The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1891-12-12

A lady lay on lounge in beauti-
ful mornIng-room. There were soft,
silken 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 thick eiderdown quilt thrown
over her. Her eyes were heavy. but
she could not sleep. Night after night
she had lain during the long hours
wide awake.
Physicians had pronounced her NAL
adv insomnia" but had done little to
relieve it. Drugs had brought her re-
lief for 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. chloral morphine-but she had an
honest horror of narcotics and she
feared TO trust herself with them.
And now her husband had brought
her a new doctor-a shabby, little old
man who had no great name nor even
a particular school. In fact he called
himself "healer." and you or would
h re branded him a 'quack."
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.
HeI husband approached her: My
dear, | am bringing you DR., --er DR..
-" The little man interrupted
'Oh. never mind; just call me doc
tor" and the lady actually raised her
ianguid head to look at the doctor"
He was bright-eyed old man with
great name of gray hair thrown back
from his forehead. and a long white
beard falling over his breast. His
clothes were old and threadbare. and
his boots rusty and red ut the toes. In
one hand he carried 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. anxiously
watching the doctors" face
The old man made few remarks
about the weather, glancing out at the
budding trees on the avenue then he
turned 10 his patient.
He did not feel her pulse nor .akas
anime her tongue-he looked steA
at her pale face with its hollow
and great dark circles about thu
then he nodded his head emphas
I'm! Nrs-worn-out. nervo#
much gayety last winter. perhN
sonnia. can't sleep AT ali. WeiH
that's bad'' muttered he. "A
leaned back ia uI> chair, Z
eyes, and SCENE la deep lnougN
Suddenly hc stated up. ="
am something of mind-reale,
am going to tell you what the
I these old-fashioned flowers VA
rought to your mind"
The lady had been looking at the
,unch of lilacs, but when he spoke she
urned toward the old man with half
unused smile; and in soft low voice
10 went on.
You are thinking of just such soft,
warm spring day rs this. won't say
low many years ago. but you are now
petally subtracting eight years from
rour present age To find the number
VI years between then and now. for
rou were years old upon that bright
,pring morning"
The lady looked up with amazement,
,ut she bowed and said: Yes you
are right
'1Of course am" said he cheerily;
i always am. Now. your father had
promised to take you for a weeks
Tisit to your grandmother's and you
we're to 20 on your birthday; but when
your birthday came your father found
hat there was some business which he
could not leave, and your mother was
expecting company. and so they let
gou 90 alone"
The lady raised up a little from her
pillows and fixed her eyes upon the
doctors" face. The man went on in
the same soft tones. 1T was your first
Journey alone, wasn't itp Yes; and
you were very proud to sit alone in
the seat and to throw kisses to your
tather and mother as the train moved
out. 1t was not far TO your grand
mothers, but it seemed ages to you
before you got to the little red depot
and saw your grandfather standing on
the platform. The conductor carried
your satchel out and you walked behind
him very straight and digniiied. When
grandfather found that you'd come
alone he said Bless mel didn't hep
Aud Won felt that somehow it was a
compliment. Then he said how you'd
grown; and Mr.. Smith, the station
master. said You don't mean to tell
me this IL Johns little gal! Well!
,allr and that seemed complimentary
,andpa let you drive old Pete
o-oraiad turned the corner. didn't
er t.sn grandma saw you COM
o}led out TO her that you
"a, she said Bless mel too.
% had kissed grandma.
nge your dress and put
,eeved pinafore. just as
e6I. your mother: then
o.