Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-18
than 80. and had bright, mobile face

than 80. and had bright. mobile face
too. He thought of her humorous eyes,
and OF her strong, we'll turned chin. It
revolted him the more to recall the de-
tails of her education. A man Of course
could come through such an ordeal with
all his purity, but it was nothing short
of shameless in woman.
But it was not long before he learned
that even her competition was thing
to be feared. The novelty of her pres
ence had brought a few curious invalids
into her consulting rooms, and once
there they had been SO impressed by
the firmness of her manner and by the
singular new fashioned instruments
with which she tapped and peered and
sounded that it formed the core of their
conversation for weeks afterward. And
soon there We're tangible proofs of her
powers upon the countryside. Farmer
Eyton, whose callous ulcer had been
quietly spreading over his shin for years
back under a gentle regime of zinc ONT
ment, was painted round with blister
ing fluid and found after three blasphe-
nous nights that his sore was stimulat-
ed into healing. Mrs. Crowder, who had
always regarded the birthmark upon
her second daughter, Eliza, as a sign
OF the indignation of the Creator at
third helping of a raspberry tart which
She had partaken of during critical
period, learned that, with the help of
two galvanic needles, the mischief was
not irreparable. In month DR.. Ver-
rinder Smith was known, and in two
she was famous. \
Occasionally DR.. Ripley met her as no
drove upon his rounds. She had started
a high dogcart, taking the reins herself,
with little tiger behind. When they
met, he invariably raised his hat with
punctilious politeness, but the grim Sc.
verify of his face showed how formal
was tho courtesy. III fact, his dislike
was rapidly deepening into absolute Diet.
estatlon. 1.-The unseXed woman" was
the description Of her which ho permit
ted himself to give to those Of his pa
tients who still remained sta3ch. But
indeed they were rapidly decreasing
body, and every day his pride was CALLED
by the news of some fresh detection.
The lady had somehow impressed the
country folk with an almost supersti-
tions belief in her power, and from far
and near they f1ocked to her consulting
room.
But what CALLED him most of all was
when she did something which he had
pronounced to be impracticable. For
all his knowledge he lacked nerve as an
operator and usually sent his worst
cases up to London. The lady, how
ever, had no weakness Of the sort and
took everything that came in her way.
It was agony to him to hear that she
was about to straighten little Alec Tur-
ner's club foot, and right at the fringe
of the rumor came note from his moth
er, the rector IS wife, asking him il he
would be SO good as to act as chlorO-
formist. 1t would be ;nhumSnity to re-
fuse, as there was no other who could
take the place, but it was gall and
in spite of his vexation he could not but
admire the dexterity with which the
thing was done. She handled the little
waxlike foot so gently and held the tiny
tenotomy knife as an artist holds his
pencil. One straight incision, one snick
of tendon, and it was all over with
out q stain on the white towel which
lay beneath. He had never seen any
thing more mastery, and he had the
honesty to say SO, though her skill in
creased his dislike of her. The operation
spread her fame still farther at his ex-
pense, and self preservation was added
to his other grounds for detesting her.
And this very detestation it was which
brought matters to curious climax.
One winters night, just as he was ris.
ing from his lonely dinner, groom
came riding down from Squire Faircas-
ties, the richest man in the district, to
say that his daughter had scalded her
hand, and that medical help was needed
Oh the instant. The coachman had rid
den for the lady doctor, for it mattered
nothing to tho squire who came, as long
as it We're speedily. DR.. Ripley rushed
from his surgery with the determine
tion that she should not effect an en-
trance into this stronghold Of his if hard
driving ON his part could prevent it.
He did not even wait to light his lamps,
but sprang into his gig and few off as
fast as hoof could rattle. He lived rather
nearer to the squire's than she did and
was convinced that he could get there
we'll before her.
And so he would but for that whim-
steal element of chance which will for
ever muddle mp the affairs of this world
81
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