The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-05-15

III He entered the one room Of Tie low
houss 70 which be had been directed
with face quite free from Inpztienca
A woman opened The DOR Tor him
lean. misernble creature, With pale cye~
Eoid Of expression Her thin hair hung
over her neck. her calico dress fen
liimply from her sharp sboulderA she
stirred ~ The doctor ns he entered, ard
Be could see there were fears IN her
shiidlilce eyes
'.Joe's sick. " she said, slowly. grazing
into his face.
Whats the matter1v
.sIie-he's Goin'ter die, MAYBE she
faitered, piteously.
No, hope not
~Joc's sick she repeated in rhis-
pcr, shaking her head
who's GOMEZ aalred 3 voice from
The bed IA corner Of the room.
Nellie, girl. who IRE ye taikin' WITH
1T y Dr.. Ford whom you sent for, =
said the physician. approaching tho
bed.
One candle lighted dimiy the untfdy,
comfortless place, showing q stove and
. man with tumbled hair and rough
beard lying among the pillows Of bis
bed
'soh. the Doctor said be. with fever
lab eyes staring from under Tho shaggy
browA
.'How long have ron been iil9- asked
Dr.. Ford. sitting down on rici<ety
chair.
.'It's week since gave up, but I've
been feeling bad for . long time.
The doctor placed his little thermom-
eter under the patients tongue and
waited silently.
Joss sick, moaned the girl. peer
Ing ont Of the shadows.
The sufferer seemed 70 be Irritated
~ the repetition Of these words and
made an impatient gesture, but az hc
lid 20 glanced pitifully at the aIouch-
| Ing figure
What you most need Il good nurs-
Ing" said tho doctor, after examining
the patient
Tho mans face darkencd The worn-
an lowered aimlessly over the stove.
she's my wife, said the sick man,
hoarsely. = know she ain't quite like
other folks Bnt she's peaccable and
good not bold and noiay like other
women pitied her first on, then
got kind o. fond Of her. And shcn -
Tho girl had crept to the bedside and
stood there with her vacant, troubled
face. furnbling with thetpiilowa
Joe, she said, mtch az q mother
might speak her babyh name.
.ssbe can't do notNinr moro for me
nor for herself" wkiapcred the man,
~ he claspcd onE 81 the nuttering
Poor thingi" mhrmnrcd the doctor.
II can earn goNd wages when I'm
well, went on the Invalid, land did
the cooking and kept the house tidy
then Now everything's going wrong.
She spoils all the yictuals, but she don't
mean tor
At this nome Mt something on the
stove boiled over with 4 loud hiss and
fiIed the room with the odor Of scorch-
Ing milk The girl started, then moved
toward tho ruined mess
.Oh, dear mel'' said the sick man, nm
der his breath. Don't burn yourself,
Nellie, he called. o. II 70 child
'It's scorched, Joe," she said, the
tears OVERLOOKING at last
Never mind, my girl, throw Ii away.
We can get plenty more. You SEQ, doc
tor" he said, In his hoarse voice, 81
can't speak rough TO her. She's my
wife,"
This doctor sat avith hant heal sposoh
less.
Il II send you nurse, my man. he
said, after pause what you need |
is good care. will come again to- !
morrow" And with q low bow 10 man
and wife, now clinging together. hand
In hand, the doctor said goodnight, and
went on his way.
Thank you, sir called out the sick |
man, much moved
The girl only stared and wiped the
last tear from her lashes
Two hours later . capable, kind
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
Or. Ford drove slowly home ward.
Though It was late q bright light shone
from the parlor window as he st6bpSd
The glow Of wood flro illuminated
the room as he eptered. But no ono
came TO meet him His wife sab In her
rocker fast asleep The lamp threw a
radiance over her bronze-brown hair
and one delicate check as she slept with
her head against the crimson back Of
the chair. Her f0cc wore 4 sweet.
childlike expression, with a touch ot
pathos about the lips, and her hands
lay closely clasped IN tho lap Of her
gown Of soft dove color.
4 T. l. - Il
Near the FIRE stood q white draped
table holding tempting little repast,
carefully arranged From d slender
glass In tho midst hung oncYred rose.
The doctor knew she had cut 1t for him
from her favorite plant On pretty
plato reposed tho falticst and most
delectablaSof 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
mince pie ! sent over to your mother
for one"
Hang the piel" cried John Ford.
'Elinor, am brntel''
oh, no, dear-only man, instead Of
IN archangel, as once believed you to
be. But never mind How do you
like my dress2"
1T is divine and Yon arc I'm angel,
Elipor But. dearest, come and sit by
me. | have Just been to see gehtle-
man, want to tell you all about it,'---