The Delta independent., 1895-11-06

of her frowzy head. Three white
haired little children hung to her
skirts, and she pointed to them in
proof of her assertions. Dr. John half
rose as the conductor came in the car.
SIS there a doctor here?" the man
said, eagerly. There's woman very
sick; Just taken from the day coach.
That hag out there wouldn't hardly
give her shelter"
"What seems to be the matter?"
asked DIR. John, brislly
The conductor hesitated. "Well, sir,
she's a young woman, but l think she's
married"
The ladies in the car took up their
books in disgust. An elderly, portly
man in front of DIR. John buried him
self behind his newspaper. DR.. John
knew him to be a physician.
I'm DOCTOR" said DR.. John, gath
er;ng up his belongings. 81 shall be
glad to see what l can do"
"You may be detained over train"
hesitated the official; land she's evil
dently poor-hasn't any baggage"
81 am, fortunately, able to attend to
the suffering without having my pay
dangled before my eyes to spur me
on growled DIR. John, passing the
lady rea6 IS with looks of disgust.
mot one of 'em offered even a shawl,
and the sick creature l suppose is
destitute"
He pushed through the crowd gath
cred about the house and dispersed
them with very vigorous English. A
plcasant-faced young man handed him
a roll of bills.
81 collected that in our Pullman.
We're not all so heartless as you say"
$50 that's you, Jimmy Watson
smiled the doctor. 81 ask your pardon;
before this thought you were just
dude. shall tell your mother there
is hope for you"
"Thanks,'' laughed the younger man.
''There's twenty-five dollars. 1 sup
pose, though, your fees will gobble 1t
all up"
ITO the last'cent, Jimmy; that's why
I got off the car" He shut the door
smartly in the face of the crowd, and,
finding the switchman's wife in the
small hall, said, severely: 81 suppose
you call yourself Christian woman,
ma'am."
"There hain't no Westinghouse in
this forsaken country not for forty
miles, jest plains" she said. sourly,
"and, having a family OF my own, l
amt obliged, If my man do work on
the railroad, to take into my house
strangers with complaints as may be
catching"
"Well, this is, I take it." grinned the
doctor. "to your SEX"
She smiled a little grimly, and took
upher youngest child in motherly sort
of way that pleased the keen observer.
you've got a kind heart: your
tongue runs away with you, that's all.
And now do your best for the sick
woman. 1 have plenty of money to
pay YOU"
"I-I put her in my bed," said the
woman, shyly. "She's a pretty little
thing, and is clean out of her head, but
she hain't no weddingring."
"Well, she is punished now, poor
girl for her share in the wrong-doing
without you and me saying anything"
"All aboard!" sounded outside. As
the train ratified away, DIR. John went
softly to the little room where the emf
grant woman lay unconscious of this
world, SO nearly on the threshold of
the next
In the chill gray of early dawn DR..
John came out in the kitchen, where
Jonas Macon, the switchman, sat over
the FIRE; he had been forced to sleep in
his chair the long night after days
work. The hospitality of the poor often
means personal deprivation.
SIS she goin' to live?" asked the man.
81 hope so. The baby is fine boy"
"Both of 'em better dead, if what
wife thinks of her is true" sighed the
man. "As for the boy, if he must grow
up and work as I've done, never gittin'
no further, he won't thank you for
a-savin' of him."
"He may turn out great man some
day; and then," said DIR. John, half to
himself-'she is not common or un-
educated woman, the mother-he may
be the better for the story of his birth,
strive to rise the higher for it,
"Lil:ely not he won't Them 'sylum
children don't amount to much in gen.
eral. Takes mighty smart man to
come out of the mud"
"Your wife has done nobly by her."
said the doctor. "She has the best
heart'
''She is kind muttered the man,
ian she have stood about eyerythin'
woman can stan. I'll git my own
breakfast. You tell her to turn in an
sleep with the kids awhile
The doctor went back to his patient,
and Mrs. Macon brought the little
flannel bundle ont by the stove. Later
the children were wild about it. Did
the train leave the baby? were they
going to have it always? and could
they see in the windows of the trains,
as they passed, lots of baby faces look
ing out for mothers to take them?
At night Mrs. Macon woke the doc
tor, who was taking q nap in the chill
dren's bed.
Il think, sir" she said, worriedIy,
the little lady is gone out of her he'll.
She's feeling round in the bedclothes
for dog, I'D calling one pitiful-lilse."
~ have been blind fool!' cried the
doctor. II felt all the time I'd ought
70 know her" lie ran to the sick