Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-09-23
MISCELLANEOUS.
"SLUMMING."
THE DOCTOR AND THE DISTRICT
VISITOR.

Some one was coming up the stairs
as the little district visitor was de-
scending. The ascending party
struck vesta, which threw fitful
glare over the damp and filthy walls
and the gray-gowned form of Hes
ter Moore.
DIR. Paul Maryland stepped aside,
fiattening his broad shoulders against
the balustor rail to admit wider
passage for her benefit.
During the next two weeks this
stunning" doctor and the soberly
dressed little district visitor met
about half dozen times on their
separate ways to or from some den
In crowded alley, and at the end
of fortnight they actually defied
criticism and spoke. 1t was raining
steady driZzle, and through the
niire Of muddy court Paul May
nard saw familiar form in gray
stepping over the puddles without
an umbrella.
" Please take mine," he said.
But she would only consent to
share it. X
"These places are not fit for you,n
said the doctor, later, when walking
with her homeward. "You are too
young, too.--too- Indeed, it is
scarcely safe for so young a girl to
venture among the criminals that
are hidden here"
But l must" she murmured.
"Ah, you are one of these brave
women willing to risk anything.
had heard of you long before I had
the pleasure Of lighting you down
those rickety stairs two weeks ago.n
" You have heard Of me ?n she
asked, with an abrupt sharpness of
tone which he did not notice.
Yes, from the poor wretches
whom you have made your devoted
friends" he explained. at Is more
often for you they call in the ex-
tremity of their pain than for me-"
81 am glad If / have done any
good" she said, signing with relief.
"Good !" he echoed. eff the de.
praved creatures about here worship
anything at all, it ia the Little Gray
Lady, as they have named you."
DIR. Paul Maryland was celebrating
his fortieth birthday over a lonely
cup of tea. Old Betsey, his house
keeper and One-time nurse, had made
donbtful-looking cake in honor of
the occasion, and her affectionate
master was sacrificing his digestion
to please her.
1t was not often that he was left to
enjoy Il meal in peace, and to-day
was not an exception to the rule. He
was still contemplating second slice
OF cake, when he received hasty
summons to q case in Lavender
Court.
"That's just like him." she
growled in monologue. He'll never
be rich while he doctors them pau.
pers for nothing. And they takes
vantage of his goodness, they do.
Now, If Master Jack hadn't turned
out scoundrel-" Here, being a
devout Catholic, she crossed herself
and mused mournfu!ly upon the doc.
tors secret sorrow.
" Master Jack" was Paul Nav.
lands youngest brother, his Junior
oy nfteen years, who had been left as
sacred trust by their dying
mother to the elder's care. Some
seeds OF depravity, perhaps sown in
long generations past, early devel.
oped in young Jack. After rushing
through various vicissitudes of gam.
bling end drink he devoted the re-.
manning part Of his sodden intellect
to the criminal science of burglary.
His distracted brother for several
years grieved for his sacred trust''
as thing lost to him, until one night
Jack had appeared, craving protec-
tion from the law. For the sake of
his dead mother, Paul had shielded
the boy, who, when the danger was
over, broke loose again, and in the
course of time his dexteIity earned
him in the criminal world the SOU
briquet of Lightning Jack"
AT Lavender Court, in the room
where his patient lay, DIR. Maryland
found the Little Gray Lady keeling
by the truckle.bed on which a con-
sumptive child was dying.
81 sent for you," she said. 81
knew you would come If you posi-
lively could"