Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-02-14


that my-my husbands health aud
life are of good deal more conse-
quence to me than my own.'
"Ah indeed" interrupted the physic-
ian, with an elevation of the bushy
eyebrows, immensely suggestive of a
contrary opinion, as we'll as several
very excellent reasons for said opinion.
'Doctor Ellis, will you be kind
enough to tell what the matter withmy
husband ?"
Mrs. Stephens was now on her feet
tears all wiped away, eyes flashing
with resentful spirit, and only the
little quiver Of her lip, to show how
deep 4 wound the kind heart in her
bosom had sustained. There she
stood, reproachful, defiant, determin
ed, womanly. The Doctor was de-
lighted, and such an honest face it
was, that he carried around with him
from door to door, from sunrise to
sunset, every day in the year, that it
was mighty hard matter to keep it
from an immediate betrayal of the
whole purpose
''Mrs. Stephens" said he, "ycu have
no cause to be alarmed. If can only
get your cooperation in this business,
| feel certain | shall be able to make
we'll man Of husband in a few
months, at the longest but, as true as
l sit here before you, | cannot do this
alone"
"Whv have ] not been informed of
this before o. broke in Mrs Stephens
imperiously,
| "Who was there to inform you,
madam e? Your husband does not
know his condition, and should real
ly like to be told when you have been
sufficiently calm to hear all that was
necessary for you to know p
"But, Doctor Ellis, / should think
you ought to have understood that
my own health and comfort are moth
ing, compared to my husbands" Mrs.
Stephens was weeping again, "There
is no sacrifice that would not make
for him."
"Curious creature |" muttered the
doctor "delightful bundle OF con-
tradictions How the mischief should
| know, Mrs. Stephens, how much
you care tor your husband ? | am
sure you have spent the last hour
complaining about him. Is that the
way women generally testify their re-
gard for their husbands ?"
20, don't, Doctor Ellis, please don't.
| will never complain agaln-never--
if you will only let me know what I
can do for him. Do you know, Doc
tor, had begun to think lately that
something must be amiss with him,
he was growing so irritable. Poor
dear how wicked and thoughtless l
have treated him.
This, then, is the trouble. I shall
take it for granted, madam, that you
know something about physiology,
and can follow me without difficulty p
"O-yes, for mercy's sake, go on"
Every well I find that the pericar.
dunn"
"The pericardium ?" repeated Mrs.
Stephens.
"You know what that is, l sup
pose ;"
Evidently Mrs. Stephens anatomi.
cal knowledge was limited. She
shook her head in despair. "Some-
thing about the heart is it not?' she
asked at last.
Yes, the pericardium is the men-
braneous sack that holds the heart.
Well, sometimes this sack--it Is no
matter about particulars, Mrs. Steph-
ems" and Dr. Ellis suddenly came to
u standstill.
sit is enough, though, for me to
say that we are both passably anxious
that his heart should remain where it
belongs. Mr.. Stephens must be anus
ed. He wants the opera, the lecture,
the social circle, entertaining books
Il happy home-huslc. You play
and sing, do You not, Mrs. Stephens p
son yes-I use to, and Mrs. Ste
phens tones were so pitital now that
big Doctor Ellis really and truly was
obliged to wipe both eyes and his
nose. Before he was aware, the lac.
rymal duct had gotten the upper
hand. "Well, try 1t again get
teacher, and go to practiclng."
"But how am going to manage
my spasms ?" sobbed the lady.
"Well, perhaps between us both
you using your will power, and think