Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-10-02

would be alone on the great plain with
no one near to offer aid or speak con-
selling word.
Tie agony of that hour was too great
for her, and her feeble frame sank
under it. The dread disease that had
long been stealing into her system and
undermining her constitution, the ter
rible malaria of the west, made itself
master of it's victim, and when John re-
turned home he found his wife burning
with fever, while her eyes roamed
about deliriously.
A doctor was summoned Immediately,
and when he came and examined his
patient, he shook his head ominously.
''It is a bad case" he said, "a very
bad case. The disease has been grow
ing in her system for months, and she
is thoroughly impregnated with it. 1t
will take long time to eradicate it,
and it may be several months before
she is able to go about. 1 am afraid
She has suffered great deal mentally,
for her mind appears to be broken
down. 1t is bad case at any rate, and
she ought to have the best of care, and
good nursing"
John sat a long time with his face
buried in his hands before he made any
reply. Then, looking up, he said:
Great God, doctor! What is it you
say? Is it possible have brought the
best and noblest of women to this? Oh,
it can't be so bad! She cannot be in
such dangerl You can! you must save
her!"
''Well! well!' cried the doctor, who,
by the way, was as kind and generous
an old soul as ever lived, ''dont get ex-
cited Green. 1t is not so bad as that.
Didn't l say she would get along all
right, only it would take long time to
bring her through"
YES, yes, but you said she must have
good care and attention, and 1 have no
way of procuring them for her. How
can get them, doctor, when 1 haven't
dollar in the world?"
For little while the old physician
remained silent. This state of affairs
was nothing new to him, for he met
with similar cases almost every day
now in his practice, but he was not
Injured to it, and each new case APP
pealed to his sympathy and touched his
heart.
You can get some means from your
friends to tide you over this spell, can't
you?" the doctor asked. "From your
relatives or hcrs?"
mo, it is useless to think of that,
Doctor" John replied as he slowly and
sadly shook his head. 1--WE have no
friends to call on for aid, and both my
parents and hers have cut us adrift and
left us to stem the tide alone. Her
father is rich, but he denounced and
lisOwncd her when she and married.
and from that day to this he has not
spoken to her. She is dead to him.
but surely, Green" the old doctor
urged, Sin case like this he would not
maintain such unnatural and unfathcr
ly feelings. He cannot be so hard and
inhuman as to let her suffer when he
has it in his power to prevent it. Why,
think of it, man, that would be simply
terrible. 1t would be heathenish. 1t
would be worse than brutal, and surely
no Christian man would be so hard rs
that"
II fear it would do 40 good to appeal
to him." John replied 81 don't know
what to do, doctor, I'm sure. My poor
wife must have attention, but I am not
able to even so much as pay you for
your attendance"
''Never mind about me, Green" the
old doctor replied. 'Don'tworry about
my pay. I'll attend her and do what
ever is in my power to benefit her, and
you can pay me when you are able.
There won't be any trouble on that
score"
John wcpt like a child at these words.
1t was the first time he had heard such
for three or four long years, and he had
come to believe all mankind hcartless.
He had felt all alone in the world and
thought that of all the millions of souls
on earth, not one had feeling of sym
pathy for himself and family. And now
to meet with such kindness, and to
hear such generous language from the
| lips of a stranger, touched Johns heart
deeply. He reached out and took the