The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-01-10
What Cured Mrs. Nugent,

A large, elegantly furnished bedroom
that was the very ideal Of luxurious com
fort and convenience. Ii was pictur,
OF artistic beauty and tasteful wealth
and the sweet, lovely face, lying on the
lace-elgei pillows, was itself picture,
with its pure, ivory complexion, dark
wistful ewes, heavy brows and lashes
aud the luxuriant golden hair that
trailed almost to the floor as the invalid
swept il wearily aside.
She had been lying there such a long,
wearisome time, and she didn't get any
better-rather, she grew weaker anl
more nervous with every passing day
although her sweetness of temper die
not desert her, nor her patient endur
ance.
Every dav for months DR.. Grassmert
would drive mp in his carriage and make
his professional visit, and leave hi:
orders for the day, and then drop II
Mr.. Nugent's study below and report
And yet Mrs. Nugent did not get well
and there came 70 be look Of fear and
Pain in her husbands face, and one oi
puzzled dismay on DIR. Grassmere's
eOuntenance.
81 am entirely at loss to account fol
your wife's persistence IN remaining III,
Harry. I've given her enough tonic &c
enable her 70 shoulder a cathedral, and
vet 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 ana depression ef spirits, moth
ing ais her.
Harry Nugent looked arIiously in the
good-natured face Of this trusty, sensi-
bic old doctor, who had been the family
physician OF the Nugents ever since the
time he had ushered Young Harry int
the world-twenty-five wears ago-who
had known him we'll, as baby boy, and
man. and who was fliend and adviser
"But she suffers, doctor, she certainly
suffers. There are times when she Is
very faint, and SAYS she feels 50 deathly
and her poor heart will pant as if il
would leap from side 10 side. Mydarling
little Nellie Oh, Doctor Grassmere
yen know would give half nv fortune
to see her well and about again, light
hearted and cunny-smiled as she was si1
months ago, before baby came and
died"
DR.. Grassmere was corrugating his
big, bald forehead into a perfect nest OF
deep. puzzled wrinkles.
"BIess her sweet face, I believe I'd
give all OF mine il / could get her out
again. Honestly, Harry, my skill is
exhausted. / don't know what else 10
do. There's no use pouring any more
medicine down her i will confess, my
boy, Tn discouraged. "
Harrv's handsome face blanched.
GOOD heavens, doctor Is she 50
bad as that ? Will she die? She's not
dying, is she?"
He sprang to his feet as he spoke,
agitated and heart-sick.
Not positively dying, Harry, but l
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. couldn't persuade her to be
helped up in the easy chair for a while
this morning. never was so tempted in
my life as / was to pick her up bodily
and carry her into the next room.
Harry gave little cry Of dismay.
"Oh, doctor. how could you dream Of
such thing Why, il would have killed
her-she's so weak she tainted yesterday
when I told her there were a couple Of
lady friends in the drawing-room who
wanted to see her"
DIR. Grassmere gave an extra polish
to his speckless gold-rimmed glasses.
"That's it, precisely She won't see
anybody, and thus get a chance OF being
cheered up a little She's just lying
there, letting her life ooze away while
her nurse croaks to her and reads pages
on pages Of The Glories of Heavenly
Rest, and Comfort to Dying Souls -
two admirable books, grant, but hardly
the sort of reading suitable to any one
for whose life we are fighting"
Harry's face was grave and thoughtful.
"Do you really think I had better
dismiss Mrs. Carter and get younger
and more cheerful nurse q
"Emphatically. | am prolonging my
stay this morning far beyond its pre-
scribed limits, just because l am con-
vinced something decided has to be
done. / want you to spirit those doleful
books away / want you to try the ex-
pertinent of reading a little to Nellie
yourself-nothing funny or amusing, for
the change would he too sudden-but
something entertaining. Them want
You to get another doctor.
Harry looked at him in blank amaze
ment.
"Another doctor ?"
"Just so, my dear boy. NY skill has
been tested to the full. / honestly think
it will be best to treat your wife to de-
cided change. And I want you to send
for a lady doctor, too-there's a SYM
psthy between women that may turn to
advantage in this case.
Harry looked blanker than ever.
"a lady doctor?"
"Yes-one know. and will strongly
recommend. A sensible, skillful, agree
able woman, to whom your wife will
incline, and whose influence will be
more palpable than mine. Do it, Harry.
Authorize me to send Doctor Gertrude
Ashton here this afternoon. I'll see
her, and give her history of the case,
and Ill promise to have an eye after you
all; and. please heaven, well make a
desperate effort for Nellie's life"
80 ut came to pass that DIR. Grass
mere called at the surgery of Miss
Ashton, and had long consultation
with her and at four o'clock of that
afternoon, when Harry was sitting al