Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-05-17
SELECT STORY.
Romance of a Physician.

occurred to grleve you like this p
started like one awaking from
dream as my mothers gentle voice
fell on my eur, and raised to hers
face sopale that the sight of it brought
tears to her eyes. In answer to her
question could only point to asmall
medallion portrait lying among some
papers on the desk before me. | had
fallen upon it unawares while in search
of some document inside the desk,
and the sight of the lovely pictured
face recalled the bitterness of other
days, and caused me to live over that
terrible night when | learned that
the original OF that portrait of my
worshipped wife was unworthy the
love of any honest man. My story,
was a sad one. Two years before l
had married fair child of seventeen
IA tender, clinging little creature
who professed to love me sincerely,
while 1 l. All, how, | loved her!
She was the light of my eyes and
the heart Of my heart. For one year
we lived in an earthly Eden, and then
my darling's cheeks began to lose
their soft roseate coloring, and I
feared the air of the city did not
agree with my little country lassie.
| determined to send her for the
summer-which was very sultry
one-to the home from which | had
pleasant farmhouse, in which my
Eva's adopted mother row lived alone.
1t almost broke my heart to let
Eva 90 from NE for even such t,
brief period; but the duties Of
my profession compelled me to re-
naN in he city, and it was impossi-
bic for ne to accompany her. Shall
ever forget now she clung to lie at
parting, sobbing as if her heart would
break, with her soft arms close around
my neck and her golden head upon
my breast. Such letters as she sent
ne, too, bremh hing passionate love in
every line-ah, Heaven ! must not
think of it now.
She had been one month gone from
me when q strange feeling of uneasi-
ness took possession of nc, and some
voice i'll NY heart babe ne go 10 her.
For three DAYS had received no let
ter from her, which was an unusual
occurrence. | had several patients
On my list who required my constant
attention; but even at the risk OF
losing their patronage | determined
to go to my wife if | did not hear
from her on the fourth day. The
day passed without a word from her.
and | made all preparations to start
on the morrow. That night | could
not rest in the house, aud, leaving
word with my office boy to follow
ne in case there should be any ur.
gent call for services, | drove to the
! Academy Of Music, where a f;lvoritt
operate star was singing, and, despite
the heat, drawing pretty good aI,
diences. | am Il passionate lover o
music, but | do not think | wal
aware that night what the program
WAS to be, although held the print
ed bill in my hand. | was thinkin.
only of my pretty Eva, and wishing
the time had arrived when l nigh
start on my journey. From glancinI
idly around the house my gaze settled
at last upon % box directly opposit
my own. My God shall l forget tn
sensation l experienced at that mo
ment? A gentleman, whose face
could~not see, was bending over
beautiful golden-haired woman, VIII
appeared to be faint or i'll. He WA
endeavoring to shield her from view
while his arm encircled her swayin;
form. | have been subject all m
life to "a sort of vertigo, which in mo
| ments of extreme agitation overcome
inc and renders me blind to all sur
rounding objects. 1t came upon m
now, and ! sank back into my chail
dizzy and sick at heart, with the foot
lights dancing before my eyes as
they swain i'll SEA OF blood. Was
10 be wondered at, since i'll the womal
yonder | had recognized, beyond
doubt, Eva, my wife!
When | recovered my senses tn
couple in the opposite box had van
isled, and | started to leave th
place in the wild hope OF overtakin!
them. and-bnt | did not rightly re
member what revenge contemplated!
| | know | must have staggered ik
one under the influence OF liquor us