Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-03-28
HER OPPORTUNITY.


black AstrachaD cap, unfsetened her
cloak with quick, professional
air making the most of every
minute, drew off her arctics and sat down
before her cheerful open fire, with dis
eouraged sigh. A lady busily writing on
the other side of the room looked up,
with pen poised in mid air and mildly
interrogative arching OF the brows. She
knew all DR.. Mary's ways, and was dis
creetly silent.
The doctor sighed again, and gave the
fire an impatient poke. She knew the
nervous system, root and branch, yet had
berIittle tempers like any ordinary woman
without a scientific bias.
yes, l know what you're waiting for
Endora Blake. You are holding you pre-
oiors pen 'twixt heaven and earth, like
Mshomet's coffin, waiting until my wrath
chooses to explode. l suppose have in
terrupted the thread of your love story,
but as long as you descend on me for hints
from real life, you will have to take
them as they come"
Eudora turned her eyes slowly upon
her friend.
"a little tired, sren'5 you, dearW She
said meditatively. "You make 100 many
Visits in one day. Don't let your own
vital springs run down, trying to keep
other people 10 repair"
She dipped her pen in the inkstand,
and seribbled sentence or two.
Crying to keep them in repair! Yes,
that's Just the trouble" exclaimed DR..
Mary. 81 might try till the day of doom
and they would go on violating one by
gienic law after another, till 1t makes
ones soul sick within him. What do you
suppose / found Bridget Dolan doing
this gfternoouY Pat was dead drunk on
the bed, aud the was washing with her
two weeks-old baby tucked away in one
corner of the table, and breathing the
steam at the rate OF 30 aspirations a
miuute. Bridget herself looked hardly
able TO stand. To morrow they will send
for me post-haste 10 attend both mother
and child, and then Systematically disc.
hey every injunction give them. | wish
it were possible to fiud one human being
whom l could truly help"
She passed her shapely hands across
her forehead, and brushed back the short,
dark hair from temples to relieve the
nervous tension.
Eudora Blake came to the fire aud
spread her fingers to the blaze.
"The world is full of people to be
helped. You will find the right one
some day. Do you remember the sen
tence in Little Dorritf In our course
through life we meet the people who are
coming to meet us from many strange
places and by many strange roads; and
what Is set Us to DO to them; and what is
set them TO do to US will all be done"
THAT Is as solemn rs the tolling of a
funeral bell" said DR.. Mary. "What
overshaGowing things you do pick up
Eudoral | suppose 4 IT should be my
fate to administer a dose of poison to q
patient, should 30 il in spite of all my
care aud watch fitness. 1t will all be done.
1t will all be done"
She lighted the gas and made tea for
Eud1ra and chocolate for herself. They
kept house together to save expense, and
for the pleasure of each others company,
taking turns at the simple household
duties. The romance of life had faded
out of both, and now they were sober
women with purpose.
DR.. Mary's Office was in the neighbor
hood Of Rugg's court. The place had
been selected with purpose. 1.-The rich
have physicians enough" said the doctor,
~ will minister among those who faint
by the wayside in sight of priests and
Levites."
1t must not be understood that DR.,
Mary said this in any self-religious or
oomplacent spirit. II was only her fgur-
alive way of putting things.
Riggs court was of the CRIME, grimy
It's morals were Rs far removed from i'm
maculate wilderness as we're the wTetched
vestmeDts which fiuttered on long lines
from window TO window when Rugg'
court had a washing day. Yet Dr.. Mary
did not always despair.
The day after this sketch begins, she
was walking toward her Office, when hei
attention was drawn to a woman stsgger-
ing in front Of her, aud holding at inter
walls 10 the area ratings OF the dingy
tenements. The doctor quickened her
pace. 1t was such an old, old story; yet
her heart yesrned over this poor tossed
creature. She laid her hand on the won
ans arm and said
My friend"
The woman turRed upon her such &
face as Marian Erie must have shown tC
her tormentors when as she tells Aurorc
Leigh.
They feared my eyes and loosed me, a;
boys might
A mad dog which they had tortured"
face in which the hollow cheeks famed
with fever, and the eyes CLEANED with {
woetul desperate light.
I'm not drunk. Don't think 1t. In
-ouly-starviuP
Yes" said Dr.. Mary, Il know it
now
They were bat a few steps from the Of
hcs, and she supported the trembling
hgure till she had seated the woman il
The easy chair before the Ere.
'4ussavs Ito the.little Swedish sergan
gitll run to the Getting house around tn
corner for a bowl Of hot coffee and I
quart of oyster broth as quickly 81 pos
si5ie- Take this purse. l can't wait t
count the money!
Ise blue eyed, fs1en-braided Nors'
maiden flew 20 do her mistress bidding
and the doctor chafed the hands of tn
woman, who had tainted outright. TIT
tood and driok restored her soant.
strength. aud she gezed into the Doctor
tacs Ike one brought back from the grave