The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-10
terri Trix asked but languidly of one Of the


The crowd turned its attention at once to the
two ladies. two strangers, to whom the whole
matter could be explained
just going to take her first drive out" said
one. "All in the grand fur cloak he gave her.
"A man as grudged her nothing"
Its like on the stage" said another. La
dies, rich gentleman and grudged her nothing.
And she's never got time to enjoy 1T Oh, she's
never got no time to enjoy it."
These voices ran all together, confirming each
other. They conveyed little meaning to the
minds of the two ladies' who heard impcrfectly,
and did not understand.
Grace was the one who pushed through the
crowd. She was not to be turned from her pur-
pose. Let US pass, please. We have come to
see her. she said clutching Trixs dress with her
hand.
'Oh, is that the doctori Stand back and let
the doctor pass said voice from within, from
the door OF the little parlor. The speaker came
out as she spoke. She was the mother, with
bonnet on gay with ribbons and flowers ''Oh,
ladies, cannot speak to you now Oh If it's
anything about the dressmaking, Matilda will
come to you tomorrow We're in great trouble
now. "Oh, doctor, doctor, here you are at last. !"
Then man brushed past hurryng in. Grace
followed, not knowing what she did. She never
forgot the scene che saw. In an armchair, the
only one in the room, sat propped up poor
creature wrapped in fur cloak, with white
bonnet covered with flowers surrounding her
pallid face. Her eyes were half open; her jaw
her sister, stood stroking her softly, calling to
her-"Oh, wake up Ally-oh, wake up-theres
the carriage at the door, and here-here's the
doctor come to see you" Through the sound of
this frightened, half weeping voice came the
sharp, clear tones of the doctor-''How long has
she been like this9 Lay her down-lay her down
anywhere. Yes, on the floor if there's nowhere
else. Silence, silence, woman! Can't you seer
There was an interval of quiet, and then the
voice of the mother, ''Pll get mattress in mo-
Sln liz fhnnn IN hn Han
that's been taken such care of. Doctor! is it a
faint, is it faint, is it"
Another moment of awful suspense, the silence
tingling, creeping the voices of the little crowd
sounding like echoes far off. Then the doctor
rose from where he had been kneeling on the
floor. 'Why did you let her do thisF" he said
sternly II warned you she must not do it."
''Oh doctor, her heart was set upon it-and
such beautiful morning, and her, new, beautl-
full fur cloak as she couldn't catch cold IN. Doc
tor, why don't you do something's Doctor! said
the mother, Selling him by the arm.
He shook her off. He was rough in his i'm
patience. Cant you see" he said, that there
is nothing to be done. Take off that horrible
finery the poor girl is dead"
''Tne poor girl is deadp Grace thought it
was her own voice that repeated those awful
words. They went to her heart with shock,
making her giddy and faint Her voice sounded
through the confused cries of the women about
that PROSTATE figure Dead" The doctor
tions were due
II warned them" he said, "that her life hung
thread l told them she must make no
exertion. knew very well how it would be.
The wonder is that she has lasted so long," he
added after that momentary excitement sinking
into profound calm. mo, no. there's nothing
to be DONE Can't you see that for yourse!fW
s'And the cab at the door to take her for her
airing" cried the mother in shrill tones of dis
traction; "Oh, Doctor, give her something
The brandy, where is the brandy, Matilda! I've
seen her as far gone"
''You have never seen her like this before
She is dead" said the doctor. in the unceremon-
ious tones in which he addressed such patients
you had better get sofa or something to lay
her on, poor thing: nothing can hurt her now;
and send and let her husband know"
He followed Grace out into the passage,
where she had withdrawn, unable to bear that
awful sight.
ut is strange story. I don't understand it,
Sounds like novel, i" he said Il don't think he'll
be very sorry. He'll bear it better than most
though he only married her about three weeks
ago. It was the strangest thing ever heard Of
gentleman-no doubt of that What he could
ever have to say to girl like her, God knows
But he suddenly appeared on the scene when
she was at the last gasp, and married her. /
had given her up, but afterwards she made a
surprising rally. Even l was taken in. 1
thought she still might pull through; But you
see l was mistaken" he added, cheerfully
Everything swan in her eyes, and all the
sounds, the voices of the women lamenting
Within the cries and questions without the
sharp, clear sentences Of the doctor, all mingled
in strange confusion like sounds in dream.
In the midst of all the riot came the voice of
Trix calling to her to come out into the open air.
and touch on her arm, which she felt to be
that of the doctor. leading her away She made
a great effort and recovered herself. 1--WE want
to know, she said family, grasping at Trix's
md a mo RI n Mr.
Wentworth" and then with rush as of gather
ing energy her sight came back to her, and she
saw the face of the man who stood, curious, yet
Indifferent, between her and the chamber of
death.
''Ah the husband!" he said
"We came-to see her, for him-is it truly,
truly-He is i'll, and we have to act for him.
We have-his authority. Trix, speak for me!
Is it, Is that-W Then came strange
convulsve movement in her throat like sOhbing,
any more.
II am his sister, said Mrs Ford; lis it truel
lis the womandead2 Oh, it's dreadful to be
glad, know. If you are the doctor, tell us for
heavens sake Is she dead-is it she-the
1.-The poor girl" said Grace, softly; the poor,
poor girl"
This she said over and over again to herself as
they drove away. She made no reply to the
questions the remarks, the Thanksgiving of her
in direct contradiction of Mr.. Ford's orders
The door on which was divers name was ajar
In the outer room stood nurse newly arrived
from one of the London institutions 'I'm
waiting till I'm called" she said, divining that
the two ladies who came in so quietly had %
right to be there. Grace removed her bonnet
and mantle quickly Her dress was very little
different from that of the nurse. you will
stay here" she said, to help me if want help, y
and before another word could be said had
heard and answered the call from the inner
room. The doctor there, very different from the
parish doctor with his rough and plain speaking
gave her his instructions almost without looking
at her, and the was shaded, with little light
in it. 'There is not much to do here" he said
''only to watch, which you must do carefully
See that nothing disturbs the patient If he is
kept quiet he will do very we'll" He added, in a
half whisper, keep every from him; don't
let him talk. 1t is distress of mind more than
the wound"
''Then the best thing, sir" said Grace. with
tha respectful tone of the woman whom she rem