Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-12


The room was full OF deep red light
from one Of the intensely brilliant sun
acts which were frequent through that
winter. II shone with curious glow on
the white face of the girl, aud once DIR.
Walter saw it catch and seem TO light
up the great tenderness now in the blue
eyes which could evidently at times
become the hardest feature OF Mary
ChsSton's face. The light had not faded,
only grown deeper, when they came
back into the long drawing-room, and it
fell on them as they stood together in
the window, while Or. Walter said that
he could only confirm the worst view of
the case and tell the father. to whom
his daughter was plainly the brightest
thing in life, that very few we're left of
the days for which she could he with
him.
Quietly and very gently Mary Chaston
walked toward Mr.. Meredith when he
came into the room to hear the decision
which meant so much to him. There
Was 10 Dr. Walter something about her
intensely womanly as she stood there
saving the words which brought such
sorrow with them. lie acquiesced in
them with a voice and manner which
had lost much Of his usual calm, profess
sional stoicism nor had be entirely re-
gained it whom he put DIR. Mary ChastOn
into her CarrisgS at the door five minutes
after, and, raising his hat, walked quick
" in the direction OF his next patient.
a clock striking as he passed almost
made him start ii seemed more as II
day bad passed than only an hour since
he stood at Mr. Meredith's door.
All the rest OF the afternoon he was too
busy to think for more than a moment at
time OF what alteration, if any, this
first experience of them had made IN the
views Of women doctors.
he was very tired when he got home
perhaps thnt was partly the reason that,
though he tried TO think the question
over calmly and carefully in the light of
his afternoons experience, he could give
no fresh argument for or against women
rs doctors. He was not converted by
any means, but ne was persuaded by the
woman BIO had seen that il was possible
for women TO undertake the work with
out necessarily putting themselves into
false position, and his last decided
thought before he grew too sleepy over
his cigar to think coherently was that
he would not afford his friends tho
amusement he had intended beforehand
for them from his account of the first
consultation with woman, but would
keep the afternoons experience to him
self.
1t was brought before his mind day
or two later very wildly for, as he read
the Times over his breakfast, his eyes
glanced over that first column which
men read mono the less because OF their
sarcasm over womsn's liking for it, his
ewes fell on the short notice which told
OF the death of "Florence Meredith,
only daughter of j. Meredith, Esq"
He laid the paper down beside him and
his thoughts went back to DR.. Mary
Chaston.
He wondered if she felt the girls
death IN proportion to the grisved look
which he had seen on her face VIXEN his
own words told her he thought 1t hope
less case. II struck him for the first
time how little he himself bad cared at
any Of the times when he had watched
death end its work, apart from feeling
of vexatlon that the skill on which he
prided himself had proved useless. The
feeling gradually grew upon him
all that day, and during many
dsvs TO come, that it was with
men and women he had to deal,
not Ceases" only-men and women
whose death or life meant everything
in many cases TO those whom they left
behind or stayed with. 1t altered HIM
greatly and r tenderness which had
never before been his, and which could
never be his perfectly until he fully
realized what wonderful work his daily
fight with death was, began to come to
him, often uncOnsciously, strengthened
bv the sudden remembrance of Mary
Chaston's face when she bent over the
dying girl in the sunset
A serious epidemic broke ont in the
end OF the Winter-the weather WAS
unusually damp and hot-and 1t gave
DR.. Walter severe, almost incesssnt
work and thought before it could be at
all subdued.
OIe evening as he walked from pa
tents house to the street where he had
arranged that his carriage should meet
him be was thinking very earnestly over
some sanitary measures which had oc-
CURED to him as likely to prevent fresh
outbreak. He was so much engrOssed IN
these thoughts that he did not notice un-
iii he WAS close to it the small crowd on
the outskirts of which he was passing.
He gave a hurried glance at 1t, and see
ing that the centre OF II was carriage
more or less smashed" he waited q
moment that he might find out If any
one was hurt
At thst instant the crowd moved that
lady might come through IT on 10 the
pavement, and, looking in the same di-
Tection as every one else, DR.. Walter
saw. walking slowly, with face which,
though not alarmed, was very white,
Mary Chaston. de made his way
through the people TO her instantly and
said
4" What can l do for you? How can l
help you ?"
Thank YOU, she answered, evidently
knowing him again at once, 1.-The man
will do ali that Is possible ; and II
will. / think. walk straight home.
But the rather uncertain sound OF her
voice made Dr. Walter, without cere-
mony, put her hand on his arm, saying
"No-you will let nae drive you-ny
carriage is near.
Thank you" she said once more.
When they reached his carriage he put
her in carefully, asked her address, and
after a look at the white face which
leaned back against the dark cushions of
his hanson. said "You let me see YOU
safely home" and got in beside her.
They drove in silence, which she only
once broke to tell him how the accident
had happened and to excuse herself for
what she called her Every unpr0fesslonal
weakness.
lie answered lightly, and then silently
watched the familiar streets as they
nassed with = curious feeling of keen
pleasure in the help he had been at hand
70 give. which made him tryto place the
rugs still more carefully round the slight
figure beside him. ,
They reached the address she had
siyen-one of those dark, gloomy-look-
INC houses which seem by force of con-
20 e . l,,.;obt iptariOr apd