Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-03-08
KILL OR CURE.

One evening late In November, al
elderly man with beetling brows, thin
compressed lips, piercing gray eyes and
long bony hands sat in shabbily fur
nished room in a splendid old house,
casting up accounts by the light of a
single candle. The weather being cold,
one of those baskets for live Goals which
are sometimes appropriately called "kill
ioys," glimmered in the huge crate.
The door of the room, which opened
into the fine oak panelled hall was aJar,
and presently servant girl bearing a
light fitted by from the staircase. Her
master called her, saying:
Hi, Jenny! come here. What makes
you look so scared Is your mistress
worse p
Pm afraid so, sir Timothy
'Eh! what, really bad p
.Ye-es'
Going to die p
She says so, Sir Timothy, and oh
she looks it too. Oh, SIR cried the
girl, earnestly blurting out what was
on her soul, if she should die without
doctor y
That abnormal possibility shocked
Sir Timothy Grabbam also, the inva-
lid being in manner dear to him. 1t
was was very general notion amongst
his neighbors and tenants that the man
was incapable of caring for anybody !;
but this was prejudice he did care for
his wife, after his own fashion. 1t
1t was not an enthusiastic attachment,
or deep one l do not suppose he low
ed her -as-well as good bargain for
example but comparisons are odious.
He remained silent for while, looking
downward, and then muttered:
L declared thatI would never send
for DR.. Radford again, which was an
error on his part; he had never made
that rash observation-it was Dr. Rad
ford, please, Sir Timothy?'
There is no one else, so | suppose
he must -
Jennie vanished in search of that
footman, groom gardener named Charles
and her master tried to get back to his
sum, but made mistake of two pence
and farthing, and relapsed into reve-
rie.
Sir Timothy Grabham was not a nice
man, but if he remained Indifferent to
his wife's condition, he would have
been a monster. She had now for
thirty years, devoted herself to the diff
fcult task of pleasing bim she had
brought him money, and saved hin4
money; born economical, she had de-
veloped the faculty into real meannezs
to'gain his appreciation. Passion would
have been out of place at his age and
hers, but be esteemed her,
After hard days work, Dr. Rad
ford had turned into bed with the snug
conviction that he was going to remain
undisturbed up.to eight o'clock in the
morning But at half past eleven his
sleep was broken by the night bell, and
he had to wrench himself from his
warm nook in the feathers, feel for his
dressing gown, and slippers, blunder
into his dressing room, which looked
out on the front of the house, and open
the window
What is it p he shouted, shivering
as the frosty night air blew in upon
his face. and played about his unpro-
tected legs.
Please, sir, it's me-
Idiot your name p
Charles from tie Hail.
Then Charles from the Hall, you
may 60 back again, for l am not COM
ing
MY lady is very i'll, sir
Cant help il. Tell your master
that won't attend him or his family,
and he need send no more messages, as
/ shall muffie the night bell.' And
with these words the doctor banged
down the window.
w hat are you doing john said
voice from the bed presently.
Tying stocking around the clapper
of this confounded bell.'
What for p
TO get good sleep, in spite of Sir
Timothy GrabhaIn.'
why, he has never sent for you
He has though, the insolent screw
his wife is ill.,
We'll, well, don't tie up the bell,
John; she may be really bad-dying
you know
What is that to me p
Il know they have treated US badly,
rich man like that to refuse to pay
for your attendance it is unheard of!
but other people might want you.'
Not likely
No, but It is just possible. Don't
muffle the bell.'
need hardly tell the married reader
that the doctor got growing to bed,
with the clapper free to rouse him out
again. In an hours time the bit of
iron availed itself Of that liberty but for
some minutes DIR. Radford declined to
stir Consideration of his wife's rest,
however, at length induced him to
turn out once more, and again go
through the process of refrigeration.
Sir Timothy's messenger again, 1
supposed
No. replied well known voice,
Pm here myself
For what purpose, Sir Timothy
Grabham, do you come and disturb
me, when you know very well that l
never intend to enter your doors again?'
'Ay, ay.' replied voice from below !;
but this is not the time to bear malice.
/ tell you that my wife is dangerously
ill--dying believe; and if she dies for
want.of medical assistance you will be
responsible
Not so, the responsibility will all
lie on your own shoulders. / am q
poor man working hard for my living,
but no one ever knew me to neglect
patient because he could not pay me.
Two-thirds of my work is done for
nothing, or next to nothing, and those
who can afford it ought to take some
share of the burden, more especially