Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-06-19

HN~ powered in cy-
%~Wbu press and wild
grape vines that
one could scarce have found the door
knob but for its brightness from con-
slant securing. A large, old-fash-
toned garden, in which both flowers
and weeds were allowed to grow at
their own sweet will. stretched far be-
hind the house, and ended in a forest
of beeches, path through which led
to a dilapidated rustic temple on the
brow of hill. This temple, which oc-
cupied an open space, was thanked by a
weather-beaten stone table, surrounded
by wooden benches, and had, evident
ly, been reared by some lover of nat
ure. But the death or absence of its
owner had allowed the place to fall
into decay, and no one in the little
town had cared to expend time OF
money for its restoration.
DIR. Arnim Elbthal had won great re-
nown and an extended practice in that
distant Russian city. Wonderful stories
were told of his skill, which had, in
deed, been phenomenal. These stories
OhC nuoSldh ScINduIO 4NduS WlOLA AO
had brought home with him, endeav-
ored to confirm in his broken German,
resorting to expressive pantomime when
words failed him. According to Ivan,
his master had cut off innumerable
noses and ears, to say nothing of arms
and legs, and no one had ever felt pain
under his knife. Incredible things in
glass jars adorned hi4 sleeping-cham-
Der. These Ivan busted every morning
with reverential awe and not without
secret longing for the spirits in which
they were preserved. The doctor some
times wondered that the spirits in
these jars had so often to be renewed,
and that his store of Turkish tobacco
disappeared in such incredible ways.
AS none of the other servants smoked,
and the housekeeper detested the
''filthy weed" Ivan must have been
the sole transgressor. In spite of
excellent tobacco he carried about with
him, he denied this persistently, and
the doctor contented himself with an
occasional scolding. Unable to speak
Russian, although he both read and
wrote the language, he had been
obliged to make out list of reproving
words from the dictionary. This list,
which began with "reber' and ended
with dog" he would read from his
easy-chair with great solemnity; the
delinquent standing before him and
listening with an air of utter annihila-
ton, until, at the last word, he would
kiss the seam of his masters coat, and
slip like guilty thing over the thresh.
old.
Fraulein Marianne, the doctors
cousin and housekceper, had often in
sisted on the dismissal of this ''sav'
age;" but Ivan was to the doctor a liv-
life on foreign soil. He had
thought to remain in Kasan to the end,
but the inheritance of q small fortune
through the death of distant relative
he had scarce known awakened in hin
a sudden homcsickness for Germany
and for the secluded little town afal
from railways, where his cradle haC
stood, and which in an age of restless
activity still dreamed on as it hat
| 1OL Va
Having purchased this vine-wreatheC
house which, during all those years in
foreign land, had stood before hin
sort of enchanted vision, he sum
moned his orphaned cousin Marianne
! a model housewife, as his minister o
: the interior. Marianne indeed sighe
mentally that her cousin had chose
Ii hnV. tho
. some great capital, with its constan
succession of new faces and amuse
ments. But yet the idea of reignin
sole mistress of household appeare
so beautiful and enticing that sh
would have followed the doctor to tn
ends of the earth. She had alway
liked him; she felt great respect fc
= him; his only fault in her eyes was a
open aversion to marriage. A physical
who remained single was, to say til
] least, unwise. Arnim would ward o
her frequent reproaches on this scol
by declaring that the unmarrie
physician, like the Catholic priest,
much more efficient than the marie
one, being wholly devoted to his cal
ing without the distraction of outsiC
interests.
"Only those undeterred by thougl
of wife or family sacrifice themselv
cheerfully, if it comes to that" he sal
"My patients can attest that am n
destitute of heart. Hitherto 1 ha'
had no time for love to the individus
now it is too late. Why need mar
when hands like yours keep my hou
in order and Ivan serves me so fait
fullyP Why seek to realize personal
those torments which the poets tells
are inseparable from love, when ha
seen and still see so much of pain al
sorrow in the lives of othersP"
In that foreign land our Russi
doctor had won the name of ''fathe
| I,xy o,dopt davot;on IN his ca1IinU #