The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-02-26

stituted Mentor. "rhese follows swear
by the old doctor, who is glad to take
his pay in Mountain Dew You may
whistle for money of any color" this
last being n thrust ut the already de-
clared temperance proclivities of Ii
guest.
Out" urged the man in self.de.
Tense, 1.-THE ould docther's that drunk
he'll not be after stirring the night /;
AMI it's COOL silver I'll pay we, aud
bring yo back meself in the morn
ing"
DR.. Nelson looked doubtfully Mt his
wife. Could he possibly leave her
alone all night in a country tavern, of
which lie knew nothing2 She would
not meet his gaze with her eyes full
of fast gathering tears. Had she not
by Stiffness and cowardice, interfered
with his previous career? At least
she felt very guilty over her secret
rejoicing whenever the night passed
without n summons to some bedside !;
hut i'll assuming matrou's bonnet
she really meant to turn over new
leaf and bravely act her part as the
doctors wife in their new home. Be
sides, In novel surroundings women
are often more venturesome than men !;
so she said, encouragingly: cit may
be the tide Mt it's flood, dear.
The night was dark aud threaten
ing, and the rough bride paths over
the mountain seemed nearly over
grown in places, Judging from the
boughs that at times almost swept the
doctor Off his horse Gusts of wind
blew the coming rain in his face; but
his taciturn companion still stalkod
clumsily along, leading the horse,
which gave evident signs of disap-
proval. After n tedious climb of an
hour or more n flint glimmcr through
some opening announced their arrival
at human habitation, even before
furious barking of dogs greeted the
unaccustomed footballs of the horse.
Dismounting. the half-anxious doc
tor followed tho Irishman into the
lighted cabin, whose one room seemed
entirely empty. But there was an in
mate-a woman clad in faded calico,
who, with her face hidden in limp
sunbonnet, sat rocking her thin, spare
body backward and forward before
the big fireplace, where pine knots
gave forth glaring light and n
warmth that was pleasantly apparent
after the crisp night air.
1t needed but glance Mt the fixed,
strained muscles of the sallow face to
convince tho doctor that lockjaw was
the cause of the silent tongue, which
had impressed the husband as some
L., II 4
canny, to the exclusion of any special
concern about badly hurt and very
painful ankle, which had been en-
tirely neglected.
But few days before, the doctor
had CHANGED to read in torn scrap of
newspaper that chloroform was an in
valuable remedy for lockjaw, Sir
james Simpsons experiments with
chloroform having recently called the
attention of the whole world to its
capabilities and development as an
aesthetic. Fortunately, he had a
small wal in the leather saddle-pock-
cts which were tho inseparable com
pnnious of doctor in the days when
druggists were found in large towns
only, and patent medicines were not
among the stock in trade of every
crossroads store.
A moment sufficed for him to I'M
stop the vial and saturate his own
handkerchief, the appearance of the
cabin hardly warranting the forth
coming OF such luxury. The look
of relief on the woman's face was sec
ond only to that which ovcrspread her
husbands countenance, as soon after
ward she found her tongue sufficiently
to berate him soundly for having
brought her that "spalpeen of doc
tor instead of their old friend and
fellow-toper.
After settling his patient in the one
bed of which the cabin boosted, the
doctor slept off his fatigue, rs best he
could, by doing and dreaming in a
straight backed, hard bottomed chair
Under the circumst lnccs, breakfast
seemed so doubtful IL quantity that,
with the carly dawn, he wended his
way back down the mountain, accom-
panied to the edge of civilization by
the presumably grateful husband who,
in parting, gingerly counted out two
quarters and gruffiy said "Good-by,"
with no word of thanks or praise
The young man pocketed the first
fee and grimly vowiug to keep it for
luck, returned 10 the tavern thor
oughly disheartcned at the prospect
of similar night journeys and their i'll
proportional recompense. " was n
bad beginning, but hearty breakfast
and n sympathetic wife caused him to
decide that one must not quarrel with
ones bread, even though It be unbut-
| tered. During the day, d call from
another miner further confirmed him
in the resolve TO waive his preiudiccs
for tho time being, and after that nc
really had no time TO think my more
about thcm.
Somebody, either tho tacituru hus-
] bind or the shrcwish wife, told won.
drous tales of the 'spalpcen' doctor,
who without drop of medicine md
with hut Whit Mt quccr-smcllinp
| handkerchief had brought back the old
womau's speech To thom tho bal
/. foot was % much moro ordinary affair
I although it was lingering cIso which
called for many visits from tho do.
tor, who made them cOnscicntiously