The morning call., 1893-03-25
BEING A WOMAN"

Midnight approaching and a great quiet
everywhere.
went through the street that led TO my
home in the shadow of the old church by
the square-went at an even pace. little
too tired for haste, and meditaive. more
over, on the varied happenings Of the past
twelve months.
There were not many persons in the
streets. saw but one shadow many yards
ahead Of me. n man walking westward out
of my way. My eyes followed him with
faint fellow-interest in the cold starshine:
saw him pause, turn, look up at large
EnglisL-basement house near the next
corner, step backward to the curbing, totter
forward and fall heavily. with his head
toward the doorstep. l hurried and came
whats the matter?" I asked, trying to
lift him.
But he was apparently unconscious. Not
a soul was about for me to call uuon for
assistance. l glanced up at the house and
something that glttered caught my eye. II
was the silYered sign OF a physician, Doc
tor II. Marion, and under 1t l saw an
eectriC-bell button. The thought flashed
into my mind that he had come seeking the
doctor, and that my proper course was to
ring up the latter. Pressing the button
without an instant's hesitation, dragged
the PROSTATE body-for he was larger
man than and dead weight-up the steps
and rested it there in an uncramped posture
as far as possible. 4 moment later the door
opened and a woman spoke:
"Well?"
"The DOCTOR" I said. "a man is i'll
unconscious"
could you lift him into the hall?"
She had stopped and now saw him on the
door stone. AS she raised her face to me
again the hall light fell upon it and showed
that she was beautiful and not old-not
midile-aged-not anything but young.
The DOCTOR" | repeated questionlngly.
al am the Doctor" she said, in a quiet
voice.
started. but made no reply. 1 tried to
lift the man in my arms.
my GJd! l said, "I am afraid he is
dead"
Size leaned down and caught his wrist
and turned his face toward her.
Something ike a shuddering "Oh!"
seemed % thrust Itself up through her
throat. But only for second. She con-
He is not dead" she said. "Help me
to- will help you to carry him into my
Office. II think l know him."
We got him into the hall and closed the
street uoor just in the nick of time; foot
steps came Gathering by-and passed on.
The door of her Office stood ajHr. We bore
him In and laid him on a long, straight
sofa. At motion from her l turned up the
gas. Then l saw that her face was deadly
pale. Il was a beautiful face, with deli
cately nodded brow and compassionate
Not dead" she murmured, "but very
near death"
She was loosening his cravat with trem-
bling fingers, Suddenly she threw up her
hands ia helpless. hopeless wav.
"Oh why did he come hereP she cried,
cOnvulsiYeiy.
You need help-another physician" I
said 81 will fetch one. Where shall l go
to wh0m?"
There is a messenger call" she said.
"but don't gO-don't leave me. please"
1T is late for q messenger" | said Is
there no other doctor very near?"
'Pil 60 myself" she cried; ''please stay
here; l will be but moment"
Suatching up wrap OF some kind she
rushed cut
I stood watching the unconscious man on
the sofa. He appeared to be a little over so
and clearly a gentleman. His clothing was
good aud his hands were white aud soft.
She bad said she knew him. Was he q rela-
IiTe-an old sweetheart or what? Strange
suTmises were among my thoughts. What
was the matter with him? Was Ii heart
trouble-ap -apoplexy-poisOn Unessiness had
seized upon me. l breathed more freely
when l heard her latchkey In the street
door and saw her enter, accompanied by
the doctor she had gone after. / stepped
back out Of the way while they examined
the man. Fainter and fainter, slower and
SAOhCA MS bANeNAlAL6s " 40 AO aCbld4l4 ny
ing?
The other doctor turned to me with
questioning look, and l came forward.
He was walking ahead Of me" l said, 81
saw him pause and try to ascend the steps,
then fall. | concluded he lived here or had
friends, and rang the bell That is all l
know"
offered the doctor my card. He CLAN ced
at it and handed it to DR.. Marion. She took
1t and looked at me with a new start.
on ura nf 10 fr ho rfo,l
ErEestne Wilson,"
"The same; my wife is waiting for me
now. not four blocks away"
Your wifel And we are schoolmates-
friendsp'
l took up my hat.
81 will go home merely TO reassure my
wife" | said. Il will return soon, to helm
you if you need me-"
Then / went out and left the two doctors
and The dying man.
IL
III. MarIon?" said my wife. "Are you
sure il was II. Marion?' 1 never knew
any Miss Marion except-Hester. Could il
be Hester? Her middle name was Marion.
l think-HesteT Marion Arnold. And she
there was romance In her life after
ward, strange story. 1t must be Hester.
She always said she would like to be a doc
tor. And she WAS so pretty-sO pretty.
Take Inc back with you, dear. l will tell
you the story as We CO."
But if the man be dying-or deadP"
"a woman friend Of hers can do no
harm"
And so my wife and went out into the
midnight.
After Hester had left school-she was
graduated with prizes and hoDOrs-she had
lover" said my wife. 'He was hand
some man Of about 25 They were engaged
to he married, though Hester's uncle op-
posed II. Mont hs passed, aud nothing was
said about the day for the marriage, although
Hester a d lie were supposed to be engaged.
1t was ainng about holiday time-six,
seventeen me!-eiRht, yes, quite eight
years ago. Time passes so. One day a
strange woman came to the town and called
upon Hester. She declared herself to be
the wife Il Hester's lover; George Hum
nhIey was his name. There was a scene.
Finally Humphrey went away with the
strange woman. and Hester was Ill for a
long time. Alter she recovered her uncle
took her away to the West. | have never
seen or heard from her since"
Would you know the man if you should
see him again ?"
My wife hesitated. "I have good
memory for faces" she said. but can it
be he? And why should Hester call her
self DR.. Marion?., She must have married
siDce-and yet"
And yet what?"
Il did not imagine she would ever
marry."
"Why notP Women get over the heart
dear"
But in this case" said my wife SLOWLY,
there was a reason. At least, 1 always
suspected there was a reason why she would
not get over it,"
And what was the reasonP"
II suspected that Hester had been secret
ly married TO Humphrey before the other
woman appeared"
"AhV" L muEmured. "But even SOP If
the other woman had prior legal claim,
Hester, as you call ler, was not his wife in
reality and need not have bothered about
hlm."
My DEAR" said my wife softly, women
have ideas Of their own on such matters"
We had returned to DR.. Marion's.
Let me wait outside" said my wife,
until you go IN and find out the true state
Of affairs"
And she stood In the shadow Of the porch,
Mhlla | rann md ,rnnt In, -'