The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-20

pIoScIN0A COuAO w dpHAAOu WILL U1ubA W
man, it could to him. He was not larR
| man, indeed, he was undersized; but he wal
| broad shouldered and deep-chested, and
gave the impression of strength. Their,
was not much hair on the top Of his head
but he wore we'll trimmed, full beard O.
dark brown, slightly sprinkled with. gray
twinkle lurked in their corners. and hi
cheeks wore the ruddy glow of health. ]
say that he was we'll over fifty; in fact, b,
had almost touched the border line of sixty
but shouldn't have believed it if he haG
not assured me of the fact himself.
don't know what DR.. Bloodgood's exilil
perfectly clear conscience, and the knowl
edge that he did his duty and more, by his
fellow-men. There was never night toe
stormy, never patient too insignificant, tc
get the doctor out of his comfortable bed
He would not take bis horse out on thes.
faithfully all day, and he shall rest to-
night" he used to say, as he turned up hi
coat-collar, and, lantern in hand, started
alone to brave the storm. His wife remon-
strated, and begged him to send his assist.
ant at such times as these; but he always
said:
"Let the young man sleep; he'll have
and then I think il, will be great comfort
to old dame front to have me COME" And
off he would trudge, as cheerfully as though
he were going to clinic in his student
days.
/ saw that the doctor had got one of his
gloves off and that the other was coming
say?,'
story if you want it. Mrs. Williams wants
me to drop in and see her baby, when I am
passing that wav, and Miss Carver post
pones, for the fourth time, the cutting out
of a wen from her hand. and she'll have
made, too. It's astonishing how little
courage women have to bear little pain.
They are heroines when it comes to any
great operation, but they faint when you
take silver out of their finger. I don't
know when I've had an hour in the day
time to myself, and I'm nightly glad you
are here to help me enjoy it: should like
with the sun shining, so if you'll join me in
Whit. can furnish you with as good a
pipeful of Virginia leaf as you ever smoked.
An ex- patient of mine is sheep farmer, in
Virginia. and he keeps me supplied. Ah!''
said the DOCTOR. as we lighted our con-cobs,
there is solid comfort in this. often
wonder if those people who write against
smoking as dangerous habit have ever
smoked pipeful of such tobacco as this. -
The doctor closed his eyes and stretched
out his legs before the fire. place, where
there were few smolderinP embers, the
remains of an early wood fire; for the Octo-
Der morning had been a cool one.
Now" said the doctor, opening his eyes
and pressing the tobacco down in his pipe
with his tapering forefinger. II will tell you
all about the haunted clock"
''What an ingratiating title" said I. SIT
suggests one of Dickens's Christmas
stories.''
II have thought that myself" said the
doctor. "But if you suggest Dickens, my
am only going to tell you few facts, and
shall not attempt to emblish them. How's
the tobacco?"
Grand. haven't pulled on such pipe
full since | visited Judge Southlnayde at
Durham, three years ago." said l. people
at the north don't know what Durham to-
bacco is. Those old fellows down there are
too wise to part with the choice article.
But. come, unless you begin, I'll never get
some child will have swallowed pin, and
you will be sent for, post-haste.'
Every well, Them" said the Doctor. rub
bling his bald spot, thoughtfully, and then
olasping his hands behind his head. "You
remember Job Holloway, who kept an auc-
ton shop in Main street,
"And played the bass drum in the Bird
ington brass band?'
1.-THE same. Well, I told him one day
that the next time he came across q tall.
eight-day clock he must buy it for me, if it
could be had for a reasonable price.
haven't the modern taste for old things, but
had always had a tall clock in my office
until some Ons coaxed it away from me,
and I'd been rather homesick without it.
Time passed away. and I had forgotten all
about tho order. vhsn o0D asy inst old