The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-08-27
FROM FIRST TO LAST.

FROM FIRST TO LAST.
TELL me the worst at once, doc
tor"
Even if had not seen the mans face
l should have felt sure from the voice
that it was no time for falsehood OF
evasion. Yet there was really no neeG
for either. Mr.. Ellery was unnecessa
rily alarmed. The lady, his wife's sis
ter, had been taken with succession
of fainting fits, the result of fatigue
from the long journey to Colorado
Springs. She had been thrown from a
carriage six weeks before, her brother.
in-law told me, and sustained an injury
to the head, and the trip had been un.
dertaken by the advice of her New York
physician, who considered an immedi.
ate change necessary.
was glad to assure him that there
was no danger, and that she needed
only complete rest, yet was not sorry
that he urged me to see her the next
day, and still the next. He was ex-
ceedingly anxious about her until, in
the course of two or three weeks, she
began to make rapid progress towards
recovery. At the end Of month he
made arrangements to return East,
leaving her in the little hotel to which
they had come on the night of their ar
rival-the house which was the nearest
approach to home that l had found
since the beginning of my professional
existence, twelve years before. .
Il would like to feel that she is NOM
inally in your care, DIR. jerks" her
brother said to me before he went away.
''She will stay several months, hope,
and l shall come for her when she
thinks best to return home"
She was most lovely and interesting
woman; not young, for the hair which
had been cut short after the accident
was just touched with gray. Yet a
physicians eye could easily detect the
fact that there was something wrong in
the spiritual nature, which reacted on
the physical, that in spite of Colorado
air and sunshine and her determination
to grow. well and strong and happy, it
was struggle against great odds. 1
said physicians eye, yet with me it
had become a lovers also. Agnes
Kingdom was the only woman, except
my mother, for whom I had ever cared,
and from the first I realized the utter
hopelessness of my affection. could
not ignore the unreasoning, intuitive
knowledge. I felt sure that she had
lived through the greatest experience
of woman's life. that it had made her
prematurely old. that it had saddened
and repressed naturally buoyant and
happy nature. yet that hers was fidel-
ity unto death. Unreasonably, help
lessly, only loved her the more for
this belief.
AS the weeks went on and she grew
no stronger, she became a little anxious
about herself, and finally spoke to me
about it. I could make but one an
swer:
s.Tell me nothing that you do not
wish to, Miss Kingdom. but in my
opinion yours is more of a mental than
a bodily ill-a trouble which no physi-
clan can reach or cure"
She grew very pale as spoke, but,
with the frankness which was one of
her greatest charms, replied, without
hesitation:
"You are probably right, DR.. jerks.
As your patient have no right to de-
ceive you. have no wish to do so. l
am doing my best, however"
She tried hard to smile. The white
lips quivered, the delicate face never
looked so patient or heroic. Instinct
lively caught her hands.
"You have my sympathy" I ex-
II wish I could help you;
wish -
LIDO not know what else I might have |
said had she not turned away from
me, and before she saw what felt was |
in my face.
ST believe you; thank you," she said,
simply; and, without another word,
went out of the room.
1t was five months before her brother
came for her. 1t was plain that he ex-
pected to find her much better than she
really was.
"Her letters have given us no idea
that she was 50 delicate" he said to
me, s.yet it would not be like her to
complain"
ssOf course, as her brother" / began,
With some embarrassment, 'syou under
,tand that what is troubling her men
ally has much to do with her physical
condition. She has 80 far hon0red me
With her confidence that I know ="
Course himr' he muttered under his
breath, springing up and pacing the
loor, not realizing in his excitement
hat he might be saying too much.
.he has been killing her by inches for
7ears and years. He would be more
nerciful ="
'Stopr' cried. checking him by my
.rasp upon his shoulder. 'You are !