The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1876-05-10

u SpituuIu DnslubSS tuub lOOkS blJeT
itself, a magnificent income, and mon
ey enough to live on the bare interest,
as we'll as family need to live, if he
never enters his Office again while he
has breath"
"But money isn't everything, Mrs.
Stephens" proceeded the physician,
with calmness almost Mephistophil-
ian. "How about helth, madam p
"HelthY p repeated the lady, with a
smile she intended to be sarcastic to
the last degree. Health? DR.. Ellis
Why, there is not healthier or SCUM
der man than my husband in the Uni
ted States. He eats more in enc meal
than L do in three months"
"Thero is nothing the matter with
your husbands stomach, Mrs. Ste
phens."
DIR. Ellis shaded his face with his
hand and waited further develop
ments. Mrs. Stephens mistook the
attempt for forced concealment of
emotion, and Immediately assuming
setting posture, brushed her eyes,
and looked piercingly into her com
panion's face.
"Why do you accent the word
stomach ST. strongly, DIR. Ellis2" she
inquired in anxious tones.
Mrs. Stephens was forgetting her.
self, and this the doctor hailed as an
excellent omen.
"Only that might make you un-
derstand that mans digestion could
be most unexceptionable, and yet he
be far from sound in other directions"
"Then you mean to tell me that my
husband is sick ?"
81 do"
Perhaps you will go still further,
and say dangerous 2"
"If you desire it."
40, Or. Ellis, how cold and unfeel.
ing you are! l should think you ought
to know by this time" and just here
Mrs. Stephens broke down entirely,
| and 8obbed as though her heart would
break.
"Ought to know what, Mrs. Ste-
phens?" inquired the doctor with un-
called.for deliberation.
"You ought to know-to know
that my--my-husband's health is Of
good deal more consequence than
my own."
"Ah, indeed" interrupted the ply.
siciau, with an elevation of the bushy
eyebrows, immensely suggestive of a
contrary opinion as well as several
very excellent reasons for said opin-
ion.
"Dr. Ellis, will you be kind enough
to tell me what is the matter with my
husband ?"
Mrs. Stephens was now on her feet
tears all wiped away, eyes flashing
with resentful spirit, and only the lit
tie culver of her lip to show how deep
wound the kind heart IN her bosom
had sustained. There she stood, re-
proachful, determined, womanly.
"Mrs. Stephens" said he, you have
no cause to be alarmed. If | can
only get your corporation in this bus,
mess, feel certain | shall be able to
make well man of your husband in
a few months at the longest; but as
true as sit before you | cannot do
this alone"
"Why have I not been informed OF
: this before ?" broke in Mrs. Stephens,
imperiousIy.
"Who was there to inform you,
madam? l should really like to know
when you have been sufficiently calm
to hear all that was necessary for you
to know"
"But, DIR. Ellis, I should think that
you ought to understand that my own
health aud comfort are nothing com.
pared to my husbands" Mrs. Ste,
phens was weeping again. "There is
no sacrifice l would not make fol-
him."
"Curious creaturesp muttered the
, doctor; delightful bundles of contra
! dictions. How the mischief should
know, Mrs. Stephens, how much yor
cared for your husband? 1 am sure
that you have spent the last hour com
planning about him. Is that the way
D women generally testify their regarC
for their husbands?"
, 30, don't DIR. Ellis, please don't,
pleaded the terrified woman. 81 viii
i never complain again--never-if yol
. will only let me know what l can d.
D for him. Do you know, doctor, haC
| begun to think lately that something
2 must be amiss with him, he was growl
4 ing so irritable. Poor dear hoV
wicked and thoughtless ] have been.
c "This, then, is the trouble. shal
+ take it for granted, madam, that yol
4 know something about physiology an,
f can follow me without difficulty"
s "Oh-yes, for merey's sake go on.
p every we'll, l find the pericardiun