Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-07-17

! suOuiu mbrrys Dut raIner as Ir1enu,
long tried; brother, if you will. You
ask me what shall do2 1 had proposed
to tell you tonight, had not this hap
pened. When in Philadelphia, last
week, made arrangements. after a care
full computation of the cost, to enter upon
a course of study in the medical college
for women, and hope and intend to fit
myself for the practice of medicine
among women and children l shall
study hard there, and live economically,
and have made an estimate that the
money have will support me through
my college course, and give me year of
hospital study in Paris, before entering
upon my work here. The Dean of the
College, noble woman---has but just
returned from two-years course of
study under Madame La Chapelle in
Paris, AMI from her have obtained close
estimates of the cost of living there, as
well as of my necessary expenses in Phil
adelphia prior to going there. Through
her aid have secured board in quiet,
retired Quaker family, and enter at
once upon my career"
''But Helen my FRIEND" urged Jack,
look at the obstacles you must meet; the
opposition you must encounter The
world is not ready to accept women
physicians. And, after all, is not
woman's noblest. truest career found in
her home2 In the hearts of husband and
children2"
And she had said: eOf the great
mass of women, Yes. But it is not
| given to all women to be happy and use
full IL their own homes; and to such
must happiness, or at least content, come
through work suited to their talents. I
cannot see my way clear to become the
happy Wife of a happy husband whom
/ do not love, but l do believe l have
ability to make quite as able and consci
entious physician as the average half
educated young man turned loose upon
the community by our medical colleges
at the Ides of March' each year. Yes
Jack, there lies my vocation Don't
try to turn me from it"
And Jack had gone out to Calcutta,
and had never returned.
The years had sped on quickly enough,
each bringing its work, its cares, its dis
appointments and its rewards.
And as Helen Graves, sitting alone in
the twilight tonight, looked over the
intervening years that lay spread like a
panorama between this night and that,
long years they seemed, and the number
of them eighteen formidable
to think of.
Eighteen years! And the girl of
twenty-five who stood at the other end
of the long vista, saying her fearful
good by to Jack, seemed to her to bear
little relation to the Helen Graves who
sat with wide-open eyes staring into
nothingness across Chestnut street.
eighteen yearsl Jack was twenty
seven then! Now he is middle-aged
man---Inarried probably. Iwonder what
he has grown to be like. Let me see!
How many years since heard from him?
Fourteen, do believe. Yes. Not one
word since the old days in the Rue de
Clichy, when was almost ready to come
home and begin upon the new life. Poor
Jack how he urged then that give up
my purpose, and let him come on to Paris
and take me back to Calcutta with him.
But my years of study and preparation
lay behind me then, and the future, with
its hopes and ambitions, stretched be-
fore. All, jack wonder if, after all,
vour vision was not clearer than mine2
What have I gained, and what lost? To-
night let me be honest with myself and
weigh it fairly. 1 am called sue
cessful woman Well, as the world
goes, suppose am. My practice re-
quires the greater part of my time. l
live in my own house in a fashionable
quarter-am driven in my own carriage
to make my professional visits. have
my home, my servants, money-and the
friends which success brings to one.
Even my brother-surgeons admit my
| skill, and commend the steadiness of my
hand But am l happy2 Oh, Jack! you
were right. In the other balance put
husbands love, and the voice of little
child, calling Mother, and it outweighs
ALL"
And DR.. Helen Graves, the self-poised
woman, the keen-eyed surgeon, bowed
her head upon the window-sill, and the
hot tears flowed fast.
"The way has been hard, and have
trodden it alone. Alone!"
And at the repetition of the word the
tears came faster.
And so absorbed was DIR. Helen Graves
in her detection and misery, that she had
rot heard the entrance of a stranger,
whom Margaret had admitted, and was
only aroused frcm her reflection by hear
ing strange, deep voice saying:
pardon if l intrude, madam, but l
was directed to wait here to see DIR. Helen
Graves"
Choking back ghost of sob, DR..
Helen said, simply and gently:
II am DR.. Graves. Pray be seated,
| while rintr for Ii ohfs ;,
Margaret entered and turned on
iood Of light; then closed the open win
low, and let fall the heavy curtains.
Her soft footballs diminished in the
distance and Dr. Helen Graves turned
nquiringIy to her visitor
She saw only in him a stranger, come
probably to summon her to sick wife
Or child.
As she stood under the chandelier, the
light revealed to him not the Helen of
sighteen years ago, but a mature,
wCmanly face, with firm lines of charac-
;cr, yet withal crowned with tender
tu-oafnoea-the dark nvpa n LITTLE rcd wit h