The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-07-01
miscellaneous.
How | Paid my Doctors Bill.

~
bling pain in my temples, and shiverng as il
in an ague fit. Knowing how necessary il
was that should be mt work, made an at
tempt TO rise; and then, sick and giddy, laid
my head back upon the pillow, the moan that
escaped my lips being Occasioned more by
mental than physical anguish.
Sick, alone and pennies in a strange city
II the reader does not know what this means
hy actual experience, words can rive him but
II faint conception oft.
knew the contents of the worn pocket
book that was resting on the window sill
forty cents To II penny. | knew, also
that small as was the salary paid me by Law
yer Blackwell for writing twelve hours Il day
in his dingy office down town, too many
stood eager 10 take my place for me to hope
it would be retained for me.
heard the breakfast bell ring, and the rest
of the boarders going down to the dining
room, together with the usual chatting in the
halls and laughing on the stairs Then fol.
lowed an interval of silence, which was
broken by the footsteps of Katy, the hard.
worked chambermaid. She entered very un-
tremendously, a broom in one hand pail
in the other, and a pile of towels resting on
her arm. Some concern mingled with the
look of dsmay with which she regarded me
care you sick, Mister Graham? The
saints pity them that's sick in this house, any.
way !" she muttcred, as she obcycd the sharp
why voice that called to her from the hall
below
Katy, in her hurried exit left my door
ajar.
"Mr. Graham sick, did You say, Katy ?" !
heard my landlady say, a few moments later
How provoking! believe somcpeoplc would
rather be sick than not, if they can make any
troHblc."
1t was evident that Mrs Garyin was out
of temper that morning. not mfrcqucnt
| occurrence-and a strong impulse came over
me to shut and bolt the door. Before could
do this she was in the room; tall, thin an.
gular woman, with red hair, high cheek
bones, a hard, cold look in her eyes.
Mrs. Garvin might not have been hard
woman naturally, but she had kept boarders
over thirty years, which had brought her in
| contact with so many dishonest, thankless
and eXacting people that she was continually
ON the defensive.
As looked into the face, whose forced
smile so thinly yelled her anxiety lest she
should be put to some extra trouble and ex-
pensc, the pain through my temples grew so
sharp that it wrung faint moan from the
lips.
Mrs. Garvin looked alarmed
"lfi its anything serious you'd better let me
send for your friends.
81 have none-not here" said. 81 wish
you would send for a doctor"
Promising to do so, Mrs Garyiu withdrew
to my great relief Another drcary hour
passed and then Katy came up with II cup
of cold, sloppy tea, and II bit of toast; so
burned that it was black and bitter.
| think | must have fallen into Il stupor
after this, from which | was aroused by the
touch of cool, soft hand upon my forehead,
and low sweet voice saying:
Poor fellow he is very ill. Is there no
one to take care OF him, | wonder?
On opening my eyes saw n dainty young
creature standing by my bed, her fingers
upon my wrist, ana her soft brown eyes
fixed pityingly on my face.
She smiled as she met my astonshed gaze.
81 am DR.. Joe; otherwise known as Jose
phnc Tracy. You didn't expect lady ply
stefan, suppose? But papa is out of town,
and I'm attending to his patients this week
You needn't be one bit afraid I've been
| through a regular course of medicine Papa
says that am getting to know more than he
does"
Here low, sweet ripple of laughter broke
from the rosy lips of the speaker. She then
proceeded to measure out some medicines
| sional air, as she did So contrasting oddly,
yet not unpleasantly, with the womanly
grace and gentleness of every motion. She
was simply attired in suit of brown linen,
the skirt of which Just touched the tops OF
the neatly fitting boots. Her hat was a
| brown straw, with knotted ribbons and long,
dropping plume of the same color Every
| thing about her was brown, even to her eyes
| and hair, except the pure fresh face and the
dainty white rufle at the wrist and throat.
As | meekly swallowed the composing
draught that she held to my lips saw her
| glance around
"As you are my last patient, think | will
| tidy the room Il little before go"
| began to stammcr forth an apology for
| its disorder, when DR.. Joe laid her finger on
her lips.
81 don't allow my patients to talk. BY
virtue OF my being n woman, AS well as ply.
| stefan, | always do all the talking myself"
Laying aside her hat and turning back her
cuffs, DIR. Joe went quietly and theoretically
to work, putting away everything that was
not needed, and bringing into order all that
was, until the room wore such a different as
pect that it hardly looked like the same place
Ii was curious to observe how systematically
she proceeded, and how entirely she was alb.
sorbed with her task. When il was com
pleted, she spoke to mddle.aged man who
was waiting outside the door, bidding him
bring her u bowl of cool, fresh water, and in
which she bathed my face and hands.
| Now you look a good deal more comfor-
table" she said as her attendant laid my
head back upon the smooth, freshly shaken
pillows. "You see | am something of a
nurse as well as doctor
"You are an angel p was my involuntary
response.
The swift, bright color that flushed the
cheeks vanished almost as quickly as it Came.