The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-08-13
THE MIDNIGHT VISITOR.


Ia TIE nrc, settling himself csSlllt1rt-
ably i'm it, and planting his feet on the
fender, he began to read.
The servant hal gone Ia bed an hour
before; the boy was in his ,lormitOry;
the eat and dog scupici the center Of
the hearthru.. under their masters
legs, i'm q strange complicated embrace,
Just ~ they had fallen asleep i'm the
midst of their play; B;,ff, the eat, hav-
ing his paws around Nelson's neck,
and Nelson, a beautiful young water
spaniel, with his nsr>.. >nu.,!y bcsisie,i i'm
the thick, tan-,v'lOrc,i fur which hA.i
given u name to his friend.
The doctor laid his b ak upon his
knee, and taking up - poker. gently
tapped and played Will, a large coal.
through whose ii>>,ires the l,i:iZing gas
spirited with "a sputtcr ami funIc that i'm
the deep midnight silence sounded
clear AMI loud.
lie was ENJOYING to the full that
sense Of security from interruption
which medical men - seldom have an
opportunity If feeling. He hal i'm ini-
mediate prospect none II tli'rsr urgent
eases Whis-h have u" regard fer time
nor tide, AMI the wiu,i that Prov l,d in
the chiinucyS. ard the heavy rain that
heat furio;,>l,y against the windows
promised him security from all eases Of
minor Necessity. =" he played with
the blazing e sal. AMI cIjoyei his COM
Portable firc>i.lc ~ much ~ u man can
who has nO wife To- share il with him.
As the sound al the wheels rnmbling
along the street mingled with the noise.
If the storm, hr gave an exu.tiny poke
a.. xs-I,t..I, l..tt hnnv
ming ruins; AMI then he nestled lie per
into his chair, with Scrio,i> Thoughts III
setting public opinion ut dsii,nce by
smoking u cigar. But suddenly the
spaniel raised his head, erected his
silky ears. uttered u short, iuIui>itive
bark. In the next nlonl,'n. the dss.tor
heard that the wheels stopped before
his door. Putting Oh u Icing facr Ina
seemed Ia c,inni>erat.. himself ON tine
disturbance If his quiet. hc sat upright
waiting for the summons, and mutt
iering, philosophically:
Put not thy faith in any sort of
weather."
Then came a rim. ut the night-bell.
and female Voice that calle;t from the
vehicle:
Don't knock! you need not arouse
the whole house
:" hope they'll make hast and come
them" replied q gruff Voice. the tones
of which carried with them u strong
cun victon that the vehicle outside. must
bc c:,b; If ! don't knO.k 'rm up
shall he kept waiting here for an hour"
There j. some one cuhning-1 see q
light replied the Voice from the cab.
enquire ii the gentleman j. nj
home"
Heres thu doctor himself, ! sup
l0se." said the cablnan. ~ the street
,inr opened, and showed the figure in
slippers ami morning GOWN that stood
within.
''Opcn the door and let me out!' said
the lady, impatiently: AMI M ssDner
hal the Il, liver i'm his deliberate, sleepy
way ,"bcye,l her commands, than three
light bounds placed her safely OH the
,i.s,r-mat. She seemed to In. Young.
hut her thick veil eilecttiaily hid her
face.
do You want me Ia ger anywhere.:''
said the 'i..i"r, CHANGING at his slippers;
..fur il 40 III"
wish to speak with You. Wait for
SItc stuuisFStttS Csttb-
man; IL will pay You double for your
time, i'm consideration of the bad wealth
err" The dspr Was shut, AMI the driver,
divirting himself of his watcrprnfc0,t,
which he threw over the recking TANKS
of ms horses. enclosed himself in the
inside If his carriage to exchange his
habitual ,losy condition for a state Of
complete sonlnolcncy. In tire n,cai,-
time the doctor had politly bowed his
visitor into the ParlOr, AMI seated her
ON the sofa.
This il dreadful weather FIR YOU To
come out i'm nl:s'am," he began; but
suppose the ease Is very urgent.
should judge from the liveline>s Of your
movements that you cannot have
c,nc on your own account"
You are mistaken, SIR" she replied;
~ seek your advice and assistance for
myself, being ut the same time in per-
feet health"
81 must ask you tobe more explicit, !"
said the doctor. quite mystifiesl
'.TO enable you Ia judge correctly Of
the case, ] must explain all the circum-
stances" she said. To begin, then:
have father and mother. two aunts,
one a widow AMI the other an old mai,i,
living with them; u married sister on
the other side Of the street, AMI several
grown-up brothers; sd You may easily
imagine what an OverpOwering
weight of family influence can be
brought tO bear upon my individual
will. i'm any case in which, it dares To
act for itself. Well, urged by the wish
Is of my family, and also, must own,
xs-iflS
ton, 1 some months ago entered into
an engagement with gentleman who
was great friend, or perhaps should
say u constant companion Of my eldest
brother. Tomorrow is the day fixed
for the wedding. am c,'rtain that
should not have made this engagement
ii had had greater freedom of inter
course with other men, 80 ~ to be able
tn compare AMI judge Of character.
This freedom ] have never enjoyed
until lately, and the result Of my Ot,ser-
vations has been anything but favor
able to my intended. Daily discov-
FRED m him traits Of character which
destroyed all the romance Of
nv prediction. But still forbOre to !
break off with him, consOiing myself !
with the reflection that ND man is per-
'cct, and that must expect To meet
with defects, in whOmsOever / might /
lake for my husband. ] tell YOU this
hat you may understand why did
rot seek to put an end to this engage
nent until il had approached 50 near to
Is completion. ] felt dissatisfied and
Wished that were free; but it was not
i'll this evening that ] perceived in him
'Oints Of character which excited my
l need not explain what
hose points are-it is sufficient that /
rel contempt for him; and with such a
ointment i'm my heart, can il he right
hat should marry him."
"Decide,lIy not" said the doctor,
alphabetically.
'.Then what course would you advise
ne To adopt to get rid Of him." de-
handed the lady.
would not this he a question for q
bergman ar lawyer Ia SETTLE" ask
Il the doctor, gently. rather than for a
hysician whose skill is mainly direct
4 10 curing the ills Of the body: New