The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-04-20

NY Sullle, MS pdtleut was SWepI ny q
thrill of admiration. But at his
words her face whitened.
"Oh, you have heart diseased"
She looked at him appealingly.
"How do you-know?" she falter-
ed.
The doctor had abandoned his
smile, and stood considering her
gravely.
"a very easy matter" he replied
nonchalantly. "I could tell the mo-
ment 1 saw you. But there is no use
in being alarmed; that only heightens
the danger and retards recovery"
''Do you think can getwell, then?'
she asked eagerly.
"Possibly-possibly. ] cannot tell
yet. If I can see you every day, ]
presume I can help you"
A few questions followed, which
Bertha answered lamely. Her heart
beat wildly, aud her brain was con-
fused. There was piteous look in
her tender blue eyes. 1t seemed to
arouse the doctor to something akin
to sympathy, for he said:
'You must not allow this to worry
you unduly. 1t is hard thing to tell
a patient what 1 have told you; but !
consider the truth to be best under
all circumstances There is chance
that l may be able to cure you-a
chance-only that; but chance is
sometimes worth much in this world. u
He left some medicine, and rose to
go.
Bertha drew her purse from under
her pillow.
"How much?"
'"Ten dollars" carelessly.
The face on the pillow grew winter.
With trembling fingers the girl handed
out one of the two bills the purse con,
tanned. The doctor glanced at it, and
tucked it into his vest pocket.
Tomorrow 1 will see you, he be-
gan.
NO." she interrupted, 'I-cannot
afford-I shall not be able to pay
you"
"Ah, we'll, as you please" said the
doctor, somewhat stiffiy. ''But l tell
you this much; if you have home
you better get to it as quick as you
can!" He bowed himself out, shut
ting the door with noiseless precision.
The sick girl stared at the wall. II
was covered with paper showing i'm
possible blue and brown flowers in i'm
possible garlands. One wreath had al
ways seemed to represent winged
cherub in a smart bonnet. Now, as
Bertha looked at it, the face of the
cherub appeared to be that of demon
leering at her despair. When Miss
Winslow came she found her with the
blanket over her head, to shut out the
evil face.
The little dressmaker was shocked
at the news.
"I'm dreadful sorry" she said, her
eyes full of tears; "but perhaps it
isn't so bad as the doctor thinks.
Though folks do say he's awful smart.
A man must be, to tell things by just
looking at you. I've heard that about
him before. Isn't he handsome,
though? But now, don't you go tC
worrying! My aunt had heart disease
fifteen years before it killed her; sc
you are not going to die yet"
For four days Bertha Wayne lay ii
her stuffy little room, exhausted and
despairing, with only Miss Winslow'f
visits to break the long, monotonous
nightmare. eff 1 am no better" she
had said, "I shall have to 60 to the
hospital" But Miss Winslow's an
swer had been emphatic:
Indeed, you shall notl 1t is more
genteel to stay here, and will take
care of you. AS long as you lie abed
you don't need much but toast and
tea, and that's easy enough got. Moth
ing would tempt me inside hospital,
and you are not goingf"
But Bertha did not improve on the
toast and tea diet and DIR. Hslberta's
medicine. Every day brought in
creased suffering. On the fifth morn
ing she became desperate, and al
tempted to dress; but she was seized
with an overpowering weakness, and
was forced to lie down again. Hel
heart acted strangely, now beating
violently, now seeming to stop. Per
spiration stood on her face; breathing
was difficult. 1t seemed to her that
her last hour had come. An awful
numbness was creeping over her. She
tried to frame prayer.
A light knock sounded at the door.
1t aroused the sick girl, and she sum
moned all her strength for the needed
word.
The door opened.
"Is this where a physician is
needed?"
1t was "that ugly little dOctor?"
Bertha was too near unconscious
ness to answer; but the young man
did not wait. In a moment he was
holding a stimulant to her lips. His
fingers were ON her pulse.
There, you feel better?" he said.
She smiled family. 81 thought ]
was dying"
"Were you frightened? / think