The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-23
THE NEW PATIENT.

neighbornood, and have inluced titled
country acquaintance to introduce us at
court, and now and then to appear at our
overcrowied receptions for few minutes on
her way tosome more fashionable entertain
ment; for there is no doubt about tive are
not in the highest circle; our friends are not
the creme de la creme, though very charm
ing and well connected in their way
Aunt has managed indeed, lately, to add
TO her visiting list baronet two countesses,
and marquis, in addition to the friends
who introduced us. The baronet Is rather
weak and silly but is, | believe, without re-
proach, is not bad looking, and has good
property. He is regarded in the house as
the treasure-trove of my eldest cousin, Lou
ise. The countessess are rather out-at the
elbows, and one OF them is a little doubt
full The marquis is better known at New
market than at St James, is rather shaky in
the morning. after fashion which is sug-
gestive of potations over night, and his
language is more or less garnished with
slang. However, my aunt is content, and
talks of her aristocratic coterie
Upon this happy state Of things thunder
bolt has fallen | am ill, and the doctor
having been called in, pronounces the all
ment scarlet fever
Nothing to be alarmed about my dear
madame he says blandly; "only a slight
attack; we shall have the young lady round
in no time; and with kindly smile he goes
away.
Nothing to be alarmed about" cries my
aunt Historically, regardless of my feverish
state. when this horrid fever will spread
through the house, and we shall be tabooed
ever so long-when it will quite spoil
Louise's proSpects-for Sir Robert was GO
ing to PROPOSE know he was-and now he
will not see her for months!'
He is not worth regretting," l venture,
'if he could forget her in so short a time"
"You know nothing about it child" sobs
my aunt These people of rank have 50
many temptations have tried so hard to
make up nice little circle, and, now that l
have done so, it is too bad to have every
thing spoiled. must say it is very incon-
siderate of you, Rose | shall get you a
nurse, but l cannot risk the precious health
of my children by going in and out to see
you myself
So she, too, takes her departure
Suddenly bright thought flashes through
my brain. When we first came to the town
the housemaid had the measles, and was
sent to the fever hospital Why should ]
not 60 there-not to ward, of course, but
private rooml No sooner thought than
acted on. scribble a hasty note, ring the
bell, and ask the servant who answers to
take 1t at once to DR.. Trail He is FORUM
ately at home, and comes Immediately.
"What is it, my dearl7 inquiries the old
gentleman, very kindly Not worse,
hope"
"Oh, no, doctor; but want you to help
me-"
"You must sac that am in the way bere y
/ continue, hurriedly; that my aunt is
afraid / shall infect the household, or, at
any rate, shut her out from society 1t is
not my fault" And begin to sob
my dear, my dear" and the kindly old
face smiles down on me as l fancy my
fathers might have done-the father whom,
save in my dreams, / never saw-"you must
not fret These things are ruled by higher
power. Our part is to suffer with patience
and with hope"
Il want to go to the fever hospital, doctor
Could you not manage it for mes Telegraph,
or do somethingl i shall go mad if stay
herel"
@Rnt whot --in Jour aunt saya H~<-~ 30.
consulted herr"
20, no; she will pretend to be ANNOYED
but she will be glad-I know she will And
doctor, please send me the ambulance"
continued.
mo, no." he answers; "shan't want that
In your present stage. You can infect no
body My carriage is at the door, shall
send one of your servants to help you dress
and put up a few things for you-your wor st.
remember l shall drive in the meantime
to the. nearest po5toffice send a telegram and
come back and take you myself"
l know that he can i'll spare the time
time that means money-and l am very
grateful to him for his ready help
In due time we arrived at the hospital
and wait in the head nurses sitting room
The resident doctor comes, pronounces my
case to be as DR.. Trail says, one OF mild
scarlet fever, but adds the unpleasant in
teliigencs that there is no private room va
cant on the women's side, and that mdst
go into ward But Dr. Trail says:
Have you no room on the mems side il
which she could gol"
Il do not like putting ladies there; but il
you wish IT.
Il do not wish it. This young lady's
friends would not approve know, of the
other plan at all"
And so | am half led, half carried along
stone passages, up flight of stairs, and de
posted in chamber where fire is burnin.
brightly.
"This room was intended for another pa
tent, whom we expect this evening"" say
DR.. Browne, "but shall give orders to have
the next one prepared for him.
am soon in bed. DIR. Trail comes to say
goodbye, promising to see me soon; am
am left alone
cry and laugh by turns, now overcom
by my exceeding loneliness, now struck b,
something very absurd indeed about tn
whole affair
So learn that the two private patient
downstairs are young-one a student a
Kings college, the other schoolboy; the,
both have scarlet fever, and the latter i
very i'll
My Dext-door neighbor who arrived onl
last evening, is more interesting. He is a
officer, Maj. Ronald Mcdonald by name, i
middle aged and single, and has been
fortnight in London and is ill Of scarle
fever. The nurse adds that he is tall, an
must be very handsome when in health, a
even the redness and the swelling caused b.
the fever have not been able entirely to dis
figure him. He holds possession of my mind
His name pleases the romance of 49, the de
scription takes my fancy, and dream o
him, long to see him, listen for the fain
sounds Of his voice; and when Dr. Brown
tells me that he has been in the Zulu cam
paign, and that he has been wounded there
think Of him as hero
Hong, as say to see him. do SO all to
soon The evening Of the second day draw
to close, and the night nurse looks sad and
worried, for the school-boy down stairs is
very i'll, indeed, and she can scarcely leav
him, and Maj Mcdonald is restless and un
easy.
After time fall into doze-how long
know not; but when / awake 1 am not alone
Some one is sitting by the fire, which
blazing brightly, and the gas is turned full
on. The figure moves; it is man-not th
doctor, but tall. powerful man in dress
ing-gowD. Icatch glimpse of well-cu
profile, as he half turns, listening. He hold
knife in his hand, for l see the glitter o
the steel Involuntary I move slightly
and be starts TO his feet What facet Eve
though disfgured now with unshorn heard
and the redness of fever, the expression wa
I,r.xVo u,.d rood ono nol;x,..u. - :.