Morris tribune., 1880-07-29
Kill OR CURE.

OQo evening, lalS III 4NOFCucSl1 al |
elderly man, with beetling brOws, pierc- |
ing grey eyes, thin compressed lips, and
long bony hands, sat IN stability fur
nished room in a splendid old house,
casting up accounts by the light of a
single candle. The weather being cold,
one of those baskets for live Goals which
ale sometimes appropriately called ''kill
joys" glInmered Ia the huge CRATE. The
door of the rsom, which opened into the
fine oak pannelied hall, was ajar, and
presently servant girl, bearing light,
fitted by from the stair case. Her mas
ter called her; "Hi, JENNY come here.
What makes you look so scared3 Is your
mistress worse?'
I'm afeard so, Sir Timothy"
IsEh! what? really bad9n
"Ye-es.''
Going TO die3H
''She says SO, Sir Timothy. and oh! she
looks it. too. 80, sir,'' cried the girl
earnestly, hurting on: what was on her
soul, 'if she were to die without
doctor"
This abnormal possibility shocked Sir
Timothy Grabham also, the invalid being
in manner dear to him. 1t was very
general notisn amongst his neighbors
and tenants that the man was incapable
of caring for any body; but this was pre-
ju6ice; he did care tor his wife after his
own fashion. 1t was not perhaps an en-
thusiastlc attachment, Or deep one:
don't suppose he loved her IS we'll as
good bargain, for example, but compari-
sons are odious.
He renamed silent for a while Look
ing, down aud then muttered: declared
that would never send for that fellow
Radford again. which was an error on
his part; he had never made that rash
observatiOn-lt was Mr.. RadfOrd who
had vowed he would no: come.
shall Charles go ~for DR.. Radford,
please, SIR Timothy?'
''There is no one else, so I suppose he
must"
Jenny vanished in search of that foot
man. groom. gardener named Charles; and
her master tried to get back into his
sum, but made a mistake of twopence
farthing, and relapsed into reverie.
Sir Timothy Grabham was not nice
man, but II he had remained Indifferent
to his wiie's condition, he would have
been monster. She had now, for thir-
tt years, devoted herself to the difficult
task OF pleasing him; she had brought
him money, and saved him money; born
economical, she had developed the facul-
ty into extreme meanness to gain his ap-
probation. Passion would have been
out of place at his age, and hers, but he
esteemed her.
After hara days work Mr.. Radford
haa turned into led with the snug con-
viction that he was going to remain un-
disturbed up to eight o'cleck on the fol-
lowing morning, Tor his last gladys case''
was going on as favorably as if civiliza-
ton had been unknown, and no fellow
creature looked to him for introduction
into the world for the next fortnight to
come. But at halt-past eleven his sleep
was broken by the night-bell, and he
had to wrench himself from his warm
nook in the feathers, feel for his dressing
gown and slippers, blunder ito his dress
ing room, which looked out on the front
of the house, and opened the window
What is it2'' he shouted, sbivering as
the frosty night air blew in upon his face
and played about his unprotected legs
eli. IL
"idiot!-your name?"
.'Charles, from the Hail."
'Then, Charles from the Hall, you MAY
go back again, for am not coming.
''My lady is very i'll, sir"
"Can't help it. Tell your master tina
won't attend him OF his family, ant
he need send no more messages, as
shall muff1e the night-belI.' And with
these words tie doctor banged down tn
window.
"What are you doing, Johns' said
voice from the bed presently.
"TyIng stocking round the clappe
Of this confounded bell.
E'What for?"
ITO get good sleep in spite Of 81
Timothy Grabhsm.
+, "Why, he has never sent for youv
ale has, though, the insolent screw
his wife's iii.
"Well, well, don't tie up the bel
John; she may be really bad-dying yo
know.
q I'What is that to me?"
81 know they have treated us very bad
ly;a rich man like that to refuse to pa
for your attendance; it is unheard OF
But other people might want you"
''Nst likely
"No, but it is just possible. Don't mui
fie the bell.''
/ need hardly tell the married reade
that the doctor got growing into bee
, with the bell ciapper free to rouse hir
out again. In an hours time the provok
ing bit of iron avaIled itself of that Liz
erty, but for some minutes Mr.. Radfor
declined to stir. Consideration for hi
wifes rest, however, at length induce
him to turn out at once and again g
through the process of refrigeration.
"Slr Timothy's messenger again, I sup
pose?' lie cried.
= ''No," replied well known voice; 5.
am here myself
"For what purpose, Sir Timothy Grab
ham. do you come and disturb me, whel
you know very we'll that / will neve
tend you agaln?"
LAY. az, replied the voice from belo1
shut thls is not time to bear malice
tell you That my wife is dangerously ill
dying, l believe, and If she dies for wan
of medical assistance, you will be respor
sible.''
mot 80, the'responsibillty will ali Ii
on your own shoulders. am poe
man, working hard for my living, but n
one ever knew me to neglect patient bt
q cause be could not pay me. Two third
OF my work is done for nothing, or nez
itonotbing, and those who can afford
out to take some share OF the burden
more especially you. the lord of th
manor, under whose protection the Who'll
poor are placed by providence. Instea
of which you refuse to pay me for actu
Z al attendance upon yourself and yor
family for upwards of a ysarl''
ssstay, stayl" cried Sir Timothy; ayo