered by an elderly woman, a
gentlewoman In the true English sense
of the word, who bore the traces of
sorrow upon her sad face, and looked
with pitiful anxiety for his directions.
"She seems much worse since last
evening"" she said, when the doctor
had explained the accident that had
kept his friend at home, "the delirium
continues, though she is so weak she
can hardly speak"
A few professional inquiries followed,
and the doctor approached the bed.
A face, thin, yet exquisitely delicate,
with large black eyes unnaturally
brilliant, met his gaze. A face strick-
en- 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
delicate wrist, bent low to listen to the
murmurs of the delirious fancy, a
knock at the door summoned the mo-
ther away.
1t was impossible in the deep still
ness of the room to avoid hearing the
conversation between the newcomer
and Mrs. Graham.
"You have an answer to my note ?"
the lady said eagerly. "No, ma'am.
Miss Middleton was dressing for call
ers and couldn't be bothered"
"She sent me some money, Joe; just
a dollar or two3"
"No, ma'am. You must wait until
next month"
GGn;J che rnoI tbo nofa 9i'
Eyes, ma'am. l seed her read it
while the man was dressing Of her
hair, and / told her, ma'am, how aw.