The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-03-19

its disorder, when Dr. Joe laid her finger
on her lips.
Il don't allow my patients to talk, By
virtue of my being woman, as well as
physician, l always do all the talking my
self"
Laying aside her hat and turning back
her cuffs, DR.. Joe went quietly and ener-
getically to work, putting away everything
that was not needed, and bringing into
order all that was, until the room wore
such a different aspect that it hardly
looked like the same place. twas curious
to observe how Systematically she proceed
ed, AID how entirely she was absorbed
with her task When it was completed,
she spoke to middle-aged man who was
waiting outside the door, bidding him
bring her bowl Of cool, fresh water, and
in which she bathed my face and hazds.
"Now you look good deal more com
Portable" =" she said, as her attendant laid
my head back upon the smooth, freshly
shaken pillows. you see l am something
of nurse as well as doctor.
you are an angelr' was my invounta
ry response.
The swift, bright color that flushed the
cheeks vanished almost as quickly as it
came
Il am DIR. Joe. was the grave reply.
You wouldn't think that there was much
of the angelic about me should you hear
me scold sometimes, when my patients
persist in talking after tell them not.
As YOU have no nurse l will leave John
with you for the present.
John proved to be a most skillful and
kind nurse, and Dr. Joe visited me twice
daily: but the fever had been neglected too
long to be checked, aud | grew worse rap.
/ idly. When it reached its height ! was
delirious much Of the time ard hard To
manage But there was never time, 50
/ they told me afterwards, when the sound
of DR.. Joes voice, and the touch Of her
hand upon my forehead failed to calm me
/ | learned to watch for her comiag, reeog.
MIXING her when knew no one else
though there were times when the Pitying
/ face that bent over me was strangely min
cled with that Of the mother who had died
in my boyhood, or the sister | bad buried
two years before
Bu, As soon as the fever turned and al
danger vas passed saw her no more, g
my great disappointment 10 her stead
there came a gray haired, iisai6ed appear
/ ing man, in whose mild benigRant fac,
there was too much Of his daughters look
T for me to be at any loss 10 guess their re
latiOnship.
/ Where is Dr. Joe p yen,ured to say
at his second visit. Isn't she coming any
more
Or. Tracey smiled; he vas evidently 90.
unused to the preference expressed By
many Of his patients for his young sssis
tant; or any way displcascd at IT.
.'Dr. Joe is at home resting. She hai
had a pretty hard time since l have beer
gone. As soon as you are strong enougl
/ to ride, / viii take you to see her.
Ny eonvalescenee was very rapid AnC
though I saw DR.. Joe no more, scarcely q
day passed tha, did not receive somt
token Of her remembrance, IN the form Of
+ flowers, fruit, or some delicaey, made by
her own hands, as John the bearer, did
not fail to inform me.
Johns admiration for and faith ia DIR
I jos were unbounded. Even his strong re
gard for the old doctor was a small thin.
in comparison to his devotion to his fai
daushter-as wise aud good as fair. /
was an easy thing to lead him to tall
about DR.. Joe; in fact, be liked aethin:
better. From him | learned that Dr.
Tracy, having no son, and losing his wifi
4 few years after their marriage, had earl,
made con6dante and companion of hl
daughter 10 regard to his professional du
ties, often taking her in his rides will
him, especially among his poorer patients
When she grew older, finding that sh
had a decided taste ard talent in that di
rection, he gave her a thorough modica
education, which she had put to pracIi
cal use, under her fathers directions aut
supervision, most Of her practice beiui
among women and children.
From something that Dr. Joe had sat
in his hearing, John had gained the in
preston that we had met before, whicI
puzzled me not a little, as | was sure tha
| could not have seen a face like that an
forgotten it.
DR. Tracey did not forget bis promise
being the bearer, day or two after, Of a
invitation from his daughter to take te
with them.
Il had strict orders not to return with
out YOU laughed the doctor, so you ma
as well consider yourself my prisoner
l don't think looked at all unhappy a
the prospect before me, certainly was ia
from feeling so. | found Dr. Joe lookin
so sweet and womanly in her simple hom
dress of white muslin that | hardly knev
whether | ought to address her by tht
title accorded her by common consent
and which had grown to be a very plea:
ant one to me.
After tea, when DR.. Tracy had gone t
attend to his Office patients, and We wer
left together, l mentioned what John ha
told me about our having met before, an
how much it puzzled me.
The smiling face on which my eyes wer
resting suddenly saddened,
"John did not quite understand me-
used to know some one very dear to u
/