Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-12-10
yMMRzy1REM.
CuNpvl,l, T.

for some time at his window watching
the sun go down. III faded slowly out of
the western sky. There was something of
sadness in the whole aspect of nature.
The doctor evidently shared it. The face
looking from the window was anything
but IL cheerful one. He was to all !ntcnts
and purposes II disappointed man. Years
before. when his eyes were bright with
tho fires of youth, and hope was strong
i'll his heart. he had invested such money
as he possessed i'll the purchase of Il prar-
ticc at Castlcdcnc, and it had proved TO
bc II faiiure-why, no one exactly knew.
Cast!cicrc was one of the pretticst little
towns in Kent. 1t had IL town-hall. Il mar
kct-place. y weekly market, and the re-
mains OF II fac old castle: hut it was prin-
cipally distinguished for its races. Il year.
ly event which brought Il great influx of
visitors To the town. 1t was half buried
In foliage, surrounded by dense woods and
green hills. with 81 clear, swift river run
ming by. The inhabitants were divided
into three distinct classcs-thc poor. who
gained n sranty livelihood 10y working in
the fields. the shop-kccpcrs, and the gen
try, the Inttcr class consisting principally
of old maids and widows, ladies' of nm
blemislcd gentility and limited means.
Among the latter Dr. Lctsom WAS not
popular. He had III unpleasant fashion
of calling everything by its right name.
III :: lady would take II little more slim
ulant tInn was good for her, lie could
not be persuaded to call her complaint
"ncryouSucss;;" when idlcncss and ennui
pre-. q upon n languid frame. hc had II
staining habit of rousing the patient by
mcu,ui cnutcry. The poor idolizcd him.
hut the ladies pronounced him course.
abrupt. unpleasing: and when ladies do
rice against n doctor, fate frowns upon
him.
Matters we're growing desperate,
thought Er. I.ctscm OIL this autumn
night, as he stood watching the chrysan-
tlcnuns and The fading light in the west
ern sky. Mnnry was becoming II rare
commodity with him. His housckccpcr.
Mrs. Galbraiti,. had long been e%vincing
signs Of great discomfort. She hai not
enough for I,er rcquirrmcnts-shc wanted
nlc;,ry for Il hundred different things,
al.i the doctor had none to give her.
He was almost tired of the struggle.
life had not been IL grand success with
him: he had worked hard, yet nothing had
seemed liz prosper. In his early youth
he hid loved a bright. pretty girl, who
had looked forward to becoming his wife;
but he had never married. simply because
he had not had the means. and the pretty
girl had died n sad, disappointed woman.
Now, AS he watched the stars. hr tancird
them shining on her grave; liz fanc.el
the grass waving above her head. so long
and cool. studded with large whitc daisies;
antl h. wished that lie were lying by her
side. free from cate. and al resi-.
He was turning away. with Il feeling of
c%onlrmpt for his w weakness. when he
WAS startled by the sound of II vehicle
driven fnriuusly down Caste street. Ste
phcn t.risom stood still and WATCHED. He
SAW a travelling outrage. with two horses.
arivcn rapidly up to the door OF the prin-
cipal hotrl-thc Castle Arlms-and there
Stand for some minutes: but after II tine
the horses heads were turned. and then.
like u roll OF thunder. came the noise of
tho carriage wheels.
The vehicle drew up before his door.
and the doctor stood for Il few moments
as :l.nngi, paralyzci. Then came Il vio-
lci,i ;ral of the door bell: and he, know
Ing that Mrs. Ga,hrnith had retired for
The evening. went to answer il. There.
indeed, in the starlight. were the hand
some travelling carriage, the pair of gray
horses. and the position. Stephen Let
sou looked about him like one in IL dream.
He had been twenty years i'll the place.
vet 40 carriage had ever stopped at his
dear.
ILL.,. heard n quick. impatient voice, say
ing;
care you the doctor-pr. I.ctsom?"
l.noNiug in the direction of the sound.
the doctor SAW II tall. distinguished look
iMs man. wrapped III IL travelling cloak
Il man whose face and manner inlicatcda nj
once THAT he belonged to the nppcl ranks
of society. DIR. Stephen LeiAsm was
quick 10 recognize that fact.
II am the doctor.' he replied quietly.
''rhen, for heavens sake, help me. |
am almost mad. My wife has been sud
dcn.y taken i'll. aud l nave been to the
hotel. where they tell me they have not Il
loom in which they can lodge her. The
thing is Incredible. You must help me-
81 win do what | cam" returned TIL,
doctor.
Had fortune indeed knocked at his doc,
al last:
lie went to the carriage door. and. look.
ing inside. SIM Il lady. young and beau
ttrul. who stretched out her hands 10 Inn
as though appealing for hep.
~ am very ill.," she moaucd fcebiy.
Dr. I.ctsum guessed 50 much from he
pullid face and Swallowed eyes.
"Wliat is the matter with your wifcy
he asked of the Strange gentleman. who
bent down and whispered something thu,
mmdr DR.. Lctsum himself look anxious.
"Now. Doctor said the Traveller. lit i.
useless To raise objections. You see how
the matter stands: my wife must STOP
here. The hotel is fuii of visiiols-pcop!e
who are here for the races. There is no
where else for her to go-Sl,c must stay
here"
"Nait one moment" said the doctor:
and he FASTENED to rouse his houSckeeper,
who. curious and interested. excrtcd her.
self so :is to satisfy even the stranger.
Then the stinngc lady. nj! white and
trembling, was helped down from the car
riagc into the doctors shabby little par
Ier.
"Am / going to die!" she asked, raising
her large blue eyes to the doctors face.
Certainly NIT" he replied. promptly;
s.you mus: not wink of dying"