Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1888-01-14

her only patient, nothing but
suffering human being.
Nothing SO trivial rs a love affair had
ever entered into her researches.
The physical well-being of the
patient was all that interested her, al
though she was aware that it was fine
subject, really very handsome patient.
lie was wealthy man. In fact, he
had lost his health in mine where he
had dug gold. and not being content
with what he had and could make in a
slower way, he determlnedly followed
II lead far under ground. hoping to
make grand thing out of it, though he
had been warned by older miners to
keep away.
But he went on alone, and one day
after inhaling more than usual of the
nOX.ous gases, he fell in a faint at the
head of the vein. and had never since
been well.
1t would seem that all the water in
Wanako Springs was not sufficient to
eliminate the poson. There had been
no words of love between him and Miss
Field.
She had been so matter-of-fact that
it seemed impossible for him TO talk
sentiment any way.
Beside, rs he bitterly said TO himself:
''lt would never do for a man with
one foot i'll the grave to think of matri-
mony."
One evening he escorted Madeline
home from the invalid's experience
meeting.
All the way up the long bluffy hills.
the good people of the town have placed
rude benches, that the invalids may
not weary themselves too much with
climbing.
These two were sitting awhile be-
meath the starlit skies upon one of
these rustic seats, when Madeline Field
did most astoun ding thing. She
made proposal to this black haired.
blOnde-bearded man, with the colorless
face. She declared that she knew she
could cure him if she but had him en-
tirely under her supervision. so that she
could diet him and starve him to her
hearts content. So she offered to
marry him. This was merely for the
sake of convenience.
There was no romance. in the matter,
purely practical business transaction.
She wasn't at all jim love with him, and
he was not such man. perhaps, as she
should choose for husband, but she
wanted him for subject. she wished to
experiment on him. ,.
She would marry him and cure him.
and then She or he would go away and
the other would get divorce on the
ground of desertion.
No one in his home or hers, remote
from this little pioneer town in Arkan-
sas, would ever know anything of it.
The marriage should be simply a
legal contract, and broken when they
were ready to dissolve it.
He entered Into the spirit of it. At
the rate he then was going, he reason
ed, he could not live long. anyway, aud
he was stagnatng there for want of a
sensation of some kind, all had been so
humdrum and monotonous for him
since he had been obliged to leave the
hustle and war of active life. Beside,
he was very much IN love with this
erratlc little person. and when he died
he would leave her the whole of his
large fortune. which should make her
comfortable for the rest of her life.
whether she married again or not.
Added to this, he knew she was not
cogniZant of the fortune he was pos
sessed of, and that her interest in him
was born entirely of her disinterested
love for all of the human race, her won
derful sympathy with suffering and a
noble self-abnegation. He admired and
respected her above all women, and
would have done so. had she been old
and ugly: but when a large-hearted
young man admires and respects wO-
man who is young. sympathetic, and
good-looking, with n thousand little
tricks of manner that are absolutely
charming, it generally happens that the
admiration deepens into affection, and
the respect into the warmest love. So
they were married very quietly. No
one thought it odd in any way or differ
ent from other marriages. Every one
in Eureka Springs was n stranger to ev-
cry one else; no one knew anything OF
his neighbor's home-life, or antecedents.
or cared to inquire. She took him un.
der her especial charge. and a strange
HONEYMOON il was. with never kiss CT
caress, and never q word of love, for
that was part of the business arrange
ment She had said:
..Of course you don't care anything
for me, nor for you, except as tine ply
scian cares for his patient. and there
is no use in pretending we do. so there
will be no making believe the love we
have not, and do not care to have. We
shall treat each other in every way ex
actly rs we have done before, except II!
YOU give up all these poisonous medi
cines you are taking, and leave your
cure in my hands.
I She was very much surprised wher
she found the lavish way in which .,
spent money. She suggested russian
bathroom, and soon he had it con
| slructed. She wished for this or thai
appliance to assist in his care; they
were each forthcoming.
!. She was i'm her element. There wa
her mother for proprie.y, and IL seem
ell as if she were at home. and here wa
this gentleman, pleasant and dntelli
gent. only an ordinary guest and
docile patient.
She got ali the books she could tint
on gas poisons OF all sorts. and entered
enthusiastically upon her life of expert
ment.
lone great thing" she said, lis Il
keep the mind in cheerful condition
and think as little as possible OF you
malady." So she sang for him, rea'
to him, entertained. starved, and ex