Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-15
THE COUNTRY DOCTOR.

hpLti, INC ldIutSS VI tuG SOll UGH
sucked out by constant cultivation, without
resi-, without food-literally starved and
worn out, just as man or beast may be by
Ike treatment-stood a dilapidated log cabin,
! partially inclosed by 4 rickety fence, the
pickets Of which We're of unequal lengths,
and here and there leaned in or out, as if
about to lay themselves down on the ground,
| tired of being swayed back and forth by
every rough wind that blew. In the little
space inclosed by this fence were few col
lard plants, their lean stalks-that had run
| ND TO height of three and four feet, with a
| tuft of green leaves at the top-having some
what the appearance of dwarf palm trees;
and several rows of dead cornstalks around
which twined thin, sickly cow pea vines, like
hopeless poverty clinging to the dead past.
! Il was early morning-the dew was still
! glistening on the green collard leaves-when
! BIZ Meredith rode up to this cabin and dis.
/ mounting fastened his horse to a little scrub
oak that grew near the door. The doctor
was fine looking man, about 80 years Of
age, tall, broad shouldered, with dark COM
| plexiOn, black hair and beard, and full dark
eyes, i'll which the light of intelligence shone
as a beacon of hope to the sick and wretched
who had the good fortune to fall under his
ministrations He was only a country doc
tor-one of those men who sacrifice their
! lives for the good of poor humanity, whose
services are great and whose fees are small
but he was well worthy TO stand as the peer
of any of III, brethren. whose fees, bestowed
by the grateful rich for services not so great
as his has been in the aggregate, had swelled
their bank accounts to comfortable figure.
He had come now to attend poor girl
only to see her die, he knew, and then to
bury her at his own expense; but the thought
that his errand was to be altogether fruitless
in every way, never occurred to him, as he
took his medicine cases, which hung over his
saddle like saddle bags, on his arm and en-
tered the cabin.
1t was poor place-it fairly reeked with
poverty Two or three articles of the COM
monest kind of furniture, a pot and frying
pan that stood on the hearth in front of
wide clay fireplace, and tin pan, few
plates and two cups on the shelf of a cup
board, the door of which was gone, and
where the flies, early as it was, were swarm
ing around bit of uncooked bacon, and the
half of a cake of corn bread, We're the aces
series of the direst most hopeless poverty.
On rude bedstead, that stood near the
open sashleSs window, lay the invalid. She
lay perfectly still, with her eyes 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 Thoughts
her already dead.
woman in her own rank in life-a COM
mon woman with 0 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 cold-the weather was warm and pleas
ant-but from the force of habit. 1t seemed
to her the right place to sit, winter Or sum
ner
The DOCTOR as soon as he entered the
room, went to the bedside and examined his
patient.
Unlike the generality of her class, whose
features are almost invariably coarse and
irregular, seldom pretty, often repulsive, this
girl was beautiful, with features as delicate
and clearly cut as those of Greek statue.
From her the doctor turned to the woman
with an inquiring glance. She said nothing,
but pointed TO pine table that stood in a
corner of the room, on which there was some
thing covered with coarse piece of cloth
He went to the table, and, lifting the cloth,
looked under it,
How long did it liver he asked, turning
once more to the woman.
Not minute, DOCTOR" was the reply; sit
ies' give gulp, SO; an was gone"
at is better SO" murmured the doctor.
81 reckin it be" said the woman, who over
heard the remark, though it was not intended
for her ears. "Ef she was to dean she's
like to, amt she!n looking earnestly in DR..
Meredith's face.
Yes"
''Then thar'd be nobody to kier fur it. yer
see
The doctor said nothing He was thinking
of the father of that lifeless atom. He had
been found dead-murdered, probably. by
some jealous rival-the day before in a deep
gully not far from the cabin, the girl, almost
dead herself, lying on his body, and clinging
to it with such tenacity that it had been diff
fcult to remove ners. The man had been
reckless scapegrace, belonging TO a good
family, but preferring the companionship of
the low and vicious. He had run through
with moderate fortune, and then gradually
sunk to the level, socially, of those whom, in
the hours Of debauchery, he had chosen for
his associates
Such was the story of the man. OF the
antecedents Of the girl little was known.
She was not native of that part of the
country, but had come there about a year
before, accompanies 10y her brother. a little,
dried up specimen Of humanity about Is
years of age, but who looked as though he
might be 80, so wrinkled was his sallow.
we&zen face so dull his light blue ewes. The
two had taken Up their abode III the Old
cabin, that had been tenantleSs for some
time. and three months later Tom Stanard.
the murdered man, had likewise made it his
domicile
The doctor. leaving directions with the
woman to prepare the infant fer burial, rode
away. saying he would be back before night
fall In the meantime she could continue 10
give the mother the medicine prepared dur
ing his former visit; it would ease her pain.
ana that was all that he could nope 10 do for
her.
When he returned just before sunset the
woman met him at the door
Well. Mrs Turner" he said, what Of
your patieat!7
''She pear to be rlendin' a leetle. doc
tor was the reply, and there vas hopeful
look IA the poor woman's eyes
What makes you think soF'
She seem 20 have more sense 5ke. an !
lows she mus be some better
The Doctor went to the bedside ard took
the girls wrist n his hand Il was very thin,
and be held it gently while be gaEei in the
pale face OF the patient, who was talking as
IL il her sleep. Then be shook his head.
Soon, very soon, mother and babe would he
together. The two, so near akin. had never