The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1895-02-28

Il
| eager TO hear about it, He supposed
there was an accident: there had been
two stops already about that hot box.
a little crowd passed the window
carrying something--he could not see
what, for those standing around lie
! crancd his neck, his professional in
| stincts aroused.
a worried-looiiug woman in the
door of the brown house seemed to be
denying the sufferer entrance with
animated gestures and angry shakes
of her frow2y head. Three white
haired little children hung 20 her
skirts, and she pointed 20 them in
proof of her assertions. DR.. John half
rose as the conductor came in the car.
rs 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, briskly.
The conductor hesitated. "Wcll, sir.
she's young woman, but think she's
married"
The ladies in the car took up their
books in disgust. An elderly. portly
man in front of Or. John buried him
self behind his newspaper. DIR. John
knew him TO be physician.
I'm doctor" said DR.. John, gath
ering up his belongings. 'I shall be
glad TO see what can do"
You may be detained over a train, ="
hcsitnted the official; "and she's evil
IDENTIFY poor-hasn't any baggage"
II am, fortunately, able to attcnd to
the suffering without having my pay
dangled before my eyes TO spur me
on" growlcd DIR. John, passing the
lady readers with looks of disgust
Not one of 'em offered oven shawl,
and the sick creature / suppose is
destitute"
He pushed through the crowd gath
cred about the house and dispersed
them with very vigorous English. a
pleasant-faced young man handed him
a roll of bills.
Il collected that in our Pullman.
We're not all so heartless as you say"
$50 that's you, Jimmy Watson" !"
smiled the doctor. II ask your pardon;
before this | thought you were just a
dude. shall tell your mother there
is hope for you"
Thanks" laughed the younger man.
There's twenty-five dollars. | sup
pose, though, your fees will gobble it
all up"
TO the last cent, Jimmy; that's why
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; Il suppose
you call yourself a Christian woman,
ma'am."
There hain't no meeting-housc in
this forsaken country not for forty
miles, Jest plains" she said. sourly,
''and, having n family of my own, |
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, take it., grinned the
doctor, ''to your sex"
She smiled little grimly, and took
up her youngest child in motherly sort
of way that pleased the keen observer.
you've got a kind heart; your
And now do your best for the sick
woman. l have plenty of money to
pay YOU"
Il put her in my bed" said the
woman, shyly. shes pretty little
thing, and is clean out of her head, but
she hain't no wedding-r!ng.
"Well, she is punished now, poor
girl, for her share in the wrong-doing
without you and me saying anything"
IAN aboard sounded outside As
the train ratified away, DR. 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 ca " 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 a days
work. The hospitality of the poor often
means personal deprivation.
rs she goiu' TO live?" asked the man.
Il hope so. The baby is fine boy"
Both Of 'em better dead, il what
wife thinks of her is true" sighed the
man. AS for the bow if he must grow
up and work rs I've done, never Fittin'
no further, he won't thank You for
a-aavin Of him"
He may turn ont great man some
day; and thcn," said Dr. John, half to
himself-"she is not common or un-
educated woman, the mother-he may
be the bettor for the story of his birth,
strive to rise the higher for it."
Likely not he won't. Them 'sylum
children don't amount 70 much in gen
eral, Takes a 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 everythin' a
woman can stan. III 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 out by the stove. Later
the children were wild about IL. Did
the train leave the baby? We're 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 doe.
tor, who was taking nap in the chill
drens bed.
81 +hiply s;r Sha cafi vv,rr;aI1,-