The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-11-21

| ClCo b"NhhAth WV
mischief. but her face sobeTed when DR.
Tuttle vigorously mopping his brow, ap
preached and gravely thanked her fol
the pleasure he had just endured.
Miss Monroe was said to have mar
vellous adaptabiliry by her plain friends
o hers who had the right of being no
unenviouS of her popularity claimed
that she was wofully lacking in indie
pendence of character, or else she was {
downright cCquetle. Whatever the
truth, there were certainly halt a-ioZ IN
men radically different in character and
in tastes each of whom would have
sworn that she was The one woman who
was absolutely congenial with him IL
every particular; and at the end Of the
evening Doctors Tuttle and Cox wer'
among them.
Little was said as the two dcctorI
drove home that night, and as they cal
before the fire bt tn were still silent anc
thoughtful.
"She is beautiful" said DIR. Tuttlt
presently, almost as if talking 10 him.
self.
"Yes, she is," the other answered ab-
sent mindedly. Neither seemed aware
that nobody's name was mentioned.
II like her.. said DR.. Tuttle fervently
DIR. Cox was startled from his reverie
He looked up in surprise. 'GoUd night
DAN" he said, abruptly.
Good night. Tom"
Then they shook hands as they always
did and went to bed.
Four nights later DIR. Cox was adjust
ing tie with unusual care. 81 au
going to the Monroes', Dan" said he.
Are yUur-a pause-"Well, guest
I'll go too"
DR.. Cox turned and stared at HE littlf
partner again.
"All right" he said.
They went together, and again ano
again they went together. They never
spoke of the young lady, but t under
standing between them was no less per
feet because tacit. Once DR.. Cox hap
pened to call alone. He deemed hit
duty the next morning quietly 10 an
nounce the fact to HE partner. A few
days later DIR. Tuttle called alone, anc
after that they Devtr went together
only once.
About ten o'tl pck at night of day or
which DR.. Tuttle returned from visit
some time earlier than he had been ex
pected, there was a violent ring at the
door.bell II turned ou to be messen
ger with a summons for DR.. Cox tC
come in haze to Cambridge Place, Mrs
Monroe's number.
Both doctors sprang to their feet
Perhaps Marion was Ill
They cont know you are here, Dan,
said Or. G x seiz ng his hat and gloves,
Heavens ! he added, have just let
the coachman go away. Will you step
around 10 the stable ?"
1--WE haven't time" interrupted DR..
TuttIe quietly. "Pll drive you myself ,
But"
"Never mind'-a little grimly--"it
isn't the first time"
He hal already gone to the closet and
pulled out the lOng-disused livery. Per
haps DIR. Cox saw that his partner want
ed to go; at any rate he objected nc
more, and in few minutes they were
Gathering over the cubble-stones,
1T anything serious is the matter
with her," said DR.. Tuttie, as he drew
up to let the big doctor out, ''come at
once and let me know"
"All right"
A few moments after DR.. Cox went
into the house the door again opened
and servant appeared.
Come in here" he called imperative
ly to DR.. Tuttle. The doctor wants
you. Hurry up; don't be clumsy" he
added, as the Ut lie doctor scrambled
from the box so hastily that he stumbled
and fell.
Within he found Mrs. Monroe lying
on couch, pale aud apparently lifeless.
"There's nobody at home," said DR..
Cox hurridly, You won't be recog-
nized. She has fallen and cut an artery
l want you to help me tie it,"
They had scarcely finished dressing
the wound when there was a slight noise
in the hall way, and MarIon's voice was
heard almost in well.
Good heavens !" exclaimed the little
doctor in despair, lot king wildly around
for some avenue of escape. He threw
back his coat with one hand, grasped
his false bead with the other, and ap-
parently was about to drag them both
of " men the door was thrown open and
Marion appeared with a white, fright
eneo face. She paid no attention to the
two mtn, but with wraps tumbling from
her shoulders in confusion, rushed TO the
couch where her mother lay and kneeled
beside it,
20, mother, mother |" she moaned.
kissing the unconscious face. 20, doc
tor, will she die ?"
Your mother lie perfectly SAFE" said
DIR. Cox, gently. She has simply tainted
from the loss of blood"
Marion paid no attention to what he
said. but kept on moaning incoherently
DR.. Tuttle had taken advantage OF the
confusion and slipped into the hallway.
His hand was on the street-door knob,
when he saw Marion Iise and approach
DR.. Cox. Some horrible foreboding held
him.
you see am quite calm now" she
said, tremblngly. trying to stop her
tears with handkerchief. You must
tell me. Gao bear it, hut oh, doctor,
don't say that she will die
Il assure you, Miss Mari)n," said DR..
Cox, "that your mother Is in no danger
at all. 1t might have been serious, but
luckily we arrived just in time"
"Oh know" interrupted the girl,
impetuously. You saved her--you are
30 modest-but l know. How can /
ever thank you ? Oh | l am so happy
10 think that you, oh, doctor" With
eyes brimming with tears aud arms al
most uplifed the grateful girl started
toward him. Then she stopped her face
crimsoned and she turned hastily
through the door, almost brushing
against the poor little Tuttle, who bad
heard and witnessed everything. The
knob turned and with grOan he went
down the steps and mounted the box.
In few minutes DIR. Cox appeared.
AS they drove away, momentary i'm
pulse to drive the coupe against the
curbstone, a gas-post, or do some other
terrible thing, went through the little
doctors mind, but before they had gone
three blocks, he was thinking the mat
ter over calmly.
"We can't be together now," he said
to himself. II couldn't stand IL. The
firm must dissolve. Tom will take an
other partner-not a medical practition
Grand both par tners and names will
become one." He smiled grimly as thii
Joke forced itself into his mind and then
he fell TO thinking OF the only disagree
ment that he could remember between
them, 1t was while they were at col
lege, and 1t had lasted two wrelched
days. BE remembered how painfully
polite they we're to each other, and how
on the second day, as they sat in theiI
room. which was darkened by twilight
his chum had come up behind him-hC
could feel the hand on his shoulder now
and said: This won't do. DAN" Their
they had grasped hands joyfully, and
had gone out with their arms around
each other like two school girls. The
little doctor brushed bis eyes roughly.
When the two reached their rooms
DIR. Tuttle turned impulsively to hil
partner and thrust out his hand. tom,
he said, slowly and bravely, 81 congrat'