The Coconino sun. [volume] (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1891-1891, 1891-07-04
"NUMBER Y'WENTY-NINE"


2oomed out of the fog as the doctor,
brougham drew up with jerk under
the portioo, Against the dark linins
OF the carriage the set nee of q mar
inside waS visible by the light of q
portable lamp. 1t was the face OF q
man whose mind is not at ease
Sir Kenneth Brandon was one OF the
few London doctors whose names are
familiar abroad, He had made one
big discovery, he had done a great deal
OF useful work, and at so he was al
ready making a big Income. His re-
cent knighthood was popular-not
only amoag his patients but among his
professional brethren--and his dinners
were among the incest IN the town.
AND yet many people-and who
Knows? perhaps Sir Kenneth himself
missed a hostess smile a woman's
winning phrases, at his brilliant din
ners table in Winpole street Some.
umes--if he had time TO think--per~
maps the great physician might have
regretted the pretty, bad.tempered,
foolish vile, whom, no had scolded and
neglected in the old days; the child
Tor she was little rlore-who had final
ly left their dingv suburban villa for
good; TIE girl he might have saved be-
Tore &c was too late,--for at last she had
iei' his house ate, one OF their miser-
able, sordid squabbles, and had gone
back to her father, and it was only
after humiliating scene with her nus
band that she had finally disappeared,
and she had nevel, come back. The
police had been unable TO find trace
OF her, beyond that she had first gone
Co Spain with some man who was I'M
known to him. After that all was a
blank. To all intents and purposes
his wife was as one who is dead.
Inside the large hall a lady was
already waiting for nina fair, high
bred face with something of the look
OF a student modernized by slightly
ocred air, such as Is often seen in a
cultivated woman Of the world. Lady
Sibthorpe was widow OF leisure, and
was internationally interested in va
riety Of questions. Just now. for in
stance, she was interested in the hos
pital question, and at a dinner party
the night before Sir Kenneth had vol
unteered TO explain the internal work.
ing OF the "Whitechapel." The doctor
never missed an opportunity OF being
useful TO Lady Sibthorpe; she was just
the woman he would have asked to be
his wife, il only
They met as people meet who are
more than Interested in each other.
For some time past Lady Sibthorpe
had known that he liked her, and Tor
some time past she had almost made
up her mind that she might accept
him. But there was no hurry; they
were both OF a certain age; they both
had their occupations, their affairs.
And now they turned up the stone
staircase together, on their way to
the woman's wards. Lady Sibthorpe
paused for an instant as they passed
the operating thOater. The doors
were closed. Outside, two porters
were waiting with a stretcher. -
Lady Sibthorpe was not emotional, but
she shivered little as she passed on.
In the Catherine ward" the fifty
blue coverleted beds effaced themselves
in the gloom Of the long room. Here
and there the freight illumined the
bland, Unconditional features OF a nurse
under her smooth hair and with cap
the sexless features Of a woman who
has learned to witness suffering with
out sigh.
On seeing Sir Kenneth Brandon Sis
ter Catherine hurried forward as SUI
perintendent OF the ward.
The doctor introduced the two wo-
men to each other, and for while
Lady Sibthorpe, notebook in hand, was
absorbed with statistics.
Now take me around to your pa
tients, Sir Kenneth" she said when
she had done.
Sister Catherine moved toward. |
They stopped at every bed. Lady Sib-
thorpe asked questions in a business
like way, and Sir Kenneth, whose
hospital manner" was proverbial,
addressed the patients in the same
tone he would have employed to
duchess. His way with women was
one Of the things for which he was
justly famous. They had come to the
end Of one line OF beds. and were now
turning up the other side of the room.
1--WE have a new patient there, Sir |
Kenneth" said the sister, Number |
Twenty-Five. A hopeless case-the |
last stage of consumption, aggravated |
by want and dirt. They brought her
in from one OF the common lodging
houses Poor creature, she was in a
terrible state when she came"
tIndeedr' calculated the great ply
stefan in his sympathetic voice.
All three approached the bed. The |
patients back was turned to them, but,
as steps approached, she tossed over
and lay on her back, her weakly.
vicious face, with its flush OF color on
each check bone, looking sharply ema-
ciated against the whiteness of the pill
low. There were streaks Of gray in
the dark hair. and the eyes-dull, slaty
eyes. which had once been blue-were
bloodshot and red-lidded.
Sir Kenneth leaned forward, and
their eyes met in long stare.
The years seemed TO roll away.
Tho doctors heart stood still. Great
God! Could this horrible wreck OF
womanhood be his wife? ." And
was she going TO speakp
But No. 20 only laughed-an un.
mirthful, coarse and empty laugh.