Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-04-22
LOOKING FOR The DocioR.
An Anxious Night Passed in Watching ard
Waiting.

nhitinSs
One OF the best stories III Mr. Barrie'a
delightfulfScotch book, "A Window in
Thrums," is entitled waiting for the
Doctor" Jess, the mother of the fam
lily, cripple who had not been out of
the house, and seldom out of the room,
for twenty years, mad gone early TO
rest, and the door of her bedroom in the
kitchen was pulled to. All at once she
called: ''Leeby" Leeby was the daugh-
ter. She answered "Aye," and Hendry,
the father, opened the door Of the bed
room. ''Yer mothers no wcel," he
said to Leeby. Leeby ran to the bed.
In another two minutes we were a
group of four in the kitchen, staring
vacantly. Death could not have star
tied us more, tapping thrice that quiet
night on the window-pane.
It's diphtheria!" said Jess, her
hands trembling as she buttoned her
wrapper.
She looked at me, and Leeby looked
at me.
IT'S mol It's mol" cried Leeby, and
her voice was as a fist shaken at my
| face She blamed me for hesitating in
my reply.
Jess had discovered white spot on
her throat knew the symptoms.
Leeby ran off for the doctor, and af
ter time returned painting to say that
he might be expected in an hour. He
was away among the hills.
Hendry wandered between the two
rooms, always in the way when Leeby
ran to the window to see if that was
the doctor at last. Finally he sat down
by the. kitchen fire, Bible in his hand.
1t lay open on his knee, but>he did not
read much. He sat there with his
legs outstretched, looking straight be-
fore him. l believe he saw Jess young
again.
l sat alone at my attic window for
hours waiting for the doctor About
midnight Hendry climbed the stairs and
joined me. His hand was shaking as he
pulled back the blind.
'She's waur," he whispered, like one
who had lost his voice.
His eyes were glazed with staring at
the turn of the brae where the doctor
must first come in sight. ] put my
hand on his shoulder, and he stared at
me-
"Nine-and-thirty years come June,
he said, speaking to himself.
For this length of time, knew, he and
Jess had been married. He repeated
the words at intervals.
81 mind -" he began, and stopped
He was thinking Of the springtime oi
Jesss life.
The night ended as we watched; then
came the terrible moment that precede;
the dav--the moment known to shud
dering watchers by sick beds, when {
chill wind cuts through the house, ant
the world seems cold IN death.
"This is a fearsome night, liendry
said, hoarscly.
He turned to grope his way to tht
stairs, but suddenly went down on hi
knees to pray.
There was q quick step outside.
arose in time to see the doctor on tn,
brae. He tried the latch, but Leeby
was there to show him in. The door o
the room closed on him.
From the top of the stair l could SCI
into the dark passage, and make on
: Hendry shaking at the door, coulC
', hear the doctors voice, but not tn,
words he said There was painful
silence. and then Leeby laughed Joy
ously.
"It's gonel" cried Jess. "The whit
spots gone! Ye JUST touched it, an it,
Q gone Tell Hendry."
But Hendry did not need to be told
S AS Jess spoke heard him say, husbi
ly, THANK God!' and then he tottereC
9 back to the kitchen. When the docto
1 left. Hendry was still on Jess arm
S chair, trembling like man with th
, palsy Ten minutes afterward l wa
preparing for bed, when he cried u
Q the stair:
? "Come AVA doon"
I joined the family party in the
+ room. Hendry was sitting close to jess
e 'Let us read" he said, firmly, 81
4 the fourteenth of John" = Youth
Companion.