The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1888-12-29
A LAWYERS SAD STORY.
ST. JoHN's HOSPITAL. July 10.

ST. johns HOSPITAL, July 10.
JAMES LOTION: My dear sir--You msy
come now. All is In readiness.
Respectfully.
J. Il. BOWEN, NJ. d.
had been expecting such intelligence.
but when It came my anguish drove me
well nigh onto the verge of distraction.
dropped the note and staggered to tho
open door. The sun was shining brightly
against the brick walls about, and birds
we're fitting Gleefully among the trees in
the little park before the door, as IL moth
ing unusual had happened. The roar Of
clattering vehicles on the stone psyeuents,
and tho hurrying footballs Of rushing
multitude, tangled with unimsginsble
harshnessin MY throbbing brain.
| ordered a garbage and was soon beng
driven rapidly through the streets.
On bilk in a remote, scquestered part
Of the city, the massive brick walls Of the
hospital rose before me in its environment
of trees.
After having rung the door bell, stood
looking down at the smoky, noisy metropo-
lis, until DIR. Bowen, the superintendent,
came 10 meet me.
His sympathetic eyes cave wsy before
my reeling gaEc.
"This way, Mr.. Lotion" he said kindly,
touching my elbow, "the first door to the
right. No, not that way" he continued,
coming quickly to me as L, hardly conscious
Of what / was doing, had started to enter
the door on the opposite side of the corri-
dor. He guided me 10 the right entrance
and went in unaccompanied.
II was a large saloon used for the recep.
tion Of visitors.
On one side l saw a group of silent wo'
men; did not look toward them save with
flying glance. had thought would be
calm enough to meet It bravely. but I was
not.
A dazzling film was before my sight, my
brain wbirled. I went across the room
feeling very faint, and sank into chaiI
before the. freless crate with my back tC
the othef4
heard them leaving the room, coult
feel their sympathetic gances as they re
tired with echoless steps into the corridor
The door was closed. l was alone-no
not alone, for 1t was there where they hat
left IL, there TO remind me with its weir
aspect of my lost life, of all that HEAVIER
had dened me.
My mind was busy with the past Be
fore my inner eyes rose picture so brigh
and cloudless that II soothed my achin
soul.
A country farm house, green fields, wide
reaching meadows and rugged hills wit
beetlng cliffs; all asleep in a balmy sur
shine, rippled with gentle breezes fro,
frothy clouds and distant mountains
The air is odious with the perfume {
wild flowers and new-mown hay, and mus
cal with the songs of birds, the intinbula
ing chimes OF sheep bells. and the bleatiu
of lambs
recall a maiden's lace, dreamy, ,exquislt
ly fair and beautiful in bed of wal
new gold :resses. Eyes darkly-lsshed, lii
the blue which great depth gives to clesre
still water.
She was hardly is years of age sligl
and graceful. Her voice aud laugh thrilI'
the listener with delicious melody.
l am thinking of Ethel Lampkin as 50
her one summer at her home In Virgini
Would that might always remember h
as she was then before-but anu preciI
tate.
l had gone to the country for 8 month
vacation and met her at the hospitls
home of her parents; near whose home
was boarding.
1t was but a step from the moment n
her until loved her; it is no wonder to !
now that did so, for 1 had never bebelC
creature half so !oyable.
We went berrying together, drove 40
the picturesque mountain roads, read
same books, discussed their merits aud I
merits, studied botany oyer flowers VIII
We had culled from the mountains q
wales, and amused ourselves In dive
ways.
l did not attempt to disguise my Il
from my sell, but was desirlous OF conceal
1t from her st first for something in
manner bespoke that had not yet won
heart longed so devotedlY to possess.
scrutinized the face, where pensiYer
and unbounded Joy held sway alternate
/ anxiously seeking an indication upon WI
to base hope, but little did I see TO pr
that she regarded me in the doarer rslst
ship than Of a friend.
The days of my vacation were gliding
a all too swiftly. Mr.. and Mrs. Lamp
good old southern people, had diylned
A secret, and, was quite sure, did not
4 unfayorable on niy suit.
3 l was 2s, had a paying practice es
lished, and had come into a comfort
N estate at my fathers death. Looking
w from my standpoint, my future woul
one of unaloyed felicity With Ethe
share It with me.
=, Tho day spoke to her of my fee
stands cut silently FROM all the rest.
recalling II, all else connected there
falls into the background. / see oil
sweet, capricious visage as pensiye, '
ats tell of my love. as melancholy mOou
shimmering through iilmy clouds.
We were leaning against a rail FEM
49,. an old worm-eaten footlog, beneath v
EF hppled clear brook bordered with =
cresses. The sun was sinking oehin'
hills, and the red, glintlng rays we're .
ing sthwart the lowlands.
&c. can see her, alb, SO plainly; the
shoe peepins from beneath snowy 8
9S she shapslY AFns unting the tight n