The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-27
FAIR PATIENT.


for final snooze. when his nightbell rang
furiously. The good doctor sprang up and
put his head out of the window.
"What is wanted?" he called.
SIS that DIR. Banks?"
The voice was clear treble, and he could
distinguish female form in the street be-
! low.
yes" he answered. what do you
/ want?'
"Oh! DOCTOR" said the voice tIemulously;
"please come with me at once My sister is
dying, fear"
''Ill be right down." called the doctor.
and, hurriedly dressing himself. hs de-
scended and opened the door.
Come in" he said; Il will be with you
| Immediately"
AS his visitor stepped into The full blaze of
the hall light, the doctor saw that she was
very beautiful. Her features, although
pinched and pale. were clear-cntand classic.
| Her voice was low and well modulated and,
IN spite of her apparent poverty. she had the
| air of a woman of refinement.
The doctor was soon ready, and together
| they left the house. She led him by many
| turns, through narrow streets, until she
/ opened door into long, dark passage be-
tween two dwellings and passed in. The
| doctor followed her without hesitation.
| From the passage they emerged into a court,
on three sides of which faced a series OF
! dismal and dirty tenements. Into one Of
! these his conducresS led him and UP some
! rtckeiy stairs. On the fourth landing she
! opened door and entered an apartment.
| Is a moment they stood beside pallet on
| which Law a woman. The invalid stirred,
and turning her wan face TO them asked
| feebly:
| Have you brought the doctor, Alice?'
AM N
! Banks, this is ny sister. Miss Carnol6."
The change his name made on the sick
! woman was electric. From utter listlessness
/ she was aroused to the intenseSt excitement.
! A deep flash Overspread her face, and her
! eyes sparkled Goals as she raised herself
! upon her elbow and gaZed into his face.
sit is not he," she muttered; 'yet-yet
! there is likeness"
| She paused. and abruptly addressing the
/ doctor said: Had you ever brother, DR..
| Banks?"
Her voire was clear and resonant Ia
marked contrast to her previous muter-
/ ings. The doctor answered slowly and de-
! lberately:
Yes, madam"
And his name was Henry?"
| Eyes"
| "Where is lie now?"
! dark shade passed over his face.
II do net know he said; II have not
! heard from him for three years. The last
! word l had was letter he wrote ne from
| California, telling Of his engagement 10 a
! San Francisco girl-a paragon of beauty
| and goodness"
That paragon is before you-or, rather.
the wreck your faithless brother has left If
her"
The doctor caught his breath. Miss Car
mold" he said, This is terrible surprise to
| mel But. come now, your sister shall tell
! NE all. Meanwhile, you must not excite
! yourself, but must obey nv directions
strictly, If YOU wish to get WELL"
The doctor found that hers was no organic
| trouble. but rather general exhaust on
natures overs, arising from worry and in
| sufficient food He gay5 her quieting
| potion, and she fell into n gentle slumber,
| He then asked Miss Alice TO give him an.
account Of how the trouble with his brother
| had happened.
| In answer she related that her sister had
/ met Henry Banks al a reception. He was
/ young and handsome, and had won her
/ heart. Her father gave his consent 10 their
| marriage ana the day was set Then fol-
| lowed Mr. Caruoid's death, and the fall
/ from wealth 10 poverty. He LETT nothing
| but his debts. But the climax Of their
/ trouble came when Henry Banks dsap-
| peared, leaving a letter to his fisncee
| stating that he had decided to
start anew elsewhere and she would
never see him again. The two
women had worked their way to New York,
hoping to meet friends of their father who
once lived there. but only to ind them dead.
| They had then rented their present apart
ments. and eked out scanty living by TAX
I ing in sewing. Under the severe strain
! Mary's health gave way. and she was pros
/ irated. The younger sister, on her way Cor
| a physician, he'd been attracted by DIR.
Banks sign and had sought his aid. When
she had finished her recital the doctor was
| silent for a time.
miss earn ID" he said at last. "these
surroundings are not eongenial 10 you. Now
! | have a proposition TO make which / beg
you will accept in the same spirit that it is
offered. The second floor of my house Is
vacant, and want YOU to occupy it. When
| your sister is well enough to remove we
will take her there. and you shall be more
comfortable"
Aces only answer was to burst into
| tears. The tender hearted doctor sat down
| beside her and took her hand.
Wont you consider me your friend,
| Miss Carnold," he said earnestly, land ac-
rept this otierY
She raised her lovely tear-stained face
| and their eyes met.
| ''Dr. Banks" she exclaimed, "your kind
ness quite overpowers me. Perhaps 1
| ought TO doubt you and urn your pro-
] posal, but | am going to accept, for it seems
| to me that providence has sent you TO u.s."
Il trust that | shall prove a true eniissary
of providence he answered.
Two weeks passed. TIE invalid, thanks
|
/ tors care, was so much improved as TO be
able 10 sit up. Tie doctor spent his evenings
| with the ladies' when not professionally
engaged, and charming companions he
| found them. One evening, while they were
! engaged in an animated conversation the
! doctors bell rang, and, excusing himself.
| he went below. As he opened the door
! tall, fine-looking man stepped into the hall.
BE stood there a moment and then said in
| a low voice:
james,"
"Harryv exclaimed the other, springing
| toward and dragging him into the light.
| sit is you, my dear bny Where have YOU
! been these three years? Come in and get
warmed up"
When they were seated before the cheer
/ full CRATE fire, James said:
| "Hal, tell me; why lid you desert your
| fancee in hour OF need?"
''Gnnd heavens! man. who told you that?
| | did not desert her. My story is strange
! one, and but for the most substantial
| proofs | never could convince you
| of its yeTacity. But how did you Lear of
this p
Prem your fancee TIE Misses Car
mold are living up. stairs in the utmost
| poverty"
The other sprang to his feet. "Oh. let
me go to horw he cried. DO not detain
nIe!''
mo; you must wait" said his brother,
| quietly. ut would Kill her 10 see you sud-
| denly in her weak state. | will prepare her
| for the meeting. But first tell me about her
| disappearance. You wrote to Miss Carnold,
! saying that you had decided to start anew,
| and that she would never see you again.
| That sounds like deSertiop, doesn't it?"
| Hal uttered an exclamation of surprise.
at was a forgeryl' he cried Indignantly :;
Il never wrote such letter As inti-
mated to you, mine is strange story and
| this | suppose is but another chapter.
'tMr. CarnOld. MarV's father the daV he
| fore he died intrusted to my care mort
gage which he held on goldmine claim in
| Southern California, and which he had in
| tended to foreclose in three weeks. He