Smyrna times., 1886-01-13
DR.. For8ter's Patient.


this morning ?" asked John Carlton,
anxiety plainly depicted upon his hon
est face.
"No better, and yet no worse, was
Henry Forster's answer.
"Doy you think she will pull thrOugh?"
"God knows! 1 hope and pray so.
I'll be here at three o'clock.
With this answer, DIR. Forster went
down the steps and stepped into his
waiting carriage.
AS he drove off Mr.. Carlton gave
long, low whistle, and said to himself,
"Well, never heard doctor wish so
fervently for patients recovery" And
then he called in low voice, MARY,
Mary, come out here"
In answer hushed voice came
Don't speak so loud, John I'll be
there in a moment.
Almost before the voice had died
away, Mary Carlton was beside her
husband.
She was fair woman not beautiful,
in the common acceptation of the term,
but with face such rs one loves to look
upon one which expressed the nobility
of her character. Altogether, a goodly
woman.
"Well, John, what is it? What
makes you look so thoughtful?"
"Why, I've been thinking about DR..
Forster and our sick guest, said he.
"Have you noticed anything peculiar
in his manners"
"Now John Do you think women
are blind ? I'll tell you something.
The night the poor girl was brought
here from the terriable railroad collision,
and DR. Forster was called in, was the
only one with her, as you will remem-
Der. was standing on one side of the
bed when the doctor came up, and 1
saw him start, and his face grow pale
as death. He was himself in a moment,
and attending to her wounds, but I
made up my mind then and there that
he knew her, and that there had been
something between them. Then, just
before she had the relapse, when he was
bending over her to attend bandage,
1 heard her murmur, % Henry ? So ]
am sure there is something to be mended
between those two.
"It's very curious, said Mr.. Carlton,
and then he told his wife of the express
sion used by the doctor in leaving.
DIR. Forster, one of the subjects Of
this conversation, was in the meantime
driving slowly along to his next patient,
and as he drove his mind was busy. He
was not what one could call a good-looll
ing man; rather the reverse; but his
eyes were the redeeming feature. They
were deep grey, clear and honest
looking. He was slightly inclined t
stOutness, and of medium height. His
face looked as though he had seer
trouble. But, withRl, this Dr. Forster
was not above two and thirty
} He made few intimate friends, bu
still was very popular. John Carltor
was one of those few.
! Some six years previous to his locating
J in GAINESVILLE, DR. Forster had been
, struggling young physician in a crowded
! Eastern city. 1t was uphill work, anC
he was just beginning to get payinl
practice, when, at friends house, h
met Alice Maynard, a charming girl
and the belle of P. With him it wa
a case of love at first sight, He wa
madly desperately in love with her be
fore he had seen her half dozen times
Alice was the only daughter an,
heiress of Pemberton Maynard, q re
I tired iron merchant. His wealth wa
5 estimated at millions, and he had bee
/ heard to say that "no beggar shoult
: marry his daughter"
!. DIR. Forster called often on Alice, anC
|. had reason to hope his attentions wer
I acceptable. Finally he put his courag
I, TO the test, and told her of his love, an,
u heard Alice say the sweetest words Ii
J. had ever heard spoken-that she hal
4 returned it.
y They lived brief while in a fool
paradise, until finally it broke upon DI
Forster that he must ask Papa May
nard's consent Alice had told him Q
her fears that her father would neve
70 consent, but Forster laughed at what h
70 called her silly terrors.
Y Ho came OF good old family, thougI
~ there was not much money in it q
70 present, and things were looking brigh
r. for him. While he could not ofFe
Alice n home such MS she had bee
10 accustomed 10, yet he could make he
Z comfortable, and the fact that she love
+, him, and was willing TO put up wit
!, what he had TO oflor gave him courag,
y 30 ono day, day long remembered b
" him. he called 10 SEQ Pemberton May
nard, 10 ask the hand Of his only daugl
n tor Ia marriage
p Tho footman ushcrod him into I'll
% merchants library, whore Mr.. Ainynar
b. was reading
"Ahi good morning DR. Forster
f. To what am ] indebted for the pleaaui