The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-03-25


fNorth-North, ma'am It's a
stranger he is to me"
Gle will go in a minute, Jennie
said, blush on each cheek. ale is
none Of your cowardly kind; he is a
generous, noble, charitable gentleman, a
friend of mine, and | know he'll look
after your mothers case"
Mrs. Goodfellow smiled coldly.
"Aud then there's young DIR. Marks
my favorite, you know. He will go,
] am pretty sure"
Jennie's lip curled.
elbow strange you are, aunty Why,
he is the most distant, proud, stingy
man l ever saw, Go He would
quicker put his head into the fire But
DR.. North will go, 1 am sure. Susie,
I'll put Oh my wraps and go to mis-
Office with you"
And to Susan O'Rca's grateful de-
light, Miss Osborne accompanied her to
the Office door of that professional gen.
tleman. A colorcd boy answered the
bell and Susan, with true Irish impetu-
osity, blurted out her message-the
message that came so straight from her
true, noble heart.
81 Is the dochter I be wanting-Dr.
North to go at onct to see my darlin'
ould mother, a-lyin' sick wild the schmall-
pox, and"
The loudspoken, intense words that
Jennie could not check in her eager
flow, reached DR.. North's ears, as he
sat in his cosey Office chair, with one or
two choice books and box Of cigars,
making it very congcnial to his tastes.
"Put her out. Stephen. We don't
want the smallpox here. Tell he- to go
to the police station for hospital doc
tor Shut the door, Stephen You don't
wan5 to catch it, do you7 The low,
dirty Irish are getting too impudent for
anything"
But Susan's sturdy arm kept the
terrified darkey from obeying his orders.
"And would yez let me mother die
like dog, DIR. North For swate
mercy's sake go wild us, docther, and I'll
pray Heaven to-"
Jennie heard quick, angry footstep
coming toward the door, and she shrank
back into the darkness just as DR.. North
appeared.
"Clear out, I tell you What dc you
suppose l care whether the old woman
lives or dies p
The door was slammed sharply in
their faces. For one second Jennie's
eyes flashed, then smile suifused her
face
':Never mind, Susie I am just a
little mistaken in Dr. North. Well go
to auntie's choice now, and somehow
think he will go anyway, it is worth
trying"
They met DR.. Marks Just leaving his
Office, and, at word from Jennie, Susan
addressed him, telling her pitiful story
with true Irish eloquence. DIR. Marks
listened very gravely.
''You are quite sure it's smallpox :"
The old woman SAYS so, sir. If yez
would only come =
ell go in half an hour Give me
your street and number, and 90 to a
drug store and get this prescription
filled, and give it to her just as soon as
you get home. Keep her warm and as
quiet as possible. l guess it will be all
right; I'll do all possibly can, any
how"
He stepped back into the light of his
Office window and wrote a prescription,
and Jennie watched him, wondering
where the cold, naughty look was she
seen so plainl, before. Then he went
on, and Susan escorted her young mis-
tress home, to be freighted with neces-
saries and few luxuries, and q months
wages in advance.
Jennie went down into the dusky
parlors, and thought over the odd little
adventure of the evening, and the result
was that when DR.. James North attend
ed her Thursday evening reception he
was quite astonished at Miss Osborne's
cold courtesy. instead Of the charming
graciousness lie had expected and most
ardently coveted AS he never received
second invitation, he became satisfied
that something unusual had occurred,
but what it was, he did not find out
until year after.
DR.. Marks received an invitation to
call on Miss Jennie, which he politely
accepted. Indeed, his calls occurred SO
frequently that society was on the qui
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