The Portland daily press., 1895-06-15

room, with a head like cannon hall
and a leg like an iron bar. Turning his
eyes, he saw the calm face of DIR. Ver-
rinder Smith looking down at him.
'tAh, at last' said she. ST kent Won
under all the way home, for 1 knew
how painful the jolting would be- 1t is
in good position now, with strong side
splint. l have ordered morphia draft
for you. Shall tell your groom to ride
for DR.. Horton in the morning?'
81 should prefer that you should con-
tinue the case, said DR.. Ripley feebly,
and then, with a half hysterical laugh.
"You have all the rest of the parish as
patients, you know, SO you may as we'll
make the thing complete by having me
also.' 1t was not very gracious speech,
but it was look of pity, and not of
anger, which shone in her eyes as she
turned away from his bedside.
DIR. Ripley had a brother William,
who was assistant surgeon at London
hospital, and who was down in Hamp-
shire within few hours of his hearing
of the accident. He raised his brows
when he heard the details
'What! You are pestered with one
Of those!'' he cried.
II don't know what should have
done without her."
''I've no doubt she's an excellent
nurse"
''She knows her work as we'll as you
or l."
"Speak for yourself, James,, said the
London man, with a sniff. "But, apart
from that, you know that the principle
of the thing is all wrong"
''You think there is nothing to be said
on the other side?''
GOOD heavens, do you?"
"Well, don't know. 1t struck me
during the night that we may have been
little narrow in our views.
Nonsense, James! It's all very fine
for women to win prizes in the lecture
room, but you know as well as do that
they are no use in an emergency. Now
warrant that this woman was all
nerves when she was setting your leg.
That reminds me that I had better lust
take look at it and see that it is all
right"
II would rather that you did not un-
do it, 'said the patient. ST have her as
surance that it is all right. ~
Brother William was deeply shocked.
"Of course, if woman's assurance
is of more value than the opinion of the
assistant surgeon of London hospital,
there is nothing more to be said," he
remarked.
II should prefer that you did not
touch it," said the patient firmly, and
DR.. William went back to London that
evening in huff. The lady, who had
heard of his coming, was much surprised
on learning of his departure
"We had difference upon point of
professional etiquette, said DR.. James,
and it was all the explanation he would
vouchsafe.
For two months DR.. Ripley was
brought in contact with his rival every
day, and he learned many things which
he had not known before. She was q
charming companion as we'll as most
assiduous doctor. Her short presence
during the long weary day was like
flower in sand waste. What interested
him was precisely what interested her,
and she could meet him at every point
upon equal terms, and yet under all her
learning and her frmness ran a sweet
womanly nature, peeping out in her
talk, shining in her greenish eyes,
ch0xDinu itcoJf in ,,-l41.
ways which the dullest of men could
read. And he, though bit of a prig
and pedant, was by no means dull and
had honesty enough to confess when he
was in the wrong.
II don't know how to apologize to
you, p" he said in his shamefaced fashion
one day, when he had progressed so far
as to be able to sit in an armchair with
his leg upon another one. ST feel that
l have been quite in the wrong"
''Why, them"
'Oyer this woman question. 7 used
to think that woman must inevitably
lose something of her charm if she took
up such studies -
"Oh, you don't think they are neces-
sar1ly unsexed then!' she cried, with
a mischievous smile.
'Please don't recall my idiotic ex-
preston"
II feel SO pleased that I should have
helped in changing your views. ! think
that it is the most sincere compliment
that have ever had paid me- %
"At any rate, it is the truth" said
he and was happy all night at the re-
membrance of the flush of pleasure
which made her pale face look quite
oomely for the instant.
---.-'~ -'.'- ------ ...-..-.
For indeed hs was already far past
the stage when he would acknowledge
her as the equal Of any other woman.
Already he could not disguise from
himself that she had hecome the one