Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-06-11
ny MIhhIAN r. NICHOLS.
Copyright, ,sos, by J. B. uppIneott Company:

schemes.
"It's something like this, you know"
he went on. THAT splendid creature
with name I can't pronounce is with
Miss Gray now, and until get some
body to look after the little Yankee,
YOU know, l can't have the splendid
creature to myself. don't speak much
of her lingo, you sec, and she can't
make even stagger at mine, and SO
our conversation is rather embarrass-
ing before q third party, don't you
know? I'm counting on you to help
me out"
LEAD theway," said l. I'm awilling
sacrifice"
In five minutes I found myself talk
ing to Miss Gray, while at little DIS
lance Burroughs and the fair Brazilian
were progressing famously in spite OF
the lingual limitations. Still farther
away the buxom mother OF the splendid
creature was playing discreet chape-
ron and discoursing with one OF her
countrymen.
There was glorious moon overhead
and the steamer ran smoothly over the
TRANQUIL sea. These details come
back to me far more distinctly than
the words of folly, commonplace, or
wisdom we may have exchanged. Prob
ably we talked Of the ship, the officers
and the passengers, OF Brazil and the
United States, and, last, but not least,
of the beauty and charm of the night.
The girl had something white and fluffy
thrown over her head, and her light
Jacket was buttoned about her trim fig
ure, for the evening air was cool, in
spite of our latitude. The moonlight
was kind to her, as it is to many of
her sisters, and had / attempted to
revive my afternoons opinion OF her
face, my new finding, fear, would
have been far less severely critical.
In that first evening I came to like
her exceedingly. There was nothing OF
the coquettc III her; in fact, there was
hardly touch of frivolity. She seemed
grave rather than gay, although one got
from her no suggestion of lnorose dis
position. In short, there was something
in her manner to bring to mind the
self-repression one often notes in per-
SONS long accustomed to close attend
ance upon an exacting invalid. AS it
happened, she came rightfulIy by this
air, inasmuch as her aunt was chronic
searcher for the health which she be-
licved herself to lack. With this aunt
Miss Gray had been travelling for sew
eral years
When she bade me good night gave
an hour to tobacco and Burroughs, who
chartered enthusiastically about the
flower of Brazil. incidentally, he ex-
planned that he had met Mrs. Loring
and her niece but once before the
Bcdouin sailed, and that he knew next
to nothing Of them.
"The old lady's queer one, though"
he added. "If you confess that you're
a doctor she'll make your life burden,
you know. Shun her, old chappie, shun
her"
Events proved that, even had l been
disposed to accept his advice, it would
have been extremely difficult to put it
into practice. Mrs. Loring gave me no
option in the matter. No sooner did
she discover my profession-and that
she did speedily-than she sent for mt.
I found her propped up on pillows i'll
her berth, with novel in one hand and
q fan in the other.
so kind of you, DR.. Morris, so very,
very kind" she began-"sokind to come
so soon. Really, I was in despair, yes,
in abjcct despair, until heard that yon
were a physician. am so i'll, SO mis-
erably i'll, doctor, and the ships sur
geon misjudges my case so terribly.
Would you believe it-can you be-
lieve it?-hc actually tried to humbug
me into thinking that l was we'll, per-
fectly well. And II"
She fell back upon her pillows, as it
overpowered by the remembrance of
her sufferings. Yet in a moment she
was again sitting up and pouring into
my ears torrent of words. She was a
tall woman, thin, though not emaciated,
very nervous, and one of the most
voluble persons it was ever my fate to
encounter. Her age was not far from
As years.
In spite of her repeated assertions
that she was very i'll, and the evident
faith she put in them, it was clear that
Mrs. Loring might rs we'll have been
on deck as in her state-room. An I'M
due indulgence in certain triumphs of
the ships pastry-cook, and an over
taxed digestion, would explain her all
ment to the satisfaction of anybody
but herself. The surgeons view of the
matter, expressed rather brusquely,
had served to convince the lady that he
was a brute. Perhaps had she been
lone traveller she might have had oc-
casion to put me in the same category;
but, with one thought for her and two
for her niece, 1 listened patiently to the
tale of sorrow and agony.
DWELL, Mrs. Loring," said I, when the
opportunity came, II think I have
diagnosed your case. With your CO.
operation, we'll have you well again
long before this voyage is over. I'll
prepare some medicine which think
will be effective. / shall have to ask
you to put yourself on restricted diet,
in order that the delicate chemical
changes which count upon the medi-
cine to produce as an aid to the diges-
tive ferments may progress under the
most favorable conditions. The dose
will be q teaspoonful just half an hour
before each meal. So accurately calcu-
lated are the effects that must ask you
TO follow the directions to the minute.
The slightest variation in the time may
utterly destroy the efficacy of the
drugs"
ooh, you may rely upon me, doctor"
she cried, delightedly. II understand
you perfectly--yes, perfectly. To the
minute, to the very minute, the medi-
cine shall be taken. Oh, doctor, doctor,