The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-06-13
THE COUNTRY DOCTOR.

ety fence. the pickets of which were o
unequal lengths, and here and there
leaned in or out, as If about to lay them
selves down on the ground, tired OF being
swayed back and forth by every rough
wind that blew. In the little space in
closed by this fence were d few colored
nlarts. their lean stalks-ihat had run
no to height Of three and four feet with
tust of green leaves at the top-haying
somewhat the appearance Of dwarf palm
trees and several rows Of dead corn
stalks. around which twined thin, sickly
cow-pea vines. like hopeless poverty
clinging to the dead past.
II was early morning-the dew was
still glistening on the green coliard leaves
when DIR. Meredith rode up TO this
cabin. and dismounting fastened his
horse to little scrlb oak that grew near
the door. The doctor was fine looking
man. about 80 years Of age, tall, broad
sbouidered. with dark complexion, black
hair and beard. and full dark eyes, In
which the light OF intelligence shone as
a beacon hope to the sick and wretched
who have had the good fortune 10 fall
under his ministrations. He was only
country dOcior-one of those men who
sacrifice their lives for the good of hu-
manitv. whose services are great and
whose fees are small--but he was well
worthy TO stand as the peer Of any OF his
brethren. whose fees, bestowed by the
grateful rich for services not 50 great as
his has been in the aggregreate, has
swelled their bank accounts to confor-
table figure.
He had come now to attend poor girl
only 10 see her die, he knew, and then
10 bury her at his own expense but the
thought that this errand was to be alto
rether fruitless in every way never oc-
CURED TO him, as he took his medicine
cases. which hung over his saddle like
saddle bags, on his arm and entered the
cabin.
1t was poor place-it fairly reeked
with poverty Two or three articles of
the commonest kind Of furniture, a pot
and a irving pan that stood on the hearth
in front Of wide clay fireplace, and a
tin pan, a few plates and two cups on the
shelf Of a cupbord, the door of which was
gone, and where the flies, early as it was
were swarming around bit of uneooked
bacon, and the half of a cake Of corn
bread, were the accessories Of the direct,
most hopeless poverty.
On a rude bedstead, that stood near
the open sashless window, lay the inva-
lid She lay perfectly still, with her
ewes closed, her black hair scattered in
tangled masses on the coarse sheet and
pillow, and but for the little moan that
came from her half open lips at regular
intervals one would have thought her al
ready dead
A woman in her own rank in life-a
common woman with sorrowful face
a face marked with those lines which
constant, never ceasing distress always
leaves there-sat in front of the fireplace,
where there was smoldering fire. She
sat there not that she was cDld-the
weather was warm and pleasant-but
from the force of habit. II seemed TO
her the right place to sit, winter or
summer
The doctor, as soon as he entered the
room, went to the beside and examined
his patient
Unlike the generality of her class,
whose features are almost invariably
coarse and irregular, seldom pretty, often
repulsiye, this girl was beautiful, with
features as delicate and clearly cut rs
those Of Greek statue.
From her the doctor came to the wom-
an with an inquiring glance. She said
nothing. but pointed to pine table that
stood in the corner of the room, On
which there was something covered with
coarse piece Of cloth. He went to the
table, and, lifting the cloth, looked un-
der if.
How long did il live?" he asked,
turning TO the woman.
Not minute, doctor" was the re-
ply; sit jes' give 4 gulp, so, and then was
gone"
1t is better so, murmured the doctor
reckin i; be" said the woman, who
overheard the remark, though it was not
intended for her ears. IF she was to
die-and she's ike TO, amt she ?" look
ing earnestly in DIR. Meredith's face.
Yes"
Then thar'd be nobody to kier for it,
yer, see"
The doctor said nothing. He was a
thinking Of the father of that lifeless at
ON. lie he'd been found dead-murder-
ed, probably, by some jealous rival-the
day before in deep gulley not far from
the cabin, the girl, almost dead herself
lying on his body and clinging to it with
such tenacity that il had been difficult to
remove her. The man had been a reck-
less scapegrace, belonging TO good fam
ily, but preierring the companionship of
the low and vicious. He had run through
moderate fortune, and then gradually.
sunk to the level, socially, of those whom
in the hours Of debauchery, he had cho-
sen for his associates.
Such was the story Of the man. OF the
antecedents of the girl little was known.
She was not Il native of that part of the
country, but had come there about
year before, accompanied by her broth
er, a little, dried up specimen Of human
ity about IS years Of age, but who looked
as though he might be 80, so wrinkled
was his sallow, weazen face, SO dull his
light blue eyes. The two had taken up
their abode in the old cabin, that had
been tenantless for some time, and three
months later Tom Standard. the mur-
dered man, had likewise made it his
domicile.
The doctor, leaving directions with the
woman 10 prepare the infant for burial,
rode away, saying he would be back be-
fore nightfall. In the meantime she
could continue TO give the mother the
medicine prepared during his former Wis
IT ]; would ease her pain, and that was
all that he could hope to do for her.
When he returned lust before sunset
The woman met him at the door.
Well, Mrs. Turner" he said, what of