The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-04-21

umed more than one box of prime
Havana in so doing. but to no avail.
lust as would about decide to give
ip my Office for other quarters, or to
nave the machine removed that was the
cause of all my trouble, vicious ring
would bring me with bound to
it's side, and that bewitching voice
would quickly claim me as its
own. Night after night for month
heard, at almost the same hour be-
tween eleven and twelve), those
strains, and then a week
went by, and although l sat with
eager ears and bated breath, listening,
there was nothing but silence.
and if the bell rang at all, it was for me to
hear in reply to my eager ..hello:,
..Come to No. =, - street." and /
would say "all right" and get ready to
90. Or it would say: "Mrs. BIS head
ache has returned, what about pow.
ders?" or "shall Judge so-and-so con-
tinue same medicinep" and so forth;
but never a note from my sOng-blrd.
MY nervous system, however, began to
assume its normal tone, and l had
about decided to forget (if possible) all
about my Emusic" and its unknown
possessor. l had SO far succeeded in
this painful task, that l was actually
whistling one night, when, sharp and
shrill, the telephone alarm sounded,
falling on my ear like the voice OF an
accusing spirit. l hurried to the tele-
phone, all a-thrill, fully expecting to
hear again what my heart had hun
gered for; instead, l caught these
words: "Come at once to 3l8 South
wark avenue-lady very i'll. /" l dropped
the transmitter, cruelty disappointed.
l hastily ordered my horse. and a little
later was on my way to visit my new
patient. It was my first call to that
aristocratic neighborh0od, and my
spirits rose a little at the prospect of a
good, fat fee. Doctors temperaments
are very mercurial where money is con.
cerned. Arrived there, found pala.
tial residence, and, entering, all the
surroundings betokened refinement
and wealth. A colored servant ushered
me into cozy library, where stately
gray-haired woman met me. There
were traces of tears on her face, and
her voice was low and trembling, as she
gave me brief outline of her daugh.
ter's attack. When she had finished,
she led me up broad, softly.
carpeted stairway, and into 8
spacious chamber richly furnished. The
light was burning dimly, but on the bee
l saw the form of q woman tossing
restlessly about. drew near and tool
the little burning hand in mine. A pail
of great, luminous, dark eyes looked
up at me from beneath mass of tan
gled curls that strayed far over the pill
low. She was delirious. and murmureC
incoherent words, while l counted the
throbbing. irregular pulse. The mother
stood by, with anxious eyes, while thu
nurse busted herself arranging some
thing on the dressing-table. My pa
tient closed her eyes YEARLY then
slowly opening them, she threw on
arm restlessly above her head, opened
her lips, and-could believe m,
senses? Clear agri sweet, the word
and music of the song l had heard 81
often over the telephone, and hat
longed SO eagerly to hear again, hoate'
through the room.
Ihad found my songstress at last. Sh'
was indeed living, breathing woman
and not, as l had almost schOoled my
self to believe, creature of my imagi
nation. Her mother must have notice,
my agitation, for she stepped to m
side, and when the last notes died ava
in whisper, said:
"Alice has been very much intereste'
in her musical studies for some time
and has been anxious to finish them
looking forward to an operate career
which both her father and mysel
opposed. She has been growing mel
ancholy of late, and given to walkin
in her sleep. 1t has ended in this del
rum and our sending for you"
forgot to say that the treatment q
diseases of the brain is my specially.
The mothers voice ended in a sol
was longing to clasp my patient il
my arms and pour all the tender word
that were lowering on my lips into hi
ears. With an effort l controlled my
self and wrote prescription. Thi
done handed it to the nurse, with in
structions to have it filled Immediately
Then, turning to the bed, l scanne
my "singer's' features. She wa
beautiful, in spite of the fever's burn
ing touch, ana my heart went out t
her.
| gave the medicine with my owl
hands, and sat by her bedside fO
hours, not leaving it until she had fal
en- into slight slumber, and the fir.
rays of the sun were family streakin
the east. For weeks she lowered b,
tween life and death, but finally reaso
resumed its sway, and she was rapid
convalescfng. So faithful had l bee
in my attendance on the daughter ths
l won her parents friendship and e
TEEN, and when my fair patient had Ell
tirely recovered, my professional visi
merged into friendly ones, and agai
and again was treated to the music
her wonderful voice.
At last ventured to tell her Of m
love, and was rewarded by tren
bling Eyes" when l asked her to
my wife.
When we had been married nearly
year, l told Alice how and when l hs
! first heard her sing, and asked her
!. she could explain. She told me that
young lady friend and herself had BET
in the habit of singing back al
forth through the telephone in the
fathers studies; that for some time b
fore her illness she had developed
mania for sleep-walking, and h
music being uppermost in her min
and the novelty of the wire" practi
making such an impression on her, 81