The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-12-29

WHIWkt ~ .I ID IT, o. Il.
A few professional inquirisa followet
and the doctor approached the bed. 4
face then, yet exquistely delicate II
every outline and feature, fever flushed
with large black eyes unnaturAlly bril-
liant, met hil case. A face sriken b
illness, wasted and worn, yet The mosI
beautiful In al its pain bis eyes had eyeI
rested upon. ~
While he felt the rapid pulse Of III
delicate wrist, bent low 10 listen 70 III
murmurS Of delirious fancy, n knock a
the door summoned the mother away.
II was impossible In the deep stiffness
oil the room to avoid hearing the CONVEX.
sation between the new conner and Mrs.
Graham.
sYou have an answer to my note y tht
lady said, eagerly. st.l.
SNo, mGSm. Miss Middleton wa.
dressed for callers, and couldn't be both
cred"
%shs sen. me 4, some money, Jos-just
"No, ma'am. You must walt till nsxt
month";
"Dld she read the notef,
"Yes, ma'am, | seen her read Il while
the man was dressing her hair, and | told
her ma'am, how siCk Miss Daisy was, bul
she said j was an impudence, and might
talk when I was asked. She's q proud
one.n - ~.
"Well, Joe, you can do no msre.n
"B9t amt | TO 20 for the medicines
and the winef' t4.,,
1t was q whole tragedy In Charley
stevenson's kind heart. Was the mother
seeking charity 7 or did the blonde beau.
y, who haunted all his dreams, owe her
righttul payment? Either way his idol
waa dimmed by the GRAND boy.
Yet he felt instinctiyely that charity
from stranger would not be accepted
here. The face otthe elder lady through
all lis sadness and gentleness, was proud
and every tone Of the low voice showed
education and refinement.
No money, moi 4 pitiful dollar or two, q
and the patient wanted expensiye medi.
ciues and stimulants. A bright thought
passed over Charley Steveuson'S mind,
"Mra. Graham" he said, turning his
eyes delicately from the pale, sweet face,
"your daughter needs a.medicine / do
not like to trust druggist to prepare
from 4 written prescription. Iwill re-.
turn In an hour, and administer The first
dose myself."
Whether she understood the delicate
kindness or not, Mrs. GrahRms grateful
eyes sufficiently thanked the young ply.
stefan, who hurried away, soon returning
with the medicines and wine, cleyerly
disguised BY a prescription label pasted
over the original one.
More then three hours slipped away
while the doctor watched his pa.
tient, studying the effects Of his medi-
ciues, and finally being rewarded by see
ing her fall Into a quiet slumber. Il
was quite too late when he reached home
again TO make Gale; and Is be sat down
at his CHEEKY crate, he dreamed, not Of
Maud 3 golden curls, but Of the pale sweet
face Of Miss Graham. s.,l
It saddened him to think Of cofiu-lid
hiding It forever from the mother's Low.
ing eyes, and yet he knew she was hover
Ing very close to the borders Of the future
lie.
His frat call the next day was at the
house Of this patient, and BY the glad
eyes Of the mother he knew that life-giv-
Ing sleep had been prolonged and follow
ed BY consciousness.
Very week and very Ill she was yet,
but there was hope now, and Charley Stew.
enson wondered that this fact should
tighten his heart when but tWenty-four
hours before he had never even heard Of
Miss Graham. But in his morning tray.
els a natty little phaeton passed him,
paused until he came up, and Maude
Middleton, leaning forward, held out her
hand to the young physician.
You do not deserve to be spoken to-
she said, with her great blue eyes mersily
cordial, "for you. should have followed
your bouquet yesterday"
II was only too sorry that I could not
was the reply. One Of my friends sprain.
ed his ankle, and kindly TUNED over his
patients to ME-"
"Dolefulp with shrug. "slckness
is hofrid bore. l am out now hunting
up substitute for my dressmaker, who
sends me word she has lung fever. 1dare
say it is only acold; but In the meantime
| must find some one else. Shocking
amt it? Do come TO see US soon."
And alter 4 few more parting words,
Maude carried her golden curls from
Charley's vision.
II was a 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 SteVenaon's
heart. TWAS impossible for q man whose
every action was controlled by honor and
Christianity to give even admiration to 4
woman for whom he felt no respect, and
Charley Stevenson was conscious OF q
feeling Of bitter Contempt for Maude a.
the phaton 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 mel
his, full Of gratitude, and whisper
thanked him, he wondered how he had
ever seen any beauty in the fair face Of
Maude Middleton.
But that young lady did no! propose e
lose her admirer SO easily. Old Mis-
Stevenson, the doctors aunt, had taken
the blonde upon her list Of special favor
ties, and it was astonishing how often the
gay beauty found an excuse to visit her
elderly friend; and often Charley wa
there, even courteous and pleasant, but
never again with that air thar had ono.
told MAude her charms were winning
their way to the young doctors heart
Ittroubled him, too, that his aunt had &C
evidently set her heart upon atch
between himself and Mauds, for l sar-
" loved her, and was loath 10 O any
Of her wishes. So, not wishing % make
any violent rupture, cunning Charley
one evening in the early spring, said:
"Auntie, do you remember once wish
ing you could replace your old compAn
ion, Miss Bruce ~
eyes, but / never can. And when you
are married, Charley, your wife will shar'
our home"
every true. In the meantime, Auntie
| I have n patient who haA bean very Il