The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-02


little nervous by this time, and was anxious
70 get out of the darkness of tie street. It was
several minutes before the bell was
answered A footman opened the door Just
little ways, but, seeing who it was, i'm
mediately threw it open and allowed her to
enter.
where is Mrs. -7n asked the doctor
at once. In her roomT'
YES, ma'am." replied the footman
hesitatingly, as though undecided how he
ought 10 address her.
He looked at her curiously, as though
trying TO make out Just what sort of a
creature she was. 1t appeared incredible to
him that this good-looking woman, so
young and apparently inexperienced,
should be the one whom all the household
was waiting for 80 anxiously. The doctor
at once took off her macintosh, ruboers
and bat, and handed them to the fooJman
along with her umbrella. Taking her
black bag, she fastened rapidly upstairs to
the chamber of the patient
The house was one of the old-fashi0ned
arlstocratic mansions ON Gramercy park,
occupied by family that had lived there
for years and was socially and politically
prominent. In its interior it was magnih-
cent. The decorations and furnishings were
OF the most luxurious character. The hall
was dlmly lighted, and besides the foot
man TWO maids were waiting. They dis
cusSed the condition of their mistress in low
tones, and wondered that the doctor should
have come out all alone on such night.
''It do beat the dickens" said the foot
man, that a woman loike her should be
goin' out all alone in the middle Of such a
night as this. 1t wud take good deal to
take me out tonight, kin tell ye."
oh, doctors amt got no feelin's, any
way" replied one of the chambermaids.
sagely.
The entire floor, on which was the cham
Der of the patient, had been brightly
lighted, and servants were hurrying to and
fro carrying various things to her. She lay
propped up in bed surrounded by servants
and tended by her sister and mother-in-law,
while her husband kept pacing anxiously
up and down the room.
When the doctor came in all looked up
somewhat relieved. The mother and sister
received her rather frigidly, with an air
that plainly indicated their belief that she
might have been there sooner if she had
her hands warmly, and the wife looked
grateful.
II suppose / will be rather in the way
than otherwise now, !" said the sister,
YES, will need neither you nor your
mother" replied the doctor calmly, and.
turning to the husband, she said:
"You need not stay if you don't want to.
L Will call you IL need you"
"Unless you desire me to go will remain
he replied.
The sister and mother passed out of the
room at once, but the husband remained.
Without paying any further attention to
him, the doctor now devoted herself to the
patient, who seemed to have the utmost
confidence in her physician. The latter felt
her pulse, and questioned her little, and
seemed relieved to find that the situation
was no worse. She took some medicine out
of the little bag, and mixing up dose.
gave it to the woman. 1t must have had
sedative influence, for presently. while the
doctor sat beside her bedside, her features
smoothed out and became calm, and she
sank into gentle slumber.
When this occurred the doctor got up and
walked over to the husband, who was sit
ting in the shadow of the window, his hands
nervously clasped and his face still furrowed
with anxious wrinkles.
ut is not really 80 serious" said the doc
tor. "The worst is over. She conquered
the first attack by the strength Of her con-
stltution, and before there is a recurrence
she will be so well prepared for it that it
will have very little effect BY two days.
at the most, she will be out of all danger,
and, if she is carefully watched, there will
be no need of anxiety"
The man seemed TO accept the statement
dence, and his features lightened up very
much as she finished. He walked over and
looked at the calm and peaceful face of the
slumberer with an air Of great relief.
"You had better go and rest now" she
said to him. "The nurse and will watch
here, and if anything happens we will let
you know"
You look very tired" he said to her.
Hadn't you better rest and let me watchg'
Doctor lonUhpd Of hn
'Do you think" she said, ''that doctor
is going to rest while it is necessary to
watch the patient"
The man looked at her gratefully, and
was about to act upon her suggestion when
thought struck him.
"How did you get down hereg" he asked.
The doctor flushed little and turned
aside, as if to look at the patient, as she re-
piled:
81 walked"
"Who came with you2" asked the gentle
man in surprise.
81 came alone" she said.
He stared at her in utter Amusement.
Words crowded upon bis lips so quickly
that he was unable to utter what he had in
tended, and after collecting his thought a
moment he said:
What stupid idiot was! owe you
sincere apology, doctor, for not sending a
carriage for you, but didn't dream of such
thing. supposed, of course, that John
would at least wait and bring you down.
He was told to take the carriage in the first
place. My only excuse is the anxiety of the
moment that made me forget everything
but my poor wife"
30, don't speak of It." said the doctor
quietly. tits all over now. 1t wasn't very
pleasant while it lasted. of course, but doc
tors have to put up with such things occa-
sionally."
"And Doesn't she have the same fears
and emotions because she happens to be
physician?" asked the gentleman, smiling.
Perhaps" replied the doctor, smiling
also. But she mustn't show them when
they interfere with her duty"
He now withdrew, and the doctor, after
taking out some medicines and putting
them on little table near the bed, sank
down on a chair apd watched the patient.
The nurse, having attended to several little
things, was told that she could rest herself
in an armchair until she was wanted. The
doctor sat leaning forward, with her face in
her hands and her elbows on the arm of her
chair. She sat that way for long time,
that the patient was resting COM
although occasionally she tossed
about.
All feeling of sleep had left the doctor,
but she felt quite tired. AS the hours wore
slowly away the desire for sleep came back.
but by fastening her mind upon certain
plans that she had in view she managed to
keep awake. 1t was strong fight, and
several times it seemed as if she would have