The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1884-06-19
THE DOCTOR'S WIFE.
A Story Founded ON Fact.

1eet sank as II 1t had been StreWn inch
deep with newly gathered rosebuds. The
fire glimmered in the polished CRATE,
and the wax candles beamed through
their ground-glass shades, and you
might have fancied the apartment ex-
pressly created for the sweet words
and honeyed tlirtations, and readings
from the poets, and the various other
pleasant occupations which are sup
posed to belong to high life, but not
for frowns and lowering looks such as
now disturbed the equanimity of Mrs.
Wintringham' artistically enameled
countenance, as she stood there in a
rustling chamelcon-c colored silk dress
with red carbuncles hanging from her
ears. Josephine Moore stood pale and
trembling before her.
''Such forwardness l never saw"
said Mrs. Wintringham. ''No, never!
And l wish you to understand that it
isn't going to be tolerated in decent So
ciety, Miss Moore. A governess-yes, a
common nursery governess, whom Mr..
Wintringham is good enough to employ
to sit the whole Of the evening and
tlirt with young DR.. Aymer!'
II did not tirt," pleaded poor Josie.
''He was only asking me about the ar
rangements of Mendelssohn's music
which,
"Oh, very likely Uttered Mrs. Win
tringham, sarcastically. "He's very
much interested in music, I've no
doubt. And when you know perfectly
well that Octava expected him to be
talking all the time to her. Well, real
ly don't know what this world is COM
| fn H,n 3h;ro 7 1v,:cL 70
derstand-thaty you are dismissed from
my employment this very moment
You will find your wages on the mantel
yonder, for l don't grudge you the
quarters money. though you do leave
in this irregular manner Of course,
you won't expect character, for I
can't conscientiously give you one.''
| Josie Moore turned very red and then
| pale. She could not speak a word of re-
monstrance, however, but slowly turn
ed round. went up to her room, put on
her bonnet and shawl, packed her slen-
der belongings in small trunk and
left the house.
Half an hour later Mrs. Wintring-
ham, rustling through the room, es-
pied the money lying untouched on
the mantei. where She herself had
placed it.
'Dear me-" quoth the stately dame,
"the governess has forgotten her
wages. Well, shan't take the troub-
% to send them after her.
Josie went home to her poor but
neat apartments, where her aunt took
in embroidery to do for a fashionable
shop, and told her simple story. Aunt
Mary's eyes, already Redeemed with
night work and much application, were
quick to overflow in behalf of her
niece.
'1t's burning shame that such peo-
pie should have it in their power to ty-
rannise over others; but never mind.
Josie, you shall be welcome to a home
here until you find another situation.
Il knew should, Aunt Mary"
''What makes you speak so hoarsely,
child?'
'.My throat is a little sore; I think I
have caught cold.''
''You had better let me make you
a cup of hot tea, and 60 to bed at
once.''
Nonsense, aunt; am going to help
you finish this first" .
"But the next morning Josie walked
up, hot, flushed and feverish, with
racking pain over her temples and
quite unable to rise, and before even
ing she was delirious.
Bob said Aunt Mary, as she came
out of the bedroom with a troubled face,
and went down into the passage where
the landlady's son was playing mar
bles, II want you to 60 to Dr.. CAT
fery's and ask him to come here as
soon as possible. Do not delay q mo-
ment for it may be a matter of life
and death"
yes" said Bob, and away he went.
els the doctor in," demanded Bob of
the assistant of Dr.. Catfery's.
':No, he amt" said the Ganymede
of medicine.
'When'll he be in?'
''Don't know"
Bob wasted no more time in useless
inquiry, but started off for another doc
tor.
''If it is really q matter of life and
death it don't make any difference
what doctors they have" suggested
sensible Bob.
So it happened that young DR.. Ay-
mer, who had just returned home from
visiting patient, found himself con-
fronted by small red-headed boy.
"Please to come directly, sir, to 10
Dukes court" cried Bob, exaggerating
somewhat on his literal orders. "It's
a case of life and death"
Mrs. Wintringham had sent jose
phine Moore away in order that she
might be effectually out of Aymer's
path; but fate and Mrs. Wintringham
were marshalled on opposite sides this
time; and that rising young physician
walked into Josie's sick room quite un-
conscious whom he was to behold.
George Aymer started q little when
he looked into the dark brown eyes;
but Josie smiled up into his face.
'It wasn't my fault" she said inno-
Gently. II never dreamed of offending
Mrs. Wintringham, but it was wrong,
very wrong for her to turn me out of
doors"
"You see she is delirious," said Aunt
"Yes," said DR.. Aymer, in fainting
voice. ,r
So while Mrs. Octavia Wintringham
lounged in the handsome drawing
room, dressed in silk attire watching the
gilded hands of the clock, and wonder
ing why the expected did not come, DR..
Aymer was sitting by Josephine Moore's
bedside counting the rapid pulsing of
her slender wrist, and thinking that he
had never seen anything so beautiful
as her pure oval face and lovely hazel
eyes.
$50 you think am cured, doctor?'
said the fair convalescent.
Josephine was sitting up in Aunt
Mary's easy chair, dressed in o loose
wrapper, with her brown hair netted
back from her face.
''Yes,' said the handsome young
doctor, ''as we say of our hospital cases,
l think may mark you down rs dis
charged cured don't think it neces-
sary for me to pay any more visits here,
| unless"
II am afraid, DOCTOR" she faltered,
glancing at Aunt Mary, who looked
equally distressed, ''that THAT we
4all not be able to-to-hand you your
ees just yet"
81 was not thinking of my fees, OBJ
served DR.. Aymer.
''But we must think of it, said Jo-
ephine.
'.And you won't let me come any
more as doctor?'
Josephine looked panied.
IF our means" she began.