St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-10-14
THE DOCTORS BEST PATIENT.

DR.. Dulany sauCtered down the vii
lage street. "My lines have fallen in
very pleasant places" said he to him.
self. "When old DR.. Holden asked
me to come here and take charge of
his practice three months while he
went to Europe, had no idea that
was stepping into an earthly paradise
like this, and"
But at this moment a tall, square
shOuldered young man stopped direct
" in front of him, holding out a well
coming hand.
ono" cried he, "sure my senses
can't be playing me false 1t is Frank
Dulany ~
81 knew you lived somewhere in
this vicinity" said he. 81 am here in
charge of old Holden's patients for
three months, before | go South for the
rest of my life. Tell me something
about Mossbridge and the MOssbrid-
gians."
Kirke linked his arm in that of his
friend, and altogether they walked
down toward the little hospital on the
shore of the river.
But you haven't told me anything
about the ladies'" said Dulany, care
lessly.
'Tm coming to that said Kirke.
ave have a dozen pretty girls at the
very least, but only one beauty. And
tell you what, Dulany, you had bet
ter beware of Geralda Granger"
"And why 2" Dulany asked.
Because" Kirke laughingly made
answer, "she is a merciless beauty"
"And how have you escaped the
common doom of all mankind 7" asked
Dulany.
81 haven't" Kirke answered with a
cOmical grimace. ''My scalp hangs at
her belt with a hundred others. She
refused me a year ago"
DR.. Dulany thought over all these
things afterward. al don't mean to
become the prey of this rural Cleopa-
tra," he said to himself; and | rather
think that my obscurity is my safety"
"The young doctor who has taken
old HOlden's practice, ell 2" said Miss
Granger, little disdainfully. ale is
to be at Miss Mix's tonight, is he7 All
right, I'll see what | can do with him."
ga charming young man." said Mrs.
Gracy-"sO intelligent, so perfectly
well informed on every subject"
"Miss Granger put on her prettiest
dress and decorated her hair with the
sweetest flowers out of her aunt's little
conservatory, and really devoted her
self that autumn to the business of
captivating DR.. Dulany.
"The man must be made of cast
irOn," she said to herself. "And only
an insignificant country doctor at that
It's perfectly ridiculous !"
"I'm tired of all these senseless balls
and parties," said Geralda, bursting
into tears.
"My love-" said Aunt Susie, "yOu
are not well. Your nervous system is
all run down. Wen send for the doc
tor"
DR.. Dulany came just exactly like a
"human machine" as Geralda declar-
ed in her anger, felt her pulse, asked
half a dozen conventional questions,
and advised early hours and a tonic.
81 can't bear that man !" said Geral-
da, and she burst out crying.
DR.. Dulaney was at the hospital next
day, just at twilight, and as he came
into the fever ward a soft gray shadow
glided out the doorway.
"What is that 2" he asked quickly.
otis Miss Granger, sir" said the
head nurse. "Alice has the neuralgia
in her face, and Miss Granger would
take her place"
"She must not do it again." said DR..
Dulaney, with quiet authority. 81 am
not quite sure about the non cOnta-
giOus character of some of these cases."
''She says sir" declared the old
nurse, "that she wants to do some
good in the world"
"There are more ways of doing good
in the world than one" said he, "and
Miss Granger must come here no
more"
He hurried through the various
wards, and made such good speed back
along the lonely road that he overlook
the gray gliding. figure at the entrance
to the village street.
"Miss Granger" said he, 81 detect
ed your identity at once"
ais it then an offence even to cross
your path ?" Indignantly cried Geralda.
''NOt in the least; but"
81 KNOW have known all along"
went on the girl, choking down the
angry sObs in her throat, ''that you
hated the sight of me; but you have
no right to tell me so! Oh, am so
wretchedi l wish that | were dead !"
"The reason that | did not want you
to enter the hospital is that have an
idea that some of those fever cases
partake of the typhoid nature, and"
"What then 2" said Geralda. "What
have l to live for that should shrink
from exposing myselfq"
"Everything ~ said the doctor.
Nothing J" said Geralda.
Nevertheless" said Dulany, quiet
ly, 81 forbid you running that risk"
"What is it to you ?" she cried, pas
siOnately. "If l dreamed that you
cared whether l lived or died."
She stopped suddenly, with crimson
ing cheeks. Had she said too much.
al do care" said DR.. Dulany, every
much indeed. In fact, had | not been
told that you were a heartless CO.
quette-"
at is false !" said Geralda, hurriedly.
"Well, them" he returned, laughing,
81 love you. Is that definite enOughP"
"And l love yOu," she answered.
ooh DR.. Dulany, you must have seen
that long ago! But tell me, when did
you first begin TOTO care for me 2"
"FrOm the hour when | first saw
yOu," said he.
And so our village cOquette was con-
quered and surrendered at discretion,
and, to the surprise of all her friends,
she has married the quiet young cOun-
try doctor.
Mammoth Water Power.
Engineers DronOunce the Droiect of