The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-03-02
"DOCTOR" GERTRUDE ASHTON.


A LARGE, elegantly-furnished bed.
Eoom, that was the very ideal of luxuri-
aus comfort and convenience 1t was q
picture of artistic beauty and tasteful
wealth, and the sweet, lovely. face, ly-
ing on the lace-edged pillows, was itself
a picture, with its pure, ivory complex
ION, dark, wistful eyes, heavy brows
and lashes, and the luXuriant golden
hair trailed almost to the floor as the
invalid swept it YEARLY aside.
She had been lying there such long,
wearlsome time, and she didn't get any
better-rather, she grew weaker and
more nervous with every passing dav,
-1Ithough her sweetness of temper did
gEot desert her, nor her patient endur-
;anee
Every day for months DR.. Grassmere
make his professional visit, and leave
his orders for the day, and then drop in
Mr. Nugent's study below and report.
And yet Mrs. Nugent did not get
we'll; and there came to be look of
fear and pain on her husbands face
and one of puzzled dismay on DR.. Grass
mere S COuntenance.
Il am entirely at loss to account
for your wife's persistence in remaining
I'll, Harry. Eve given her enough tonic
to enable her to shoulder cathedral,
and yet there she lies as you see her
patient, resigned, obedient, but--no
better. | can't see that there is any
organic trouble anywhere. Beyond a
general debility and depression of spir-
It's nothing ais herr
Harry Nugent looked anxiously in
the good-natured face of his trusty,
sensible old doctor, who had been the
Family physician ever since the time
he had ushered young Harry into the
Torld-twenty-five years ago-who had
known him well, as baby, boy and man,
and who was friend and adviser
f'But she suffers, doctor, she GER
Gainly suffers. There are times when
she is very faint and says she feels so
deSEhly; and her poor heart will pant
as If it would leap from her side My
darling little Nellie! o Doctor Grass
mere, you know | would give half my
fortune to see her well and about again,
Gght-hearted and sunny-smiled as she
Twas six months ago, before baby came
and died.
DE- Grassmere was corrugating his
big bald forehead into perfect nest of
deep, puzzled wrinkles.
ttBless her sweet face! believe L d
give her all Of mine if | could get her
out again. Honestly, Harry, my skill
is exhausted. | don't know what else
20 do. There's no use pouring any
more medicine down her. will con-
fess, my boy, I'm discouraged"
Harry handsome face blanched.
''Good Heaven, doctor! Is it so bad
as that? VIII she die? She's not dy-
ing, is she?''
He sprang to his feet as he spoke, ag-
Ttated and heartsick.
"Not positively dying. Harry, but |
tell you she can't live very long in this
passive condition in which she rests,
month in and month out. To save my
soul l couldn't persuade her to be
helped up in the easy-chair for awhile
this morning. never was so tempted
in my life as was to pick her up bodi-
ly and carry her into the next room. "
Harry gave a little cry of dismay.
80 doctor, how could you dream
of such thing? Why, it would have
killed her-she's so weak she tainted
yesterday when told her there were a
couple of lady friends in the drawing
room who wanted to see herr
DIR. Grassmere gave an extra vigorous
polish to his speckless, gold-rimmed
glasses.
That's it, precisely! She won't see
anybody, and thus get chance of be-
ing cheered up little. She's Just ~
mg there, letting her life ooze away
while her nurse croaks to her and reads
Heavenly Rest and Comfort to DYING
Souls'-two admirable books, grant,
.hut hardly the sort of reading suitable
III anyone for whose life we are fight
ing"
Harry's face was grave and thought
Sul.
ado you really think 1 had better
dismiss Mrs. Carter and get younger
and more cheerful nurse?n
~Emphatically. | am prolonging
my stay this morning far beyond its
prescribed limits just because | am
convinced something decided has to be
done. want you to spirit those dole
full books away; l want you to try the
experiment of reading little to Nellie
yo" rself-nothing funny or amusing,
for the change would be too sudden
hu, something entertaining. Them
~ you to get another doctor"
4 Try looked at him in blank amaze
GasA-.
another doctor?n
q" q ust so, my dear boy. Ny skill has
been tested to the full. | honestly
SSzlnk it will be best to treat your wife
70 Il decided change. And want you
to send for lady doctor, too-there's
sympathy between women that may
turn to advantage in this case"