The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-05-07
THE DOCTORS TRIAL.

MIS-. CneSter nad nnlShed the tiny
stockings. and folding her hands, leaned
back in her easy chair and fell to musing,
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 string of
complaints, traceable to your bachelor
condition"
She almost started at the bitter scorn
in her companions look and tone as he
answered her:
Marry! Are you mocking me, Julia?
Who would marry me?"
He rose as he spoke, and the move
-ment gave emphasis to his words. His
face, divested of its scornful look, was
not handsome, but lovely as a woman's.
Clustering curls of dark brown hair
fell over a 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 childlike in their soft outlines; but
glancing from the face to the figure you
understood the cause of the bitter ques-
tion he asked.
From the effects of a fall when quite
young, the spine was injured, and the
figure nature had intended to be slight
and graceful was terribly deformed; one
knee, too, was injured, and his gait was
slow and halting. Yet, despite his de-
formity, DR.. Chester was in full practice
as physician, and beloved by all. His
patients declared that his soft hand
brought healing IN its touch; his brother
physicians spoke highly Of his knowledge
aid skill, and the children stretched out
their arms to be taken into his, hushing
their cries when his soft, musical voice
net their ears, or his gentle, plying face
bent over them.
For a moment Mrs. Chester was silent,
then, laying her head on his arm, she
said:
"I'did not mean to pain you, Harry;
love you very dearly, my brother, and
see you so universally beloved that l
spoke only as felt. I wish to see you
happy, dear Harry, and 1 think you are
too sensitive. With such a heart and
mind as 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 as she ceased.
s'No woman shall have her life en-
bittered by the care of such poor Grip
pie as I am, Julia. I can bear my sor-
rows alone. One o'clock. Where can
Ralph be-"
''Here," said Mr.. Chester, entering
the room. "You should not have waited
for me, Julia" And he proceeded to
remove his overcoat aud furs. "The
cars were detained by the snow storm. u
"Come, let's to supper" said his wife,
after the greeting was over. 81 sat up
to see that you had it, nice and hot.
Come, Harry, you will join u.s."
"Not tonight. Goodnight"
And the doctor went slowly out of the
parlor. At the foot of the stairs his
brother joined him. One could scarcely
imagine a stronger contrast than the
brothers. Harry, stunted, thin, and de-
formed: Ralph, tall, broad -shouldered,
hearty and strong.
"You forget that have come home,
Harry"
And he lifted his brothers ight form
in his strong arms and carried him up
the stairs. It 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 brother
tender "good night" he fastened his
door, and, bowing his head on his hands,
sobbed as man sobs only in his ex-
tremest agony.
MARY! How could I ever dream of
love with this crippled form, these
trembling limbs and this poor pale face?
But love her-love her with all the
bitter agony of despair! And I have
even thought she returned it-she, so
bright, so full of life. Poor fool I, 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 laughter
me. She pities me, and IL love her
with all the wealth of mans whole
heart, touched for the first time"
The clock In the distant steeple rung
out clearly in the frosty night the hours
of two, three and four, and still 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
upturned face, closed eyes and motion
less form.
The agony of trial was over, his re-
solve taken, and he slept. He awokc
calm and strong in his resolution to con-
ouer his love, or, failing in that, to bury
it silently and deeply in tie most secret
recesses Of his heart.
The same bright sun that shone on the
pure, placid face of the sleeping cripple
looked in at another window upon a
different picture. Miss Lily Morton was
standing at her bedroom window look
ing az the soft, white mantle of snow
which had fallen during the night. The
tiny bare feet that sank into the rich
carpet were white as the snow outside,
aud the little figure was slender and
graceful.