The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-10

md in an incredibly short time the doc
or ahghted from his buggy ut the rude
ate and came in. Paus;ng only for a
5Orteous greeting ne hurried to the bed
5ide and examined his patient. He then
vent and stood By the hearth, looking
5hought4aiiy into the fire. A grave man
beyond his youtn, bat stil On the sunny
side Of life, with dns intellectual face
sympathetic eyes and lips; ore to trust
instinotively, the Hoda physician.
II fear, Mrs. Burton" he said al
length, in a voice which exactly suited
his face, that this is a very serious case.
The man is badly bruised from having
been knocked about among the logs.
YOu see, the boys told me. l asked them
few questions. 1t was wonderful es-
cape from death. But he may die yet
He is not very strong naturally, and he
must have been in that icy water a long
time. Has he no papers, nothing to
show WHO he is? He is past telling now,
and may remain so for some time"
There were some bills in his pockets
and little knife, nothing more"
Use the money as far as it will go.
Let the boys go to Orquay and get some
brandy. will furnish the medicine, as
I am in the habit of doing. This is hard
on you and your daughter, very hard,
but it would be certain death to attempt
his removal. cannot relieve you of the
care, but | can Of any anxiety in regard
to expenses. l will take that response
bility myself. and viii send you some
help in nursing"
jamie had been standing at the corner
Of the fireplace silent and attentive, with
pale face and compressed lips. doc
tor" she said at last, Il am going to take
care of him until he gets well or dies.
| shall watch him day and night, and ]
want no help"
Miss Benton" replied the doctor
gravely, "you risked your life last night
to save human being. 1t was noble
thing to do. The occasion called for
heroic action and you were equal to it,
but don't throw away your life or your
health unnecessarily; there would be
nothing praiseworthy in that"
II shouldn't do it for praise; am tired
of thinking about myself and hating the
people on the Sender" she answered i'm
petuously. II am glad that l have this
man to take care OF. want to work
hard and he is not like the rest.
by the rest l suppose you mean
these poor neighbOrs Of ours among the
bluffs. What have they done, l Won
der, to deserve your hatred? l think
have seen you holding their babies in
your arms when they were nearly dead
with fever; | think l have seen you
nursing and caring for my patients when
| trembled for your own safety. Do you
hate those whom you help to save from
death? do not, he added with a smile
''They hate me-" she answered bit
terly.
you are mistaken. They fail to I'M
derstand you. They feel that although
you are in one sense one of themselves
you live apart from them in thought
and feeling. Do you expect gratitude
when you sacrifice your comfort and en-
danger your health for them? l have
been a physician for fifteen years, Miss
Burton, and have found but few cases
of gratitude Ny patients are often too
poor to pay me, but they generally re-
gard themselves Us the injured parties in
the transaction and are seldom grateful;
indeed, | might say with you that they
hate me, but yet I love my work. Sue
cess is my greatest reward. l love to
save life, and SO do you.
''In regard to our patient here, [ can
understand why it IS more pleasant for
you to care for him. He is very hand
some, and as you saved his life you have
right to feel a great interest in him"
Il wonder if he lives ia Orquay?" said
jamie.
'No," replied the doctor decidedly,
"he would be as much out Of place in
Orquay as on the Sender Doubtless he
will be inquired after and found. In the
meantime we must take as good care of
him as we can. But be careful of your
own health and strength, Miss Burton,
and remember that the rich and hand
some can be ungrateful as well as the
poor and homely."
Day after day passed, with no change
in the patient save a gradual sinking.
At first "a few ueighbors, curious to see
the man saved ont Of the river by that
proud jamie Burton, came and offered
to help, but they looked 50 ague stricken
and woebegone, so obviously in need of
help themselves that Mrs. Burton, at
JAMES enrcaty, sent them away with
thanks, saying that they could do all
there was to - done. As to jamie the
tidss of life vera running high with her.
She seemed incapable of fatigue, and the
doctor on his daily visits looked upon her
with wonder Instead Of WEAKNESS there
was buoyancy. Ter face had lost its
pallor, and was blooming as if she had
partaken some tabled elixir Of life.
AS he watched her lowering over the
still unconscious man, with that grand
maternal look in her face 40 character
istic of all truly noble womsn when car
ing for the helpless OF suffering, he expe-
rienced a panS of anguish when he
thought what the awakening and reac-
ton might be.
He had better die" was the thought
Of the physician. than to live to break
tne heart OF such q woman. as 1 LeeI mat
he VIII. And yet he must not die if I
can save him. He must be restored.
Yet she viii die unless he returns her
love. 4 woman Is q strange creature