The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-07-30
4 HEALER "

4 "IIEALER.' y
! a lady lay on lounge in beauli-
| full n.Ornlng-room. There were soft.
Silkcn pillows arranged about her; and
although it was balmv spring morn
| ing and the breeze which came through
| the open window was soft and warm.
she had Il thick eiderdown quilt thrown
over her. Her eyes We're heavy, but
She could not sleep. Night after night
she had lain during the long hours
wide awake.
Physicians had pronounced her NAL
ady "insomnia, but had done little to
relieve it. Drugs had brought her re-
lief for a time. but they soon lost their
effect. She had tried them all -
brOmideS sulfonal. that queer drug
with a name like one of Ouida's nov
els, choral, morphinc-but she had an
honest horror Of narcotics and she
feared to trust herself with them.
And now her husband had brought
her new doctoi-a shabby. little old
man who had no great name nor even
n particular school. In fact. he called
himself "hpalcr" and YOU or | would
The lady glanced up as the two men
entered the room, and she was con-
scious Of wondering where on earth
her husband had picked the man up.
Even that was something; she had not
had enough interest of late even to
wonder about anything.
Her husband approached her: My
dear, | am bringing YOU DR.. -cr-Dr.
-' The little man interrupted
"Oh, never mind; just call me doc
tor, " and the lady actually raised her
languid head TO look at the doctor"
He was bright-cycd old man with a
great name Of gray hair thrown back
from his forehead. and a long white
beard falling over his breast. His
clothes were old and tlucadbare, and
his boots rusty and red at the toes. In
one hand he carried a carefully brush
ed hat Of an ancient style. and in the
other huge bunch of great, fragrant
lilac blossoms.
He sat down in the chair offered
him, facing his patient, and her hus-
band seated himself near auXiouSly
Watching tie "doctor's' face.
The old man made 4 few remarks
about the weather. glancing out ut the
budding trees on the avenue, then he
turned to his patient.
He did not feel her pulse nor cx-
anime her tonCue-he looked steadily
at her pale lace with its hollow cheeks
and great dark circles about the eyes,
then he nodded his mead emphaticallv.
I'm. yes-worn-out nervous: too
much gayety last winter, perhaps; in
somnia. can't sleep at all. Well. well!
that's bad!' muttcrcd he Tnen he
leaned back in his chair closed his
eyes. and seemed in deep thought
Suddenly he started up. Madam.
/ am something Of mindrea'ler, aud
| am going 10 tell yoa what the odor
Of these old-fashioncd flowers has
brought to your mind"
The lady had been looking at the
bunch Of llacs. but when he spoke she
turned toward the old man with Il half
amused smile: and in soft, low voice
he went on.
You are thinking of just such Il soft,
warm spring day rs this, | won't say
how many wears ago. but YOU are now
metallv Sub.racting eight years from
your present are to find the number
vCu were wears old upon that bright
spring morning
The lady looked up with amazcment,
but she bowed and said: Yes, you
are right"
'Of course l am" said he checrily;
Il always am. Now, your father had
promised to take YOU for n weeks
visit to your grandmother's, and you
were to 90 on your birthday; but when
Your birthday came Your father found
that there was some business which he
could not leave. and your mother was
expecting company, and SO they lc:
you 70 alone
The lady raised up q little from her
pillows and fixed her eyes upon the
"d0ctOr'Sn face. The man went on in
the same soft tones. 1T was your first
Journey alone. wasn't it? Yes; and
YOU were very proud to sit alone in
the seat and to throw kisses 10 your
father and mother rs the train moved
ont. 1t was not far TO your grand
mothers. bat it seemed ages to you
before YOU got to the little red depot
and saw YOUR grandfather standing on
the platform. The conductor carried
him very straight and digniiied. When
grandfather found that you'd come
alone he said Bless met didn't hep
Aud YOU felt that somehow it was a
compliment Then lie said how you'd
grown; aud Mr.. Smith, the station
master. said You don't mean TO tell
me this is Johns little gal! Weui
wellr and that seemed complimentary
too.
Grandpa let You drive old Pete
after YOU had turned the corner didn't
he? And when grandma saw you COM
ing and YOU called out 10 her that you
had come aicnc she said Bless me!' too.
After You had kissed grandma.
you ran to change your dress and put
on Your long-slccved pinaforc, just rs
/ you had promised your motheri then
/ YOU went to see if you couldn't help
/ grandma get dinner. bat she said she'd
/ rather YOU ran out of doors-so you
I went out int the backyard.
That backyard OF grandma's; was
there ever such delightful plaeei
| There was the Smokehnuse first of all,