The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-03
HER REYENaR.

y $780,
"wAy Do women insiss on tyise VIZ
men In the professional said rich Mir
Van Bussom three times In succession q
certain afternoon tea while she looked .
Miss Greenlesf, aged As. Then she observet
that no doubt the new doctor, like man,
another deserving person, had been oruell,
disappointed and despaired Of anothel
chance. So the tea ended, and the coteri,
kissed and disbanded,
1t was late In December that DR.. Pru
dence wickham moved into one Of the fash
ionable side streets hard by Creamery
park. 1t was snowing-snowing SO furi
ously that faces were indistinguishable ai
short range. First came furniture van
and when it had been emptied a handsome
cab dashed down the cobbled pavement
and deposited tall, dignified woman,
with short stout attendant, on the side
walk. They hurriedly entered the house,
the door slamming behind thein., Then
the van and cab vanished and night and a
bowling blizzard set in.
If the people Of the street were mystifled
dom Of anxiety the next morning when the
sun, rising majestically, cast its cold,
slanting rays on the FURNISHED sign here.
tofore mentioned.
Then the days went by and the solicitous
neighbors watched and waited. But no.
body called DR.. Wickham out. Christmas
came and went and the brass sign con.
tinued to glow under ~ daily labors Of
the stout servant But doctor did not
venture from her solitude w."
And New Years eve was come again,
and the people of the neighborhood were
wild with excitement, for the ringing of
the chimes in the church tower was an
event that annually rejuvenated everybody.
Thither on this bitter night, as the hands
Of the old clock assembled to the hour of 10,
thousands wendell their way. There were
acres Of fur cloaks and blue noses, and the
frozen snow crunched with metallic ring
beneath myriad of gum shoes. At last
the great bells in the tower pealed out and
told that another year had been born. And
simultaneously the blare of trumpets,
arising from the crowd, almost shut out
their music.
Suddenly a cry went up--a cry that some
one had swooned. The horns ceased, the
bells rang on, and everybody gathered
around the PROSTATE form Of young Willie
Van Bussom, who lay upon the snow
white and listless.
as there medical man in the crowd?"
some one asked
Eyes. VIII you kindly allow me to get
hold of his pulse?" answered strong faced
woman as she edged her way through the
ranks. 1t was Dr. Prudence Wickham.
'Ah, the cold has told on him and his
body is fast becoming rigid" she said.
"IIe must be taken to my office instantly
or he will not survive ten minutes.
Strong arms gladly obeyed and Willie
Van Bussom was borne away and deposit.
ed on lounge in the physicians office.
Then the crowd withdrew, tho doors
closed, and between her clinched teeth DR..
Prudence Wickham, alone with her victim,
muttered:
"At lastl At last!'
For time she surveyed the motionless
form before her in glad triumph Then
walking to her surgical case she took out
an assortment of knives and saws. De,
posting them upon n small table near her
patients head, she took strong cord from
a wall closet and bound him hand and foot
to the sofa This accomplished, she held
vial Of ammonia water to his nose and
shook him violently.
What trumpsY" he asked as he yawned
and opened his eyes in bewildered way.
'Bo quiet, my poor fellow" answered
DR. Wickham in assuring though profes.
sonal tones. Then she drew the table
with the instruments into palmer view
and locked the door of the room.
But where am II" he pleaded.
"Oh never mind. You must 90 to sleep
now so that l may begin the operation.
And thereupon DR.. Wckham proceeded to
saturate sponge with chloroform.
What are you going to do to mei' he
again demanded, now thoroughly awake
and excited.
"Why, don't you know that am about
to amputate both your legs? I'm awfully
sorry, but
"Amputate my legs"
YES. So prepare for the ordeal" And
she set the chloroform down and took up
the biggest saw on the table
Willie Van Bussom wriggled and
thrashed and plunged, but to no avail.
The cord held him prisoner. When he had
finally exhausted all his strength, DR..
Wickhan leaned over him, and with a
pair Of scissors proceeded to dvest him Of
the lower portions of his trousers
Won't you have some pity? Can't we
fix it up by arbitration? / don't wish to
lose my legs" And his sobs were loud and
pathetic.
To DR., Wickhams mature mind it was
nj hat hn M fIp hnl nrp
SO, arrcsting her scissors, she looked into
his face and said:
What would you do to save themp'
What would l not dor" he answered.
II shall inherit great wealth. 1t shall be
yours. "
They looked at one another for time.
Then DR. Wickham broke the silence.
''If that Is ALL then off they come" And
she reached for the saw once more.
Hold Hold l will, moreover, agree
the words clogged in his throat-"I will
agree to marry you"
There, that is sufficient" answered
DR.. Wickham, And then cutting the thong
that held his right hand she babe him
write his proposal down on paper.
With n trembling hand he did 80, and it
ran as follows:
My DEAREST DR. wIoKHAM-You have saved
my life, and In my gratitude for your services
] offer you my hand In wedlock. Your slave,
WILLIAM VAN BUssoM.
The first sun that arose on the newborn
year found them standing before minis
ter. The occasion, strange enough, was
also their birthday. She was Az and he
was 90.
The groom's mother refused to be recon-
ciled at first. But when Miss Greenleaf
sent her profuse congratulations, she re-
Tented, for her sensibilities were not blunt