The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-09-07
DR.. CARAJU'S PATIENT.

d VIC, VI Ohk'attSt manufactures ana upon the
carved stone baiustrade beside him stood p
goblet Oh N~esetian glass half full of iced sher-
3et. The doctor sat in the clear shadow, and
gazed cut meaitative)y upon a Low iy
pIrospecs OF semi-tropical sea and shore.
HIS house built in the Spanish style,
stood GU a height at the verge of
the antique town-a town of narrow, irregular
streets. and hlgh- snonlaered buildings, with
projecting windows and archei %doorways. 1t
has not altered III hundreds of years. save TO
grow grayer, more indolent and more venera-
bic. Here aud there on the outskirts clusters
Of palm trees supported their dark, waving
plumes on delicate stems; to the right a great
river merged slumbering into the sea.
Across his scene the afternoon sun flung a
broad, mellow radiance, and breathiugs of
delicious air came up with messages of cool
ness from the ocean. 49,
In this lovely and forgotten spot Dr.. Caraio
had lived three years. Not every man could
have mace himself part of such II community
without occaslcning a coed deal of excitement
and remark; n stranger was nowhere so much
stranger as IN that ancient town But DR..
tarajo had venlurud into the still and un-
memorial life of the place as quietly and uu-
remarka bly, as a shadow of the evening. Quiet
and reserved he was of manner but he was
in no sense an Insignificant man. His forehead
was wide aud high, with a peculiar fincne-s of
modelling. about the temples; thin black hair,
slightly Hinged with gray, grew in short scurls
, about his head. HIS brows were heavy, his
eyes deep-set and black, with a clear. calm
gaze, which never kindled into wrath or
melted into tenderness. His nose was straight,
with sensitive n%ostriis; his mouth and
chin were concealed by a heavy gray
mustache and imperial In figure lie was
slight, somewhat round shouldered, and lac
had a grave, methodical way of walking, lot
devoid of unconscious dignity. In his bear ng
toward others he was courteous, but wholly
cold and uuimpsssioned. His emile was rare and
slightly ooutem tuons. His voice was musical
and low, but somewhat metallic; his speech
hryaf ~ ~ ~ t nd ~ uA nnrna MT
30 much a man, with warm blood in
his veins and living interests in
his heart, as Il serene aud loveless abstraction
of certain human qualities. Thus he came
among the people of the old town unquestioned
and, in a social sense, almost unobserved. He
brought no wife with him, nor were there any
female servants in his household. He never
was known to seek a woman's company, nor to
ton of difference in sex in those
he met On the other hand, as
a man of learning, wealth and
great skill IN his profession, his reputation in
the community was unrivalei, and people con-
suited him as they might have co 'e''ital some
wise volume containing lnfallihie dies for
bodily Ills. DR.. Carajo, in brief. l. - the posi-
ton of a kind of Providence, little thought
about until he was needed, and then trusted
implicitly. Professionally, he was known to
every one; personally, to none.
IL
AS DR., Carajo sat smoking in his chair that
sunny afternoon, the noise of a carriage pro-
ceeding up the street attracted his attention.
Wlthou, altering his position he allowed his
eye to rest upon the vehicle and its occupant.
The latter was a woman dressed III white. with
8 black lace mantilla thrown over her shout
ders. She was in the prime of her youth
and beauty, but her anxious and ncrv-
GUS manner showed evidence of much
distress of mind, AS Dr. Carajo looked upon
her his eyes dilated, his face flushed; then he
prap- cry raln Ha laanaI 1n Ill in hue nIoir
as If 10 conceal himself from view, and re-
NAMED for several moments motionless. save
for his uneven breathing, end the tremulous
grasp of his hands upon NO arms Of his
chair, But when the whAet> stopped before
his door, and the bell sounded in the
court below, DR.. Carajo drew 4 longer and
tirmer breath, and sat erect. BY the time the
servant arrived with the information that a
lady was below and desired to see him on a
matter Of iife>lnd death, he appeared no less
serene and impressive than usual. Bring
hither a chair for tho lady he said, ''and say
that | await her"
Having given these directions, the doctor rose
from his chair, and remained leaning negli-
gently against the stone haiustrade of the bal
cony, with his face toward the room which
opened upon 1t A short time elapsed-short,
that is, by tho watch, though how long it may
have seemed to DR.. Carajo it is impossible to
say. Then a rustic and IA whiteness advancing
through the darkness Of the room announced
the VISITORS approach. As she set foot on the
balcony the doctor bowed his head courte-
ously.
'Dr. Carajo," she began, speaking abruptly
and impctuouslY, 81 was told TO coma tn YOU
that no one but you could cure my husband"
At that word the doctor raisei his head; ard
looked his visitor in the face. while a faint.
coutemptuous smile auivered for al instant
beneath his gray moustache.
The lady stopped short, her beautiful lips
apart, and her great eyes fixed in a gaze of
seeming amazemeut or dismay. Presently she
Jpnt,ftara1 ryo fn1l ,rtbia xrNrl, rn,onl
her hands across her bosom with a gesture of
fear or Of repulsion, and her face and neck
crimsoned wi h hot blush.
The doctor contemplated her for few mo-
ments, and then said cooliy: ''Bs seated,
madam Your husband, you were about to
say"
81 should not have c~ome-they said DR..
Garlic a -
'You were rightly informed, madam am
DR.. Caraio, and / alone can cure your husband
If he he durable. SYon may place every con-
tideucc in me-
Oh, what shall l dol murmured The lady,
pressing her hands over her face, She stood
aizzilv, and would. have fallon had not the
doctor by 4 light touch guided her to a chair.
She sank down. n rremor passed through her
body, and her eyes closed,
You appear yourself to be indisposod,
madam observed the doctor. ''The heat
outside is great, snd you have over-exerted
yourself. This scent will revive YOU and as
he spoke he held to her nostrils a small phial
containing a luugent perfume, You ask me
what you should do,n he continued. "You
should, in my opinion, lose no time in telling
me the circumstances to which | owe your
visit. If your husbands case is 80 precarious
as l am given to understand q delay might
prove fatal"
would You not be more fatal than any de-
lay" demanded the lady, fixing her eyes upon
him. a'. kNs
''Yo are scarcely complimentary returned
the doctor, with a smile. ~ would do my best
for him, as for any other human creature in,
trusted to nv care. Nevertheless, if you deem
it best to seek assistance elsewhere you should
know me enough to know that l leave you free
TO do what you will"
Yes, l know you in tina: speech exclaimed
the lady, in a low but passionate tone. "You
would leave me f%reo-too free. You say you
would do your best for any human creature
!eft to your care; but the human soul intrusted
to your care you would leave free to fall into
temptation and be destroyed. But perhaps
God will be more marciful than YOU think"
Il will not ray l am surprised at your at
lacking me, madam" sald the doctor, quietly;
but | cannot pretend that, under the circum-
stances, / understand it" s
A brief silence ensued; then the lady leaned
forward, her hands clasped on her knees, and
ustrade Of tho balcony.
81 am at your mercy" she said 'sand even
such a revenge as yours should be satisfied to
see me here imp,oring your help. | take all
no punishment you could infict On
me could be half so Illuminating
as this which ~ inhict on myself.
l ask yon to save him! In asking it give my
life for his: for, after such a degradation, life
would be a burden aud q shame. II you have
boen waiting all these yesrs for a chance to
wreak your hatred on me. your time Is come.
1t will never come ayain!'
The wild aud reckless emphasis Of this APP
peal, enhanced by the hushed voice in which
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