Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1893-09-14
he came on urgent business.

Ter called, ..Jane, come here. DR.
Evan wishes to see you Immediate
IT,"
At this instant the door opened
and young lady entered the room.
Her tall and stately appearance,
her fair countenance all aglow, her
large, dark brown eyes sparkling
like jets, her chestnut hair falling
in heavy folds carelessly over her
shoElders-such beauty was enough
to tmbarrass man of more conf
dence than DR.. Evan If their busi-
ness had been OF the same nature.
DIR. Evan arose and said
Miss Wheeler. ! am glad to see
you. I-I-b-beg pardon for cal
ling-orf-you-at such an hour
but-but-the business is so urgent
and of such nature that it would
not bear of delay. / wish-I would
like" Here the doctor broke
down and seemed at loss for words.
He boldly began again, "I-I would
love to-to-haye you as my assis-
tant if-if Mr.. Wheeler has no OBJ
lection"
At this surprising outburst of
DR.. Evans Mr.. Wheeler looked
aghast; his brow contracted lis if
from anger, but his expression soon
turned to that of pity, and he mur-
INJURED beneath his breath
"The doctors mind is affected
from grief over his wife. Poor man,
feel very, very sorry for him, and,
besides, what will the poor around
here do without him 90
Miss Jane was as much at a loss
to account for the peculiar beha-
vior of the doctor as was her faith
er. The poor girl first turned GRIM
son, then CHASTITY pale; her limbs
refused to perform their duty and
she sank down in the nearest chair.
The doctor, on recognizing the
mistake he had made, seemed to
forget his embarrassment and awk
wardness, and explained the busi-
ness for which he had called with
ont further blunders. Miss Jane,
afterlong and serious consideration,
decided that it was her duty to go
and nurse this poor woman.
1t was arranged that she should
walk up to the doctors house with
him, attend to the wants of the pa
tient and to see her comfortable for
the night, and on the morrow she
would arrange to be on hand at
moments notice.
Everything was arranged quietly,
and in weeks time all things went
on as smoothly as though Miss Jane
had been the mistress for years.
The DR.. was the only person who
seemed to comprehend the change.
He appeared to be little uneasy
whenever he and Miss Jane were by
chance, thrown together, and in
variably made some excuse to go to
his study.
AS the weeks and months passed
by the DIR. became accustomed to
seeing the pretty form of Miss Jane
Wheeler gliding here and there,
giving orders as though she were at
home. He was not blind to her
skill as a nurse, and admired the
gentleness and patience with which
she administered to the wants of
her disagreeable patient.
CHAPTER III.
Spring is here and Gordensville
seems to have awakened from long
sleep. The DIR. comes in after his
regular walk around the grounds
to-day more fatigned than ever,
although all nature seemed to sug-
gest JOY and happiness. The DR..
goes Immediately to his study and
takes down from the shelf large
book and attempts to read, but his
thoughts will not obey him; he re-
members not a word he has read,
and finally throws the book on the
table in disgust, leans back in his
study chair and is soon lost in
thought.
He seems to be dead to all things
around him, although the birds call
and bid him to cheer up by their
sweetest songs. The sun is hiding
himself behind the green foliage of
the trees and seems to peep in the
window to laugh at the DIR. for
staying indoors this beautiful even
ing.
Although DR.. Evan is deaf to
nature and natures calling, and sits
in a contemplatiye mood; he breaks