Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-06-27
THE RUSSIAN DOCTOR.
IL zrtsre, erpi RFsolnniitic Story
from Real Lifo.

EADAPrED FROM THE GERMAN OF NINE
ELISE PoREEl
the table. "He will probably return
tomorrow or the day after"
II am glad he is away said Mari
anne. ~ will have his chamber
thoroughly cleaned"
Desiree turned pale.
"He must have gone in the night"
she said. ''Iwas awake very early, but
did not hear the slightest sound in the
house"
1--WE need not trouble ourselves if he
stays away week." remarked Mari
anne, coolly.
"Uncle, you are ill!' cried Desiree,
suddenly, and, bending over him, she
grasped his hand. ''You look as if you
had had bad night"
~ have not slept" he answered, with
faint smile. II have been kept
awake by many anxieties. shall leave
directly for the consultation"
you will not renew your practice
at time. like thisP" asked Marianne,
in terror. Think of yourself and of
us. am MORALLY afraid of typhus."
at would be an unworthy physician
who thought of himself in such crisis.
Are you afraid, PapillonP'
Eyes, very much so," she said,
blushing. as if in shame at her weak
ness. "But if one loved needed my
help as nurse should not hesitate to
give it."
The doctor, on his return at noon from
the consultation, looked grave and anx-
ious.
1--WE hope that in town the disease
will be confined to isolated cases." he
said; "but in the outlying villages it has
become epidemic. You will see but
little of me. must do all can, and
would like my meals at as early an
hour as possible"
All at once Desiree laid her hand
upon his arm, and gazing intently into
his face, said, with trcmulous voice:
Uncle, do you think our guest has
taken the route to the villages?"
A sudden pain as from some sharp
instrument shot through the doctors
heart, but he answered, calmly:
"That is scarce imaginable. The
picturesque region Ussikow frequents
for sketching lies eastwardly from here.
The epidemic RACES in the villages to
the west. He may return this evening""
He did not come this night-or the
day following. Arnim was sure that if
any thing had happened some word
would have been sent. Marianne did
not suffer a moments anxiety, but
Desiree wandered restlessly about the
garden and terrace, gazing often down
the forest path for some glimpse of the
absent one.
CONNIE lie jour me dure
Passer loin do toir'
echoed constant refrain in her heart
though the lips we're silent. 1t seemed
already months since he went away.
The doctor plunged into his practice
with feverish ardor. 1t came as God
send to divert his thoughts. The viru-
lent cases in the town increased rapid
~. For the first time the destroying
angel of pestilencc had invaded this
peaceful valley. The little hospital
soon overlooked. There was urgent
need of nurses. Solitary case of self.
sacrifice, displayed l., contrast the
egotism of human nature in its
appalling nakedness. The general
motto was "Let him save him
self who canr' Abroad, the doc
tors energies were taxed to the
utmost, his heart wrung by the spec
tacle of human misery; at home he met
only anxious faces. Marianne made ne
concealment of her terror; Desiree
fitted around pale and silent but will
look of strange foreboding in hel
eyes. Ivan in his bewilderment brok'
almost every dish he touched, ant
turned things upside down. His CRANE
preventative against disease was
draught of whisky. Kathe, the cook
believed every half hour that she hal
an attack of the murderous fever, ant
ran bowling to her mistress. Sh
wanted the doctor constantly on hand
and did not see why he could not pas
his whole time in the vicinity of he
kitchen. Why should he run afte
strangers and leave his own household
in the lurchP Arnim, at the incessan
entreaty of his cousin, had prescribe
drops as preventive. She scarce a.
lowed the vial out Of her hand. Sacr
fetal clouds OF smoke arose from ever
room in the house but the doctor
study. Here, at his express command
the wild waves of Marianne's fumiga
4 ton fever were stayed.
. IF it allays your fears, do what 20
will," he said, ''only let my stud
= alone"
. 1t was remarkable how people of a
conditions seeking help besieged til
house of the Russian doctor. The rel
utation of his skill, his goodness an
unselfishness spread like wildfire. H
door-bell rang constantly day an
night. He was kept so busy that /
had scarce time to think of Hilmar