The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-10-23
DR.. Forster's Patient.

"Well, doctor, how is the patient
this morning ?" asked John Carlton,
anxiety plainly depicted upon his hon
est face.
"No better, and yet no worse" was
Henry Forstcr's answer.
"Do you think she will pull through?"
"God knows | hope and pray So
I'll be here at three O'Clock"
With this answer, Dr. Forster went
down the steps and stepped into his
waiting carriage.
AS he drove off Mr.. Carlton gave q
long, low whistle, and said to himself,
"Well, l never heard doctor wish SO
fervently for n patients recovery" And
then he called in low voice, MARY,
Mary, come out here"
In answer hushed voice came
Don't speak SO loud, John I'll be
there in moment"
Almost before the voice had died
away, Mary Carlton was beside her
husband
She was fair woman; not beautiful,
in the common nccoptation of the term,
but with face such us one loves to look
upon one which expressed the nobility
of her character Altogether, a goody
woman.
"Well, John, what is it? What
makes you look SO thoughtfulI" ?"
"Why, I've been thinking about DIR.
Forster and our sick guest" said he.
"Have you noticed anything peculiar
in his manner"
| Now John DO you think women
are blind I'll tell you something.
| The night the poor girl was brought
here from the terriable railroad collision,
and DR., Forster was called in, was the
only one with her, as you will remem-
Der. l WIS standing ON one side of the
bed when the doctor came up, and
as death. He was himself in moment,
and attending to her wounds, but I
made up my mind thon and there that
he knew her. and that there had been
something between them. Then, just
before she had the relapse, when he was
bending over her to attend bandagc
l heard her murmur, % Henry So
am sure there is something to be mendet
between those two.
Its very curious, said Mr.. Carlton,
and then lie told his wife OF the express
sion used by the doctor in leaving.
DIR. Forster, one of the subjects o.
this conversation was in the meantime
driving slowly along to his next patient
and MS he drove his mind was busy. ii,
was not what one could call cookbook
ing man rather the reverse; but hi.
eyes We're the redeeming feature They
We're deep grey, clear and honest
looking He was slightly inclined b
stoutness, and of medium height. Hi
face looked as though he had seei
trouble. But, withal, this DR.. Forste
was not above two and thirty,
He made few intimate friends, bu
still was very popular. John Carltol
was one of those few
Some six years previous to his locating
in GAINESVILLE, Dr. Forster had been
struggling young physician in a crowde'
Eastern city, 1t was uphill work, AM
he was just beginning to get n payin
practice, when ut n friends house, h
met Alice Maynard, charming girl
and the belle of P. With him it wa
case of love at first sight. He wa
madly, desperately in love with her be
fore he had seen her half dozen ines
Alice was the only daughter an
heiress of Pemberton Maynard, a L,
tired iron merchant. His wealth wa
estimated at millions, and he had bee
heard to say that "no beggar shoul
marry his daughter"
DIR, Forster called often on Alice, an
had reason to hope his attentions WEI
acceptable. Finally lie put his coural
to the test and told her of his love, an
0 heard Alice say the sweetest words |
3 had ever heard spoken-that she hl
. returned it,
0 They lived brief while in fool
n paradise, until finally it broke upon ID
Forster that he must ask Papa Ma
I nard's consent Alice had told him
her fears that her father would new
consent, but Forster laughed at what
called her silly terors.
He came of n good old family, thoue
{ there was not much money in it
present and things We're looking brig
for him. While he could not oil
Alice home such as she had be-
5 accustomed to, yet he could make h