The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1878-10-30
THE MIDNIGHT VISITOR.
A Doctors singular Adventure.


the doctor 'glancing at the clock or
the mantelpiece, as he drew the chail
close to the FIRE, seating himself com,
fortably in it, and planting his feet
on the fender, he began TO read.
The servant had gone to bed an
hour before; the boy was in his dor
mitoy; the cat and dog occupied th.
centre of the hearth-rug under theil
masters legs in a strangely compli
Gated embrace, just as they had fal
len asleep in the midst Of their PLAY
Buff the cat, having his. forespaN
around Nelson's neck, and Nelson, q
beautiful young water spaniel, with
his nose snugly bedded in the thick
tan colored fur which had given q
name to his friend.
The'doctor laidhis- book upon his
knee, and taking up. the poker, gent
ly tapped and played with a large
coal, throughwhose fssures the blaz.
ing fire spirited with a sputter and
fume that in the deep midnight ST.
lence sounded clear and loud. He
was enjoying to the full that sense Of
security from interruption which
medical men so seldom have an op.
portunity of feeling. He had in i'm.
mediate prospect none Of those ur.
gent cases with no, regard for time
nor tide, and the wind that howled
in the chimneys and the heavy rain
that beat furiously against the win.
dows promised him security from all
cases of minor necessity, So he
played with the blazing coal, and
enjoyed his comfortable freside as
much as a man can who has no wife
to share it with him.
AS the sound of the wheels rum.
bling along the street mingled with
the noise of the storm, he gave an
exulting poke to the coal, which left
it a heap of flamming ruins, and
then he nestled deeper into his chair,
with serious thoughts of setting pub.
lie opinion at defiance by smoking a
cigar But suddenly the spaniel
raised his head, erected his silky
ears, and uttered a short, inquisitive
bark. In the next moment the doc
tor heard the wheels stopped before
his door. Putting on q, long face
that seemed to commiserate himself
on the disturbance of his quiet, he
sat upright waiting for the summons,
and muttering philosophically, "Put
not thy faith in any sort of weatherr'
Then came q ring at the night
bell, and a female voice that called
from the vehicle:
"Don't knock! You need not rouse
the whole house."
81 hope they'll make haste and
come, then," replied n gruff voice,
the tones of which carried with them
a strong conviction that the vehicle
outside must be a cab. "If l don't
knock 'em up l shall be kept wait
ing here for an hour!"
"Thcre is some one coming-see, a
light" replied the voice from the
cab. Enquire if the gentleman is
at home"
"Herc's the doctor himself, sup
pose," said the cabman, as the street
door opened and showed the figure
in slippers and morning gown that
stood within.
"open the door and let me outl"
said the lady impatiently; and no
sooner had the driver, in his deliber-
ate, sleepy way, obeycd her com.
mands than three light bounds plac-
ed her safely on the door-mat. She
seemed to be young, but her thick
veil effectually hid her face,
"Do you want me me to go any
whereH" said the doctor, glancing at
his slippers; "for if so, Pill"
"No, oh, mol" she interrupted. "I
wish to speak with you. Wait for
me-" she added, addressing the cab
man; "I will pay you double for your
time, in consideration of the bad
weather"
The door was shut, and the driver,
divesting himself of his waterproof
coat, which he threw over the reek-
ing flanks Of his horse, cnsconCed
himself in the inside of his carriage
to exchange his habitual condition
for a state of complete somnoloncy.
In tho meantime tho doctor had