Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-06-04
Kill or Cure.

One evening, late in November, an ell
DERBY man, with beetling brOws, pierre
ing grey eyes, thin compressed lips,
and long: bony hands, cat in Il stability
furnished room in a splendid oil house,
casting up accounts by the light of u
single candle. The weather being
cold, one of those baskets for live Goals
which arc sometimes appropriately
called "kill joys" glimmered in the
huge CRATE. The door of tho room,
which opened into the ak-panelled hall
was ajar, and presently servant girl,
bearing light, fitted by from the stair
case. Her master called her: Hi,
Jenny! come here. What makes you
look so scared? Is your mistress
worse?'
I'm ateard so, Sir Timothy"
"Eh what? really bad p
"Ye-es"
Going 10 die?'
"She says 30, Sir Timothy, AMI oh !!
she looks it, too. o sir" cried the
girl earnestly, hurting out what was on
her soul. eff she were TO die without q
doctor u
This abnormal possibility shocked
Sir Timothy Graham also, the invalid
being in manner dear to him. It wes
very general notion amongst his
peighbors and tenants that the man
was incapable OF caring for anybody;
but this was prejudice; he did care for
his wife after his own fashion. 1t was
not, perhaps, an enthusiastic attach
ment, or deep one; don't suppose
he loved her as we'll as good bargain,
for example; but comparisons arc
odius.
He remained silent for while look
ing down. and then muttered:
81 declared that 1 would never send
for that fellow Radford again." which
was an error on his part; he had never
maize that rash observation-it was MIR.
Radford who had vswed he would rot
come.
"Shall Charles go for Dr.. Radford,
please. Sir Timothy ?"
"There rs no one else; 50 I suppose
he must"
Jenny vanished in search of that foot
man-groom. gardener named Charles;
and her master tlicd to get back into
his sum, but made mistake of two.
pence farthiEg, and relapsed into rev.
erie.
Sir Timothy Grabham was not nice
man, but if he had remained indiffer-
ent to his wife's condition, he would
have been monster. She had now,
for thirty years, devoted herself to the
difficult task of pleasing him; she had
brought him money, and saved him
money; born economical, she had de.
veloped the faculty into ex!rcUc mean
ness to gain his approbatior. P..aion
would have been out If place at his age,
and hers, but he esteemed her.
After hard days work, Mr.. Radford
had turned into bed with the snug con-
viction that he was going to remain I'M
disturbed up to eight o'clock on the
following morning, for his last lady's
case was going on as favorable as if
civilization had been unknown, and no
fellow creature looked to him for intro
auction into the world for the next
fortnight to come. But at half.past
eleven his sleep was broken by the
night-bell. and he had to wrench him.
self from his warm nook in the feath-
ers, feel for his dressing-gown and
slippers, blunder into his dressing.
room, which looked out on the front
of the house, and open the window.
What Is it 2" he shouted, shivering US
the frosty night air blew in upon his
face and played about his unprotected
legs.
Please, sir, it's me-"
Idiot Your name?"
Charles, from the Hall"
Then, Charles from the Hall, you
may go back again, for I am not com
ing"
"My lady is very ill, SIR"
Cant help it. Tell your master
That l won't attend him or his family.
and he need send no more messages, as
l shall mufae the night-bell.p And
with these words the doctor banged
down the window.
what are you dong, John 2" said
voice from the bed presently.
lying stocking round the clapper
CT this confounded bell"
What for ?"
ITO get good sleep, in spite of Sir
Timothy Grabham."
Why, he has never sent for Won ~
He has, though, the insolent screw.
his wife's ill.,"
Well. well, don't tie up the bell.
John; she may be really bad-dying
What is that to me?"
know they have treated lis yerv
bac J; rich man like that to refuse to
pay ior your attendance; it is unheard
OF But other people might want you"
Not likely"
mufiie the bell"
L need hardly tell the married reader
that the doctor got growing into bed,
with the bell. clapper free to rouse him
out again In an hours time the bro.
voking bit OF iron availed itself Of that