Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-06-17

was still out. late. i III was, an,
the lime Of his CO g IIoae was un
certain. l was de 5sl,lel o#ever
not 10 return vii ><ine him, and
after assuring Il "a looking ser
want that l Should saialy await DIR
Vests return. are bad 10 spenG
the night on thsd< II. | was showr
into the cousaltis room. where :
wood Ere was - EARNING on the
hearth. Seating u II 10 an arm.
chair, with a higA - behind me
L settled down q igiI, however
long il might h.
4 bad often nosi< i house, fOr
vhs llil nes e. =. 80 10, se
famous anedical nau as Gideon Vest
Why he had chosen such house, |
did not learn until afteward but ]
knew it was an old fashioned, rambling
sort Of place, with room built on
here at one time, and there at another
time. Windows had been blocked up
at one place, and windows had been
let IN at another. In fact, it was a
house that seemed to defy stranger
to explain upon what rule, or what
want Of rule, it had been 50 construct
ed.
Those who first heard Of Gideon
West as one of the most famous physi-
clans in Loadon, asked in astonish.
ment how he could live in such a
ramshackle-l looking building. Per.
haps they forget that even famous
doctors were not born famous. Gideon
West, when he entered on his profes-
slonal career, was anything but IA
nous, and he was as poor as he well
could be. Father and mother were
dead brothers and sisters he had
none. An almost forgotten godmother
had, to his surprise, left him the old
house at Chelsea. This was about the
time he received his diploma. There
upon, Gideon West married, for love,
girl without penny, settled him.
self in his new possession, had the
brass plate affixed to the door, and
awaited the patients who were to
prove his skill and make his fortune.
1t was a weary waiting; but the
young bride had unlimited trust in
her husband, and Gideon West never
for a moment lost faith in himself.
Slowly, very slowly, a small practice
grew upon his hands; but the strug-
gle that only braced Gideon West for
the battle of life proved too terrible
for the frail young wife. But there
was no complaining, no repining, no
word to tell OF doubt, much less oi
despair, and Gideon West battled
on. He knew, as though it had al
ready come, that he should at last
prevail. He had measured his own
strength, and felt that he could trust
it. But-and it was that but alone
which troubled him-suppose he
should have to wait years and years
suppose, as those years went by, hs
should see the color pale on the face he
loved, the brightness fade from the eyes
he delighted to gaze into; suppose
his long years Of waiting were marked
in the lines on his wife's young face
suppose, when the golden gate of for.
tune flew open, he should find it wa:
too late
How long I sat dreaming in DR.
Vests room, know not; but it i:
certain / must have fallen asleep be.
fore the cracking embers. When
awoke, found myself in all but dark.
ness. The gas had been lowered, and
only a hickering glow from the dyine
fire remained to cast drear and fan.
tastic shadows on the ceiling. Many
hours must have passed. Imust have
been forgotten when the servants re.
tired to rest, and DR.. West either had
not returned, or had not been made
aware Of my presence. My position
was embarrassing To wake up il
the middle Of the night. and to FIND
myself in a strange house, was a new
experience. groped about the room
and felt for the door by which | had
entered. 1t was locked. Bell of any
sort, l could find none. tried t,
raise my voice, but the deathly still
ness and darkness of the room seemet
| to stifie me. l found the window
and looked out. ItOpened high abov,
a courtyard, closed in by walls
! Again | tried the door. Then I re-
membered that it was a sort of pas
sage. room: that there was q doc,