Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-02
Be sweet forgiveness spoken
Under the holly bough.

| winter was reached. And what wlnter
Long before Christmas the snow lay thick
on the ground; and my poor patients learned
full we'll the joys of "real old-fashioned
winter" 1 had enough and more than
enough work to do; but was thankful fol-
it. Only in helping and relieving the suf-
ferings of others could 1 succeed in forget.
ting my own pain. AS the dull days dragged
themselves along. one of my favorite pa
tients began to fade away; and at length l
had to face the painful task of telling her
that, ere the new year came, she would have
to enter on the world of the unknown. She
was decent woman, the wife of dissipated
husband, for whom she had toiled till her
poor worn-out body could work no more.
And now she lay apparently dying in her
cold little room, thanking God each day
that none of her children had been left to
struggle on without her.
Except my poor big child" she said,
with that spark of pathetic humor one sees
now ard again among our rustics-chiefy
among the women 'But I seem to have
brought him up very badly, doctor. I must
lust hope he may be able to bring himself
| home at last"
Mrs. Clerk?" l asked her, late one bitter,
cold afternoon.
"Why do you ask, doctor? Is the end at
hand?"
'I can hardly say that. Yet. if there is
anyone L could send for to come to you, it
might be as well not to put it off.
A light cleaned over the tired, plain fea-
lures. ooh, doctor, if 1 could see the
little Lady, think it would make it easier
for me. But" and the weary eyes wan
dered to the uncurtained window-"it be
getting dark, and the snow lays thick on
the ground. Her couldn't come now"
| nd eho - boI 4lo4 fcic hot ool lyS
/ of life of remuneration.
| "Have you no relation, no sister, you
would care to see?" I asked.
mo, sir, no. I'd have liked to
see the dear Lady this very night.
think if she had sung
| me to sleep, I'd have woke better. But it is
no use. She couldn't come out, a night like
| this"
'Ill fetch her in my sledge," 1 said
The tired eyes opened with such glad
| light, that, had it been Queen Victoria had
promised to snatch off her throne and bring
to this poor cottage. should have had to
try to fulfil my word.
"Will,you, sir-oh, will your.
And away over the snow ] dashed, nor
paused to think till drew up to the door of
the Manor.
SIS Lady Avis in?" asked the footman,
and made my way unannounced to the draw
ing room. The lamp was burning, subdued
by its fiower-like shade the tea table was
drawn up near the fire: and she, in one of her
soft, silken tea gowns, was standing warm
ing one perfectly shod little foot at the flame
of the blazing logs which roared up the
chimney and danced on the steel CRATE.
Close to her sat a young fellow whom had
never seen. learned afterward that he was
a cousin. who, during the years had been
away, had been like brother to her; but 1
diu not know this then.
Did her face grow pale in the red light as
she saw me enter? 1t seemed so; yet she
came quietly forward and offered me tea.
"No, thank you," 1 said as shortly as 1
could; "there is no time for tea. There is
woman dying who wants to see you"
All her face grew soft in q moment, "a
woman diving! Oh, where? What woman?"
MRS Clerk,a the old Farm cottages. Will
you come? The sledge is here. 1t will save
time if Won will come in it with me now.''
81 will come"
Nonsense, Avis, ,"cried the young man. "It
is sheer nonsense to think of going out in
such an evening in an open sledge. The
brougham can be brought round in 20 min
utes."
care the horses roughed?" asked.
"No," said Avis; "anu it would take a long
time to get them ready. will go with you.''
S"And 1 shall wait outside, as don't sup
pose the footman relishes holding the horses
in the snow"
81 have no doubt he has sent for groom"
said Avis, her blue eyes turned coldly away.
"You had better drink some tea-Harold
come with me for moment;" and she swept
from the room, the young man following.
Drink tea in the room where that fellow has
been! Never! 1 flung out of the ROOM and
FASTENED into the night air. A groom had
relieved John Thomas at the horses heads:
l had the qualification of observing the
contemptuous looks with which he surveyed
my scratch team and make-shift sledge.
A courteous footman in the hall asked
whether would not step into the library,
and threw the door invitingly open display
ing the wainscoted room, on whose old oak
carving and brightly-bound volumes the fire.
light danced deliciously. Holly and mstletoe
plinted and twinkled from all corners. 1t
was Christmas eve.
"No, no; will wait here" 1 answered
curtly.
At this moment, her light foot-step
sounded on the stair; and her lady
ship herself tripped into the lamp
light. And what a ladyship! She had
dainty shoes: but her silken dress was coy
cred over with her great white mantle. On
her soft fair curls rested a little white fur
cap; and about her neck was bound feath-
cry boa like a glorified snow flake. Her
hands were hidden away in a snowy muff.
HaroldNwas with her.
"Well, my snow-queen," he was saying,
'you will frightep the country folks il they
meet you like that. You look as if you were
ford Castle"
"Clever boy" laughed Avis. "to remember
his history so we'll"
"Meansime, history is repeating itself in
the most commonplace fashion in Mrs.
Clerks cottage" remarked grimly. "Per
gorgeous for that poor roon.'
Gam II 1 never thought. This was the
warmest so put it on, she began, her great
eyes full of distress.
'"It's all right, dear" cried Harold, "you
know they love you when you look beauti-
full"
"They must always love her, them"
thought within my bitter heart.
In another moment was seated beside
her; the horses heads were let go; the bells !
tangled OUT and the sledge slid over |
Above us stretched the sapphire |
sky, gemmed with myriads of
flashing stars; while all around us was |
silence and the cleaning snow. All the we'll !
known landscape was rendered strange and |
unfamiliar under its pure covering-as a |
dear. dead face is rendered awesome under |
the thin sheet we spread after death.
The bells tangled; the horses hoofs clinked |
against each other now and again as the |
sledge sped on; but all else was silent. Not |
a word did we speak. L caught glimpse of |
her face once as she turned it to watch a |
How white and still the beautiful face vas! |
Was there tremble about the mouth?
On we sped. When we had started, my
heart had been ablaze with hot anger. Who
place? Why had 1 been cast out Of |
my place? Why had we Quarreled? |
Why had we not made it up again? |
1t was all her fault-all. had been ready TO
breaking my heart for her cruel
sake; and she had never cared in the least,
Cared! She had been filling up her time and
thoughts with this young Herbert-Harold-
a dozen more. She was q mere t1irt. In her
heart she still despised me for being n
doctor-tonly sawbone," as she used to
say. She was the daughter of the Lord of |
was man with mans heart, head. hands.
She had no right to play with me. Had she