The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-03-29

gentleman when you see one. Mr..
Maxwell is gentleman in every sense
of the word
Then, Dan, if you could have heard
that fellow laughter moment he
could not speak; and | was just leaving
the room when he managed to gasp
out: Mr.. Keith, you have been the vic
tim of a practical joke. 1t is decided
case of mistaken identity, l am sure;
for this Tom Maxwell is a drunken,
well-known brniser of the West side.
This is the second time he has come
here suffering from injuries received in
some street brawl.'
1T was my turn now to beg the young
doctors pardon, and we shook hands
heartily in honor of the explanation. 1t
was one of Streeter's jokes, and l was
an April Fool and a mad one, can
tell you. Streeter's story was true, how
ever, as far as names went; for when
the fellow was picked up, not far from
the hospital, he was yelling Justify for
Phil, Phil tough who had knocked
him down and had since been sent up
for six months. l found the young doc.
tor very clever and entertaining, and
| when he proposed l should take mz--siicsii s
tour of hospital inspection consentd
''If you have never been to st. Luke,
or any other hospital, just go, and pu
will agree with me that they are modls
Of neatness and efficiency, as far as oe
could judge, in every department. l
saw the whole business; went into he
operating-room, examined the surgical
instruments and every thing of interest.
In the mems ward had the pleasureof
seeing my friend, Tom Maxwell,
rough, read-headed. coarse-featured hl-
low as ever you saw. The doctor stopped
by his cot wished him good afternoon,
and asked how he felt
"Oh, we'll enough, dochter, I'll be-
about agin soon, and won't punch Phil
for this thing! You're sure he's sent
up?' he asked, with vicious twinkle
of his little eyes. We laughed and
passed on; l had seen enough of the man
l had been anxious to call upon.
Gas we came out into the chapel gal
lery we could look across and see the
children playing in their ward. Come,
Mr.. Keith, you might as well see the
little things. Their ward is the best
of all The doctor was an enthusiast
over children, and we were soon among
them. 1t was pitiful sight to see
| some of the little sufferers; others were
| playing about, and for all the doctor
had some pleasant word.
I'm little side room was a poor child,
perched in high chair, and suffering
from some skin disease. A nurse was
with him, and turned away without
second look, but the doctor stopped to
speak to them both. heard him say:
is Miss Lent still indisposed? / fear;
Miss Gordon, you are overtaxing your
| strength
oh no, doctor, not bit; you know
I am strong was the reply.
'There was something very fafnfIlaf
in those sweet tones, and / turned to
see my lost Mary Gordon in nurses
dress-a ministering angel to that re-
pulsive little object. To the doctors
amazement we were grasping hands.
and questions and answers followed in
quick succession. She was graduated
trained nurse when l met her, and, BY
some strange and unusual good fortune,
she had obtained position at st. Luke's
in the place of one of the sisterhood,
who was i'll.
II suppose you sac the drift of affairs
after that, Dan. blessed Streeter for
making an April FooP of me, and I set
Maxwell up in business after he recov-
cred from his injuries, for he was the
original cause of my good fortune. I
dined the young doctor, I endowed a
bed in the hospital, mended my ways
in every respect, and ended all by, gain
ing Mary Gordon's consent to give nm
trained nursing as a profession, and to
marry me on the next First of April,
There is love-story in nutshell.
What do you think of it?"
"Not bad one at ALL" answered Dan.
81 think Ill call on Miss Darlington
and give her this little piece of red fam
nel."
He laughed as he rose, and Phil said:
81 wish you good luckl' and then. as
Dan walked away, he settled himself to
dream little of his sweet wife and baby
daughter, who were far away on that
First of April.-Mary Scott Boyd. In
Demorest's Monthly.