Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-04-10
DR.. DAPSON.
by OPIE P. READ.

The following confessions of Zeb. W.
Teal were presented TO me by the author
1t doesn't make any difference where l
was born or where | was reared. am
the proprietor of grocery store, and by
A closeness that involved much self-sac-
rifce l have managed to buy home;
but this can be of no interest to any one
who may read these confessions. lmuSt
have been thirty-fve years old before the
thought that ought to marry some gen
tie and confding woman occurred to me.
l had never gone into society and coDse-
quently knew but few women, and those
whom did know had haggled so much
over the price Of sugar or dried Goldfish
that the thought of marrying them was
a shock to my fancy. was at that time
living in large city and boarded at
house situated several miles from my
place of business. One day while going
home on a horse car, l noticed a woman
sitting opposite me. OF course, l noticed
women every day, but there was some
thing about this woman that especially
attracted me. Her face was not impress
sively handsome, but there was an intel
lectual cast about it, an evidence of cul.
tivation that l could not help admiring.
l must have gazed at her, indeed, i know
that did but she did not appear to take
anv notice of me. The next evening
when started home, there she was again
on the car. l regarded this as fortu-
nate, but was compelled to content my
self with simply looking at her. Just
before getting off, asked the driver if
he knew her name, but he said that he
did not. The next evening when |
started home, l was disappointed in not
finding her, and l got off and waited for
the next car, but l did not see her.
One night | was suddenly taken i'll Of
pneumonia. One of the boarders was
dispatched for doctor, and was in-
structed to get the nearest one. Shortly
afterward the messenger returned with
the woman whom had gazed at on the
car.
sis it possible that you are a doctOrl"
1 asked.
"It is not only possible" she an
swered, smiling, 'but it is an established
fact"
81 am glad to see you again, at any
rate"
"See me again."
"Yes, for Twas disappointed when l
found that you we're rot on the car the
other evening"
II don't remember having seen you
before, she replied. l was unreasonable
enough to allow sharp sting to enter
my pride. She had not even noticed
NE. She felt my. pulse, wrote a pre-.
scrption and said that she would call
again the next day. She came early at
morning and declared that was much
better.
"But l think you'd better come again, "
said l. "Pneumonia is a tricky disease,
you know. had friend that was pro-
nounced cured, and the doctor ceased
his visits and my friend died"
81 have known patient 10 die before
the doctors visits ceased" she re-
sponded, smiling in a way half pro-
fessional and half woman.
"But you don't think that am in
similar danger, do yOul" l asked, somc-
what alarmed, for courage was never
numbered among my virtues.
"Ob, there is no cause for immediate
alarm, she answered. 81 will call again
tomorrow"
'Canf you come this eveningl"
"That would not be necessary"
'But can't you come any wayl L
rather like the society of doctors. /
know great many physicians -
"What physicians do you knowl' she
asked. -
That somewhat stumped me. l had
never been sick before, and as was
humble If lot a modest grocer, knew