The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-09-11
MY FIRST PATIENT.


Eyes, just few hours more of pleas
ure, and then back to the city, where lam
sure / shall have pleasant recollections of
this brief visit to your beautiful mountain
home"
L Jack Charlton, had opened an office
in the thriving city of l., and having
waited long enough, as thought, for
chance to distinguish myself in the surgi-
cal line had accepted an invitation from
a college chum to rest for a few weeks at
his home. 1 have hardly finished the
above sentence when my friend grasps my
arm, saying
Did you ever hear a more melodious
voice 81
p I stood spell-bound while the words of
the grand old hymn. Rock of Ages"
were waited through the rustling trees to
my ear.
"Hal," says I, "I must and will see the
owner of that voice. Where does this
path lead to ~
g Directly to the pond you admired so
much yesterday. I think it is near there
you win find your warbler"
" 1
rush along the path, and when near the
pond see picture which shall be engraved
upon my memory lifetime. Seated on
a swinging bough of an apple-tree by the
ponds side is a young lady, in look scarce
ly more than a chud, and, while swinging
is amusing herself breaking off apple
blossoms and showering them over the
golden locks and into the hands of a little
boy standing near the edge of the water
The girl had decked her golden curIs with
blossoms, and her hat also, which is tied
to and swaying slightly to and fro with
the bough. Leaning lightly forward and
stopping her song, she is saying In a musi-
cal, sweet tone of voice: Catch this one,
baby, and keep it for auntie"
At this point jumped from my place Of
concealment, seeing that the limb which
IS holding her slight weight is slowly sew
ering from the aged tree, but before can
reach there the branch has broken and
see the beautiful head with all its wealth
of flowers, sinking down down into the
water which Hal had told me was deep
enough to drown one who would venture
In. Stopping long enough to tell the child
to keep still and wait for Auntie, I pull
off my coat and shoes, and jumping into
the water try to reach the spot where see
the curls rising again, but, when there,
nothing is seen but circle of waves, and
In my minds eye l can see my beautiful
darling (even at this perilous moment l
call her by that endearing title) lying at
the bottom of the pond, srasping her
blossoms tightly in her hands, and her
wonderful voice hushed forever. This
thought gives me more strength, and
make bold dash. catching her arm
just at the third and last rising of the
body.
Limp and lifeless as she is, hurry to
shore and lay my burden under the tree
Just as Hal comes down the path. Taking
in the situation at glance, he quickly
forces a restorative between the girls lips;
this after a few minutes is swallowed, and
she slowly opens her eyes.
Seeing Hal bending over her, she says:
ST think have sprained my foot in nv
fall"
eff that Is the case, my friend can at
tend to that"
Turning upon me pair of eyes which
resembled violets quilted with black lace,
so beautiful are the lashes which nature
has bestowed upon her, she smiles as l
step forward, after motoning to Hal not
to proceed any further, as I am almost
sure he is going to give q heightened de
scription of the affair and make me a
hero.
Now comes the bandaging of the small
foot, which for the first time in my life,
seems cruel to do, for I see her tightly
compressed lips and the look of pain upon
her face After finishing this task Hal
takes her in his strong arms, and I fol-
lowed with the child to the cottage where
the young lady has told us to take her.
The door is opened by lady whose age,
Judging from her appearance. is scarce
" more than the girls whom Hal has
already taken through the door and
seated.
We learn from the conversation that
Mrs. Gordon, who is a widow, with her
only child, Lee, and her sister, Violet, q
might have known that my young lady
could have no other name when possess
ing those eyes, had let the cottage for the
summer, owing to the recent Illness of
Mrs. Gordon, and, having found the
mountain air so healthful, they had de-
cided to reside there permanently.
Having made my patient as comfortable
as possible, we take our departure, but
net before arranging to come again on
the morrow. had decided to prolong
my visit for a few days, for l thought of
the long hours which Miss Violet would
,.>--s TO spend before she would be able to
stand, ana pernaIS - 80
ouently during this brief tlme' arItt