The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-06-04
HOW I PAID MY DOCTOR BILL.

HOW PAID MY DOCTOR BILL.
I awokc one morning, with q dull, throbbing
pain in my temples, and shivering Il was that I
shouid be- at work. I made mn attempt 10 rise !:
aud then. sick and gidiy. laid my head back upon
the pillow. the moan that escaped my lips being
occssionci more by mcntal than ply steal anguish.
Sick, alone aud pennies. in = strange city II
the rea.lcr does not know what this means by
actual experience, wOids can give him but faint
conception of 10.
knew the content, Of the worn pocket book
that was rcstin; on the window sill-forty nine
cents 90 penny. knew, also. that small n. was
the salary paid me by Lawyer Blackwell for wri-
ting twelve hours day in his dingy Office down
town. too many stood Gagged o. take my place for
me to hope II would be retained for me.
heard the breakfast bell ring. and the rest Of
the boarders going down to the dining room, to-
gethcr with the usual chattering in the halls and
laughing ON the stairs. Then followed an interval
of silence. which broken by the footsteps Of
Katy. the hard worked chambermaid. She entered
very uneeiemoniously. broom in one hand. n pail
in the other. and pile Of towels resting on her
arm. Some concern was mingled with the look Of
dismay with which she regarded me.
care you sick, Mister Graham! The saints pity
them tlat'' sick in thi. house, anyway :" she NUT
tered. aud she obeyed the sharp. why voice that
called TO her from the hall below.
Katy, In her hurried exit. left my door sjar.
"Mr. Graham sick, did you say, Katy |"
heard my landiaiy say. u Few moments later
"How provoking! believe some people would
rather be sick than not, IL they can make any
trouble"
Il was evident that Mrs. Garvin was out Of tenn
per that morning. not unfrequent occurrence
aud q strong impulse came over me 60 shut and
bolt the door. Before could do this she was in
the room; tall, thin, angular woman, with red
hair, high cheek bones, a hard, cold iook To her
eyes.
Mr.. Garvin might not have been hard woman
naturally, bat she had kept boarders over thirty
years, whssh had brorght her In contact wtth so
many dishonest, thankiess and sxaeting people
that she was continually on the defensive.
As looked into the face whose forced smile so
thinly veed her anxiety Lest she should be put TO
some extra trouble and expense. the pain through
my temples grew sharp that IL wruny n faint
moan from my lips.
Mrs. Garvin looked alarmed.
"If i,'s anything serious you'd better lie, me
send for your friend"
81 have none--not here said. 81 wish you
would send for Doctor"
Promi,ing to 20 go, Mrs. Garyin withdrew. to
my great relief. Another dreary hour passed !:
and then Katy came Up with cup Of cold. sloppy
tea and bit Of toast so burned that IL was black
and bitter.
think must have fallen into a stupor after
this from which aroused by the touch Of y
cool. soft hand upon my forehead, and low sweet
voice ,aying:
"Poor fellow. he u very III. IL there no one to
take care Of him, I wonder!' -
On opening my eyes, 'aw dainty young
creature standing by my bed. her fingers fixed
upon my wrist. anl her soft brown eyes xcd pity
ingly on my pale face.
II attn DR.. Joe oiherwi,e known as Josephine
Tracy. You d:jnt expect lady physician cup.
pose but papa l. out of town. aud IN attending
10 his patient: this week. You needn't be one Bit
afraid; I've been through n regular course Of
medicine. Papa says that ! am getting 90 know
more than he does
Here a low, sweet ripple of laughter broke from
the rosy lips of the speaker. She then proceeded
ta mes sure out some medicine from the case she
carried her grave. professional air. as she did
contrasting oddly. though not unpleasantiy, with
the womanly grace and gentleness of every motion.
She was simply attired in a suit u brown linen,
| the skirt of which just touched the tops of her
neatly fitting boots. Her hat was brown straw,
| with knotted ribbons aud long, dropping plume
Of the zane color. Everything about her was
brown, even TO her eyes aud hair, except the pure
fresh face aud the dainty white rutiie at the wrist
| aud throat.
AZ I meskly swallowed the composing drsusht
that she held 10 my lips saw her glance arouad.
"As you are my last patient think will tidy
the room a little before co.
| ] began TO staminer forth an apology for its
disorder, when DIR. Joe laid her finger her lips.
81 don't allow my patients to talk. by virtue
of INV being = woman. ~ we'll n u physician. !
aiWatr do All the taking ny SELL
Laying aside her hat and turning back her cuff,
| Dr.. Joe went quietly aud energe,icaliy Ia work.
putting away everything that wss not needed aud
bringing into order all that was, until the room
wore such different aspect that II hardly looked
like the same place. was curious 60 observe
| she was absorbed with her task. When u vas
completed. she spoke TO . middls-ased man Who
| was waiting Outside the door, bidding him ca
bring her bowi Of cool, fresh water, and In which
she bathed my face and hands.
"Now you look good deal more comfortable, ''
she said, as her attendant laid my head back upon
i the smooth, freshly shaken pillows. ''You sec
| an something Of nurse as well as doctor"
"You are an angel |" was my involuntary re-
sponse.
The swim, bright color that au,hed the cheek.
vanished almost as quickly - Il came"
81 am Dr.. Joe" vas the grave reply. "Yeu
wouldn't think there vas much of the angelic about
i me should you hear me seold sometimes when my
patients persist In talking after tell them not.
As you have no narse will leave John with you
for the present.
John proved 10 be a most skillfui and Kind nurse.
and DR.. Joe visited me twice daily bat the fsyes
bad been neglected too long 10 be checked, and
grew worse rapidly. When u reached its hsish,
/ vas delirioas murh of the time and hard %
manage. But there was never time. 90 they told
me afterwards, when the sound of DR.. Joe's voice,
and the touch of her hand upon my forehead failed
20 calm me. learned 10 watch for her coming
recoiniring her when knew nc one else; though
there were times when the plying face that bent
over me was strangely mingled With that of the
mother who had died In my boyhood. .v the sisteI
had buried two years before.
Bat 90 soon as the fever turned, and all danger
vas passed, saw her no more, 10 my great disap.
pointmsnt. In her stead there came gray haired
dignihed appearing man. In whose mild benignanl
face there vas too much Of his daughters for me
10 be at any loss 10 guess their relationship.
"where l. DIR. Joe ?" ventarsd TO- say, at hii
seeond visit. "Isn't she coming any morei"
DR.. Tracy smiled he was evidently not unused
the preference expressed by many of his paiisnt
for his young assistant or anyway dispieasei al u
"Dr. Joe q at home resting. She had pretty
hard time since have been gone. As soon si
you are strong enough 10 ride, ] viii take you q
|