The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-02-25

is moro delighting to mans heart than
a grateful expression from beautiful
womanl
An increase of reputation opened up
way for me to what had so long and
ardontly desircd-a city practice. ! be-
came associated with the distinguished
and beloved DR.. Bartholomew, and upon
his dcccasc ! succeeded to his large and
lucrative medical clientage.
Upon several occasions had conferred
with my esteemed professional brethren
upon the subject of lightning photogra-
ply, and, mentioning no names, out of
delicate motives, cited the case of a
handsome young woman who was pros
trated by the electric fluid. The bolt
blasted a contiguous elm tree, and the
tree was perfectly and artistically photo
graphcd upon her arm. l found that
cases were not unfrequent where inani-
mate objects had been photographed by
lightning upon animate ones. One sur
gcon vouched for case where black
oak, thunder-riven, was photographed
upon the flank of white horse.
Musing upon this subject one cold win
ter evening, was summoned to the door
by the captain of the police precinct.
His business was thrilling and altogether
too sorrowful. The fast express, behind
time and running a mile a minute, had
been dcrailed by a displaced switch on
the outskirts of the city.
The destruction and mutilation had
been frightful The St. Mary's hospital
was filled with the wounded, and the Of
ficers of the police were expeditiously
summoning corps of city surgeons.
The scene at the hospital was indescrib-
able-and, indeed, if dcscribable, there
would be but little profit in the portrayal
of such misery. An eager crowd, many
of whom had friends in the ill-fated train,
had assembled. Prudence compelled the
closing of the doors against them, but
their anxious, tragic faces were visible at
the windows, looking as if the catastro-
phe had impaired common expression
to them all. Nurses and stewards were
hurrying here and there with subducd
footballs. Now, there is no preference
among surgeons at such time. Go to
work at once and render assistance to the
nearest case at hand is the rule.
heard low moan at my feet. 1t
came from the lips of woman. look
ed upon the cot. Such lovely, but
pain-vexed, countenance! 1t was case
of fractured arm-a compound fracture
and the attendant fever had already set
in. The wounded member OF that grace
full body must be set at once. l examin-
ed the broken arm. Stars of fate! Near
the shoulder was a miniature tree. My
beautiful patient was again Blanche Hun
gcrford.
need not tell you with what consum-
mate tenderness | handled that shapely
arm; but could not avert the dclirium
that followed the fever. Sad as it was to
see her delirious could not suppress a
thrill of joy when she more than once
pronounced my name. In ten days the
fever tide slowly turned and death had
spared the beautiful from the worms of
the dust.
Her first whispered words, as of old,
were "Thank you"
l have before asked this question:
"What is more delighting to mans
heart than grateful expression from a
beautiful woman2"
now answer it. A grateful express
sion from a beautiful woman, mingled
with look of love. And I read
Love IN her luminous eyes!
When Blanche was nearly recovered I
said to her:
'My darling, lightning and calamity
brought us together. Let love and sun
shine prevent our parting"
And she only murmured in the dear,
old way, "Thank your and then l felt
her fair white arms twining about my
neck.