Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-11-14
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER IL
It was long past 10 wien Hugh Lar
remore turned into Macedon place that
night. The day had been long and more
than usually dreary He mad spent some
heavy hours in the shaded chambers Of
wealthy patients and in the dirty cor
ners of the town where disease held the
same grim dominion. The faces of the
dying had felt the caress of his hand.
He had listened in silent pain to. futile
prayers for life, dear life, from lips
growing cold. 1t had been a,hard win
ter, and low, sluggish fever was ev-
erywhere.
There are physicians who operate on
these wonderful bodies Ut ours without
much thought beyond the mechanism of
The machine, who saw on cut after the
manner of a skilfful carpenter, but to
whom the unexplained departure of the
spark that animates the flesh presents
mo astounding secret to cause mo-
ment's sadness OF wonderment. Hugh
was not one Of these. He had felt many
failing heartbeats, had closed many eye
lids when all work was done, but never
without that awful, despairing con-
seriousness Of human tlittleness which
knows nothing of the how or why Of
the beginning or the end of life. That
was why he was sad tonight. 1t had
been ia hard day.
From his boyhood those who had
known Hugh LarTemore best had proph-
esied great things of him. He was
more than o successful physician in a
town adjacent to thellnetropolis. His
booksywere known 'byi people who had
never seen him. His heart was large
enough, his understanding deep enough,
his humanity intense enough for more
aims than one. He'was 80 now. But al
though he had lived within himself
and had sent the fruits of his labor into
the world, though older and more ex-
perienced men in his profession were
glad to meet him ON equal ground, he
was dissatisfied, restless. In his hands
there seemed nothing but leaves. There
was,so much still to be done; SO little
time to do it in; SO little to do it with.
His face was thoughtful, little old
er than his years. The thick, black
locks just touched with frost, which he
was in the habit of nervously throwing
back, added to this impression. He was
clean shaven, and his expressive mouth,
full and curved, but without a suspi-
cion of coarseness, was marked in re-
pose by an expression of gentle strength.
His eyes under forceful brows were lu-
minous and convincing, capable Of ex-
pressing great fire and passion, but usri
ally heavy with a dreamy pathos that
expressed something of the deep, silent
gentle soul Of the man; one with per
hAps stern ideas of justice, yet very i'm
pulsive, very tender.
1t had stopped raining now. The SKY
was lowering mass of reddish vapor
and the moon, plunging behind it
peeped out at intervals in haZy circle
with suspicious and unfriendly eye.
Larremore lifted his face to the clam
my caress of the fog as he strobe along
buttoned to the chin, his case Of instru
ments in his hand. AS he neared hi
home he raised his tired eyes and saw {
light from an upper window descending
like vaporous staircase into the silen
garden.
Jenny is still up," he thought, ant
then gave vent to low exclamation O.
dismay. "Oh, yes, she is waiting t.
scold me. This was the night of Mrs
Elliston's party. She will say that
should have come and that could hav,
come. She will not understand. How
very unreasonable women are''
Obeying the sort of instinct tina
makes person take unheeded steps q
the proper distances apart in familia
neighborhood, he followed the lgh
without glancing at the house. Blu
when he had unlatched and throw
open the door he stood still in amaze
ment, an expression on his face like
man suddenly awakened from sleep.
Thiswas not his home. This richl,
toned hall, only dimly revealed in tn
leaping freight, he had never seen be
fore. All, yes, of course, he remembered
now. Thiswas the other house, and tn
mysterious tenants had evidently ar
rived. He was half disposed to laugl
at his ridiculous mistake, as he quietl.
drew back, hoping to retreat unseen
But this was not to be, for from tn
depths of agreat before the fire
woman rose slowly.
II beg your pardon" he heard
trailing voice say, with touch of impa
tient questioning.
Theme was a crackle of q match, an,
acluster of candles ON the high mante
beside her became 'semicircle Of twin
king lights. Hugh opened his lips t