Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-07-25
THE DOCTORS TRIAL,

perhaps over the conversation of the
morning, for, looking up moment after
into the face of her brother in law. who
was turning over the evening paper, she
said:
"Why don't you marry, Harry2
have been thinking over YOUR strinr of
complaints, traceablc to YOUR bachelor
condition"
She almost started at the bitter scorn
1n her companions look and tone rs he
. answered her:
Marry Are you mocking me, Julia?
Who would marry me9''
lie rose ms he spoke, and the move
ment gave emphasis to his words. His
facc< Invested of its scornful look. was
not handsome, but lovely rs Il womnn's.
Clustering curls of dark brown hair
iell over Il high white forehead, and large
blue eyes, full OF Intelligence, were
: Shaded by long, thick lashes, darker
than the curling hair. The features
were perfectly chiseled; the straight
nose, full lips and delicate chin were al
most childlikc in their soft outlines; but
glancing from the face to the figure YOU
understood the cause of the bitter cues
ton .he asked.
Ffkh, the effects of fall when quite
youngi the spine was injured, and the
figure nature had intended to bn slipht
and graceful was terribly dcformed; one
Knee, too, was injured, and his gait was
slow and i;alting. Yet, despite his de-
formity, Dr. Chester was in full practice
as a physician, and beloved by all. His
patients declared that his soft hand
brought healing III its touch; his brother
physicians spoke highly of his knowledge
and skill, and the children stretched out
their arms 10 be taken into his, hushing
their cries when his soft, musical voice
met Aheir cars, or his gentle, plying face
bent'over them.
For II moment Mrs. Chester was silent.
then, laying her head on his arm, she
SAID:
II did not mean TO pain you, Harry;
love you very dearly my brother, and
sec you so universally beloved that |
spoke only as l felt. l wish to see YOU
happy, dear Harry, and I think YOU are
too sensitive. With such heart and
aalnd- y you can offer, any woman might
be proud to call you husband"
A soft, melancholy look crept over the
doctors face as his sister spoke; but he
shook his head sadly rs she ceased.
''No woman shall have her life en-
Filtered by the care of such poor Grip
pie rs ! am, Julia. 1 can bear my sor-
rows alone. One o'clock. Where can
Ralph be-"
''Hcrc," sand Mr.. Chester, entering
the room. "You should MT have waited
for me, Julin." And he proceeded to
remove his overcoat and furs. .sThc
cars were detained by the snow storm. y
"Come, let's to supper" said his wife,
after thu greeting was over. ~ sat up
to see fhat you had it. nice and hot.
Come, larry, you will join u.s."
''Not tonight. Good night"
And the doctor went slowly out of the
pnrlor. At the foot of the stairs his
brother joined him. One could scarcely
imagine II stronger contrast than the
brothers. Harry, stunted, thin, and de.
formed; Ralph, tall, broad-shouldcred,
hearty and strong.
"Iou forget that l have come home,
Harry"
And he lifted his brothers slight form
IN his strong arms and carried him I'd
the stairs. 1t was an old custom, for
the many stairs the doctor had to mount
in his professional duties tired him sadly.
and made this last one at night positively
painful.
Harry was accustomed to this, yet that
night, after he received his brothers
tender good night" he fastened his
door, and, bowling his head on his hands,
sobbcd as Il man sobs only in his OK
tremcst agony.
"NIafV! How could ever dream of
love with this crippled form, these
trembling limbs and this poor pale face?
But l love hcr-love her with all the
bitter agony of despair! And have
even thought she returned it-she, so
bright, so full of life. Poor fool 1, that
took pity for love! Pity! 1t is only
pity that makes her voice low and her
eyes dim for me. 1t is pity that checks
her dancing step and merry laugh-for
me. She pities me, and II love her
with all the wealth of mans whole
heart, touched for the first time"
The clock IN the distant stceplc rupr
out clearly in the frosty night the hours
VI tMo, -tilIce dlli iOuT, ana Stlll the
doctor sat with his head bowed in his
hands, communing with his own heart.
Mornings dawn still found him in the
chair, but the faint light fell upon his
upturncd face, closed eyes and motion
less form.
The agony of trial was over, his re-
solve taken, and b. slept. He awokc
calm and strong in his resolution to coz
quer his love, or, failing in that, to bury
it silently and deeply in the most secret
retesses of his heart.
The same bright sun that shonc on the
pure, placid face of the sleeping cripple
looked in at another window upon
different picture. Miss Lily Morton was
standing at her bedroom window look
/ ing At the soft, white mantle of snow
(which had fallen during tho night. The
! tiny bare feet that sank into the rich
carpet were white as the snow outside,
and the little figure was slender and
graceful.
Miss Lily, though belle and an heir
! esq, was no sluggard, and the first rays of
4 the sun on that bright winters morning