Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1891-04-04

Burton, aNd have found but few cases
Of gratitude. My patients are often too
poor to pay me, but they generally re-
gard themselves as the injured parties in
the transaction and are seldom grateful
indeed, might say with you that they
hate me, but yet | love my work. Sue
cess is my greatest reward. | love to
save life, and SO do you.
''In regard to our patient here, can
understand why it is more pleasant for
you to care for him. He is very hand
some, and us you saved his life you have
a right to feel great interest in him."
II wonder if he lives in Orquay?s said
jamie.
No,"4replied the doctor decidedly.
'he would be as much out of place in
Oreuay as on the Sender. Doubtless he
will be inquired after and found. In the
meantime wo must take as good care Of
him as we can But be careful of your
own health and strength, Miss Burton.
and remember that the rich and hand
some can be ungrateful as well as the
poor and homely."
Day after day passed, with no change
in the patient save gradual sinking.
At first few neighbors. curious to see
the man saved out of the rive'' by THAT
proud jamie Burton" came and offered
to help, but they looked so ague stricken
and woebegone, so obviously in need of
help themselves that Mrs Burton, at
JAMES entreaty. sent them away with
thanks, saying that they could do all
there was to be done. AS to jamie. the
tides of life were running high with her
She seemed incapable of fatigue, and the
doctor on his daily visits looked upon her
with wonder. Instead Of WEAKNESS there
was buoyancy. Her face had lost its
pallor, and was blooming as if she had
partaken some tabled elixir of life.
As he watched her lowering over the
still unconscious man, with that grand
maternal look in her face so character
istic of all truly noble women when car
ing for the helpless or suffering, he expe-
rienced pang Of anguish when he
thought what the awakening and reac-
ton might be.
"He had better die," was the thought
Of the ply ''than to live to break
the heart of such woman, as feel that
he will. And yet he must not die if !
can save him. He must be restored.
Yet she will die unless he returns her
love- A woman is strange creature
anyway. Think of her loving this man
who has never been able to recognize
her, whose name she doesn't know, who
may even have wife! 1t is past belief.
By his bedside she is transformed. If he
regains consciousness, as think he will,
he will see her at her best. God grant
he may not blight such a flower"
Still the days went on, and there was
no change. On Sundays an elderly, hard
working man came and sat awhile by the
bed and then went away. He was the
husband and father. who was at home
no other day.
The boys fished, brought home and
MIXED the COW, cut wood and did other
chores about the place. The mother at
tended to her housework, and at night
watched for three hours while jamie
slept, and every day the doctor came. 1t
was not his busiest season. and he could
spend an hour or two daily by the bedside
of his still unknown patient, for no inqui-
ries had been made about him, although
the story of the rescue had found its way
into the columns of The Orquay News.
Nor had he in his delirium given a history
of his life good or bad.
It is only in fiction that connected
stories are told in the rawlings of fever.
In reality the labored breathing, the
sharp cry, the heart breaking moan and
unuttered meaningless words, tell no
story of the past-only one of present
suffering and a terrible battle with the
king of terrors on the sands of shadowy
sea.
So these three, mother, daughter and
physician, watched the stranger as he
went down, down to the river of death.
At length there came day when
there was a slight change in the daily
routine.
As soon as the doctor had looked at
his patient he asked that the boys
might take care Of his horse.
II shall stay today and tonight" he
said. by midnight we shall know the
worst or the best, whichever it may be. :"
He looked ut jamie. "Love is immor-
tai in her eyes, "he thought. "She doesn't
believe that he can die, but it will be
far better for her if he does She will
always believe then that her love would
have been returned, and if no one claims
him she can have his grave to love and
devote her life to planting flowers on it
but / think he will live, and what
then? Well, we shall see."
AS midnight approached deep silence
fell upon the three watchers. The doc
tor sat with his fingers on the pulse of his
patient. jamie stood near him with look
of awe on her face, but with no fear.
Her mother sat near the foot of the bed,
her head resting upon her hands, wait
ing. Suddenly there was slight move
ment: the doctor arose, laid the sick
mans hand across his breast, slightly
changed the position of his head, drew
the covers up over his shoulders, then
turned to jamie and said: ''Go up to bed
now and sleep until morning"
lis he dead!" she asked, with white