Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-10-28

quite free of iropatience. A woman opened
the door for him--a lean, miserable crea-
ture, with pale eyes void of expression.
Her thin hair hung over her neck, her cali |
co dress fell Imply from her sharp Shout |
ders. She stared at the doctor as he en-
tered and he could see there were tears in
her childlike eyes,
"Joe's SICK, she said slowly, gazing into
his face.
whats the matter?"
"He-hes goin to die maybe" she fall |
tered pteously.
mo, | hope not.
"Joe's sick" she repeated in a whisper,
shaking her head.
"Whos Gomez" asked voice from the
bed in corner of the room. "Nellie, girl,
who are you talkin withS"
at is DR.. Ford, whom you sent for" said
the physician, approaching the bed.
One candle lighted dimly the untidy,
comfortless place, showing .. stove and Il
man with tumbled hair an = IA beard
lying among the pillows of ms I'll.
"Oh the DOCTOR" said he, with feversh
eyes staring from under shaggy brows.
"How long have you been ill?" asked Dr..
Ford. sitting down on a rckety chair.
It's week since l give up, but I've
been feeling bad for long time"
The doctor placed his little thermometer
under the patients tongue and waited ST
lently.
"Joe's sick" moaned the girl, peering
out of the shadows.
The sufferer seemed to be irritated ly
the repetitiou Of these words and made an
impatient gesture, but as he did so glanced
pitifully at the slouching figure.
"What you need most is good nursing"
said the doctor after examining the pa.
tient.
The mans face darkened. The woman
lowered aimlessly over the stove.
"She's my WIFE" said the sick man
hoarsely. 81 know she amt quite like
other folks But she's peaceabe and good:
not bold and noisy like other women.
pitied her first off; then l got kind o. fond
of her. And she"-
The girl had crept to the bedside and
stood there with her vacant, troubled face
fumbling with the pillows.
Joe" she said, much as a mother might
speak her baby's name.
"She can't do nothing more for me nor
for herself" whispered the man as he
clasped one of the futtering hands in his.
Poor thing" murmured the doctor
81 can earn good wages when am well, :"
went on the invalid, land did the cook
ing and kept the house tidy then. Now
everything's going wrong. She spoils all
the victuals, but she don't mean to-"
At this moment something on the stove
boiled over with loud hiss and filled the
room with the odor of scorchng milk. The
girl started, then moved toward the ruined
mess.
"Oh, dear mel" said the sick man under
his breath. Don't burn yourself Nellie"
he called as if to child.
Its scorched, Joe," she said, the tears
overlooking at last.
"Never mind, my girl, throw it away.
We can get plenty more. You see doctor"
he said in his hoarse voice, Il can't speak
rough to her She's my wife"
The doctor sat with bent head, speech.
less.
"Tll send you nurse, my man." he said
after a pause. "What you need is good
care. will come again tomorrow" And
with low bow to man and wife, now
clinging together hand in hand the doctor
said good night and went on his way
"Thank you, SIR" called out the sick
man. much moved.
The girl started and wiped the last tear
from her lashes.
INO ldleT IL CdpdDle, hlnu hearted
woman was installed as nurse in the little
home by the river. She brought with her
food in abundance and comforts of all
kinds.
DIR. Fol- drove slowly homeward
Though it was late bright light shone
from the parlor window as he stopp' |.
The glow of a wood fire Illuminated the
room as he entered But no one came to
meet him. His wife sat in her rocker fast
asleep. The lamp threw a radiance over
her bronze brown hair and one delicate
cheek as she slept with head against the
crimson back of the chair. Her face wore
sweet, childlike expression, with touch
of pathos about the lips, and her hands lay
closely clasped in the lap of her gown OIL
soft dove color.
Near the fire stood a white draped table
holding a tempting little repast, carefully
arranged. From slender glass in the
midst hung one red rose. The doctor knew
she had cut it for him from her favorite
plant On pretty plate reposed the flaki
est and most delectable of mince pies.
DR.. Ford stopped and kissed his wife's
fair cheek reverently. She stirred, then
opened her large eyes slowly.
"Oh, you have come. | am sorry l was
not awake to meet you. But here's 6
mince pie. | sent over to your mother fol
one"
Hang the pie"' cried John Ford. "Elin
or, | am bruten
'Oh, no, dear-only man instead of az
archangel, as | once believed you to be
But never mind. How do you like my
dressf"
ut is divine and you are an angel, Elm
or. But, dearest, come and sit by me.
have just been to see n gentleman. 1wan
to tell you all about it."-Buffalo News.
The Lightninglike Loon.
The loon is the quickest living creature