The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1878-02-14

you're the gentleman that plays
such sweet, dreary tunes on the horn,
aren't you?"
Yes, play little. But it's dread
full lonely playing all by myself"
Isn't there anyone with you?" she
asked.
"No, I'm cursed-I'm bachelorp'
"Deary me ! that is bad I'd ask you
over here to play, sir
ooh p he interrupted.
'But Tn afraid the doctor next door
would come in and ask if anybody was
hurt, she continued.
cor he said again, in quite differ
ent tone, and left. Five minutes after
he was moaning out "The Last Link is
Broken as if that link in its soundness
held heaven and earth together. The
doctor needed a lot of snuff; the baker
was clearly smoking himself into the
grave with his Maria; and the bachelor
used so many paper collars that the little
widow ordered as many boxes of his as
she did of all the other sizes put togo ther.
| But at last, one night, came the maid
servant from next door, pounding up the
Widow Thorn, telling her to come in, for
the doctor was i'll and didn't know any
body. Hastily throwing on her dress,
in she went. and saw him lying there in
a state of collapse, with his wig over one
eye.
"Gingtr and Cayenne pepper and
brandy !" ordeled the little widow, while
she held his head Then, forcing the
fiery dose down his throat, she held him
tight, while he spluttered and gasped
for breath.
"What ever is the matter with him ?'
asked the frightened servant.
"Cucumbers p remarked the widow
for she had seen the doctor march
home that afternoon with two fine speci-
mems of that proyerbially cool vegetable
in his hand. Then, the doctor becom-
ing better, she went home as cheerful as
eyer, and slept the dreamless sleep Of
the innocent and of the non-dysl optic.
Early next morning the baker called.
az hear that DR.. Ash was sick last
night, and that you went in? ?" said he,
almost as though he had a right to
ask.
eyes," she answered; 4" the girl came
for me, and did the little could Poor
old chapi It's pity he never married
He might have had a wife and family
around him, instead of poor, ignorant
servant, who calls up the neighbors on
trifing causes.
"Widow that's what I always say
A lone man is the devils dehght-if
you'll excuse profanity. Everything
conspires to make his life unbearable
What allied the doctor 2"
90, he'd eaten too freely of cucum-
bers."
"Widow Thorn, you know I'm as
much alone as he is.''
Why-bless me, sir-what are you
dri ing at % asked she.
Nothing" he said, with melancholy
smile, and left the shop.
Ten minutes after, she saw him go
home with five overgrown cucumbers in
his hands-she knew how many, for she
pulled box aside in the window to
count them. She smoothed Eer apron
down and shook her head. She expect
ed as much-and more. Just at that
moment in came the bachelor from over
the way.
els anybody sick neSt ieor, mn'am p
he asked.
'.1es, sir; DR.. Ash was taken i'll last
night. Wby?"
II was playing we Met, Twas in a
Crowd late, feeling miserable, and saw
his servant come here, and saw you go
in with her. What allied him!''
Now, sir, can't tell you. Tn afraid
I've been the innocent cause of future
agony to the baker at the corner by tell
ing him; so, if you'll excuse me, we'll
say the doctor was imprudent.
I'm afraid I'm that myself, ma'am, -
he said, low spiritedly; and lately I've
got to feeling pain here And he
pointed in the region of his heart-that
is, his left side, where nobody's heart is,
you know?
go, you play too vigorous, Sir she, y
said 81 once knew gentleman who
played the fife lovely; but he died sud
denly, sir, and the doctor who opened
him told me he was as clear as q whistle
inside, sir-his own identical words, as
clear as whistle Everything had
gone"
But, dare say, he WAS a married
man ?"
eyes, indeed blessed wife and
twins p
"Ah That's the reason. I'll neve,
die that way, na'an-for there's no one
to mourn for me. I'll keep on blowing
till, after awhile, you'll hear the echoes
rolling in me, and I'll play the same tune
twice at once, and one bar behind the
other
"Ohl goodness gracious mel" she
said; "you'd better see a doctor.
Then he shook his head sadly and
went out
She sat in the little shop fer an houl
or more, writing long letter. She linked
her fingers, said :" bother" to the pen
fer spluttering, folded the letter crook
edly, refolded it straightly, directed the
envelope, put a stamp on the lett-hand
corner, went out, dropped it in the box,
and came to DR.. Ash's door, knocked,
inquired how he did, and came home
again. Then [ think she was busy foi
quite time, as all such are.
Soon in popped the doctor with huge
bouquet in his hand.
"You have saved my life, ma'am,
said he.
"Nonsepse y she exclaimed, but she
smiled in pleasant way, too.
, Then he put the flowers beside her
, pressed her hand, and went TO, see his
patients.
The little widow hummed tune, tap
ping her foot on the floor, late III the
afternoon, when the bachelor from ovel
the way rushed TO her.
"Tve done it, ma am - said lie, sIiv
oring.
Lord bless tho man What have
you done p
"Ive been imprudent."
"How2"
"I've poured cold water down ny
spiue III I'm almost paralyzel, and
; want Won To treat me as YOU did the