The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-08-31
DIR. CARAJO's PATIENT.

DIR. CARAJVS PATIENT.
DR.. Csrajo sat in his veranda smoking
: cigar His chair was curious bamboo struct.
carved stone balustrade beside him stood q
goblet OF Venetan glass half full of iced sher-
bet. The doctor sat in the clear shadow, and
gazed out meditatively upon lovely
prospect OF semi-tropical sea and shore
stood on p height ' It spans 1errs STYLE e.
the antique town-a town of narrow, irregular
streets, aud high-shonldered buildings, with
projecting windows and arched doorways It
has not altered in hundreds OF years, save to
grow grayer, more indolent and more venera-
bic: here and there on the outskirts clusters
OF palm trees supported their dark, waving
plumes Oh delicate stems; to the right great
river merged slumbering into the sea.
Across this scene the afternoon sun flung
broad, mellow radiance, and breathngs of
ness from the ocean.
In this lovely and forgotten spot DR.. Carajo
had lived three years. Not every man could
have made himself part of such community
without occasoning good deal Of excitement
and remark; stranger was nowhere 30 much
stranger as in that ancient town But DR..
Carajo had ventursd into the atill and un-
memorial life Of the place as quietly and un-
remarka bly, as shadow of the evening. Quiet
and reserved he was of manner, but he was
: was wide and high, with q peculiar fneness OF
modelling about the temples; thin black hair,
slightly Hinged with gray, grew in short curls
about his head. HIS brows were heavy, his
eyes deep-set and black. with clear. calm
gaze, which never kindled into wrath or
melted into tenderness. His nose was straight,
with sensitive nostrils; his mouth and
chin were concealed by heavy gray
mustache and imperial In figure lie was
slight, somewhat round shouldered, and he
h q vNa%l,@ II
devoid Of unconscious dignity. In his bearing
toward others he was courteous, but wholly
cold and unimpassioned His smile was rare and
slightly contem ctuous. His voice was musical
and low, but somewhat metallic; his speech
brief, unhurried and careful. He seemed not
his veins and living interests in
his heart, as serene and loveless abstraction
OF certain human qualities. Thus he came
among the people of the old town unquestioned
and, in 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 woman's company, nor to
indicate BY his demeanor any percep-
ton Of difference in sex in those
he met On the other hand, as
man Of learning, wealth and
great. skill in his profession, his reputation in
the community was unrvaled, and people con-
suited him as they might have co .snlted some
wise volume containing infallihle dies for
bodily ills. DR.. Carajo, in brief, h. -. the posi-
ton Of 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 carriage pro-
ceeding up the street attracted his attention.
Without altering his position he allowed his
eye to rest upon the vehicle and it's occupant.
The latter Was woman dressed iu white with
black laee mantlla thrown over her shoul-
ders. She was in the prime of her youth
and beauty, but her anxious and nerv-
GUS manner showed evidence of much
distress of mind As Dr. Carajo looked upon
her his eyes dilated, his face flushed; then he
grew very pale: He leaned back in his chair
as if to conceal himself from view, and re-
manned for several moments motionless, save
for his uneven breathing, and the tremulous
grasp OF his hands upon the arms of his
chair But when the wheels stopped before
his door, and the bell sounded in the
court below, DR.. Carajo drew longer and
frmer breath, and sat erect. By the time the
servant arrived with the information that
lady was below aud desired to see him on a
matter OF life and death, he appeared no less
serene and impressive than usual sBring
hlther chair for the lady," he said, Sand say
that await herr
Having given these directions the doctor rose
from his chair, and remained leaning negli-
gently against the etone balustrade of the bal
cony, with his face toward the room which
opened upon it A short time elapsed-short.
that is, by the watch, though how long it may
have seemed to DR.. Carajo it is impossible to
say. Then rustic and wilderness 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 impotuously, 81 WAS told to come to YOU
that no one but you could cure my husband"
At thatword the doctor raised his head and
looked his visitor in the face. while faint
contemptuous smile auivered for an instant
beneath his gray moustsche.
The lady stopped short, her beautiful lips
apart and her great eyes fixed in a gaze Of
seeming amazement or dismav. Presently she
mutsered some unintelligible words, raised
her hands across her bosom with gesture of
fear or of repulsion, and her face and neck
'crimsoned with hot blush.
The doctor contemplated her for few mo-
ments, and then said coolly: "Be seated,
madam Your husband, you were about to
II should not have come-they said Dr.
'Carajo-"
''You were rightly informed, madam. am
DR.. Carajo, and alone can cure your husband
If he be durable. You may place every con-
fdence in me-"
ooh, what shall do!' murmured the lady,
pressing her hands over her face. She stood
dizzly, and would have fallen had not the
doctor by q light touch guided her to a chair
She sank down, tremor passed through her
'boay, and her eyes closed.
s'You appear yourself to be indisposed,
madam" observed the doctor. ''The heat
outside is great, and you have over-exerted
yourself This scent will revive you," and as
he spoke he held to her nostrils a small phial
containing a pungent perfume. 'You ask me
what you should do,' he continued "You
ahOuld in NV oDiNion 1oaa M TINA in tol1ip0
me the circumstances to which I owe your |
visit If your husbands case IL so precarious
as am given to understand delay might |
prove fatal"
1ay?" demanded the lady, fixing her eyes upon |
him.
'sYou are scarcely complimentary" returned
the doctor, with smile. II would do my best |
for him, as for any other human creature in.
bss to seo assistance" eserhsse II u
know me enough to know that I leave you free |
to do what you will.
''Yee, know you in tina. speech" exclaimed |
the lady, in low but passionate tone. "You |
would leave me free.too free You say you |
would do your best for any human creature |
left to your care; but the human soul intrusted |
to your care you would leave FREQ to fall into |
temptation and be destroyed! Bnt perhaps |
God will be more merciful than you think"
Il will not say I am surprised at your At
lacking mo, madam" said the doctor, quietly; |
''but cannot pretend that, under the circum- |
understand it."
A brief silence ensued; then the lady leaned |
forward, her hands clasped on her knees, and |
remained leaning negligently against the bal |
ustrade Of the balcony.
81 am at your mercy" she said; 'sand even |
such revenge as yours should be satisfied to |
SEQ mo here imploring your help. I take all
the blame Of whas has been upon myself But
no punishment you could inflict on
as this which + infict on myself.
ask Won to SAVE himi In asking il civa nv |