Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-02-18

was astonished does considerable injus-
tice to his state of mind. He stood re-
garding the brightly polished, clearly
1ettered announcement for fully ten
minutes Then he rang the bell, and an
answering peal came from just the 9TH
err side of the panel, but no one arrived
to open, for it was the middle of the
day and Billiam was at his classes. DIR.
Macfarlano could learn little from the
seamstress or her sister beyond the gen
eral suspicion that their neighbor upon
the other side of the landing was may
bes no vera RIGHT in his mind.
1t was not the seamstress, but the
seamstress' sister, who volunteered this
information.
"But he sent us in these" added the
seamstress, who was a pale and exceed
ingly pretty girl, pointing to some
nobly pumped purple grapes which lay
ON plate on the little cracked table by
the bedside.
"He'll be a kind O. young doctor
seekin job, mas doot," said the seam
stress sister, sinking back on her pill
lows, for gratitude was not her strong
point.
The suggestion excited the doctor, for
he was a man who had worked hard at
his most uncertain and unremunerative
practice. Besides which he had a young
family growing up about him. If, there
fore, he was to have young interloper
settling in the center Of his sphere of
influence, it was as well to know with
whom he had to contend.
So he called upon Billiam.
1t was o'clock in the evening when
DIR. Macfarlane came stumbling up Bill
liam S stairs The door stood slightly
ajar, and there came from the other
side confused murmur of voices, a
yelping of dogs, with sundry other
sounds which even the doctors trained
ear could not distinguish. But, above
all, there rose fitfully the shrill cry of
an infant. Upon hearing this last the
doctor pushed the door with the brass
plate open, which, when he stepped
within, seemed at first nearly full Of
people. 1t was brightly enough lighted,
for the broad flame of No. gas burn
er Missed with excess of pressure above
the bare mantelpiece. a fire burned in
the CRATE, which shone cheerfully
enough, being heaped high with small
Jumps Of coal.
Most Of the people were ranged along
the walls of the room, sitting with
their backs against the wall paper, upon
which their shoulders had made u
glossy brown stripe all round-youug
lads with dogs between their knco Us,
girls holding cats III baskets, middle
aged women nursing birds III cages.
They talked to each other i'll subdued
tones or to their pets in reproving whis
pers Sometimes dog would become
excited by the voice Of a cat complain
ing of bonds and imprisonment neal
him, but he would be promptly cutfec
into submission by his master, or {
canary would suddenly flutter agains
the bars, warned by instinct Of the
proximity of SO many enemies.
Mostly, however, there was respect
full silence The doctor stood awhile
rooted in Amusement and did not ever
take any notice when several Of hi
former patients nodded affably acros
to him.
Presently, from an inner room, Their
came forth hard featured man, carry
ing a large book under his arm. Billian
followed behind him, his shock of hal
tossed and rumpled. He was stoopinI
forward and eagerly explaining some
thing to the man. So intent was h
upon the matter in hand that he passe,
the doctor without so much as noticing
him.
, "And I'll look in and see how tn
pair of you have got on tomorrow,
Billiam said, shaking the hard feature
5 man warmly by the hand at the door.
Billiam turned and for the first tim
A looked the doctor fair in the face.
5 "My name is DR.. Macfarlane. hav
$ practice in this neighborhood, " sal
the physician, land l should like tn
Y favor of a few words with you"
f "Certainly by all means-wit
T. pleasure, " replied Billiam. Come thi
: way"
2 And they went together into the sec
4 ond of the Montgomery street garret'
= 1t was nearly as bare of furniture as tn
{ first. There was no more than a table
f some bottles and an instrument case
: while round the room, arranged so as
. make the most of themselves, stood Bi
liams three chairs.
g "Take one" said the student polite
{ ~, bat DIR. Macfarlane preferred
s stand till he knew exactly where /
8 was.
e 81 have the honor of addressing"-
i he said and paused.
s william Reginald Setoun Orm
J. thwaite," said Billiam quietly.
d "You are doctor?" queried his vi
!, itor.
"By no means. am only student,
G said Billiam quickly, "but l give the
people hand with anything they briI
h along"
d "Do you possess any qualifications!
k persisted DIR. Macfarlane.
10 Qualification" said Billiam, a Ii
tie perplexed. "Well, I've been pate
g ing up dogs legs and things all my life.
"But, sir" cried the doctor indi
to nantly, this is no better than an eQui
IS ocation. 1 heard you with my own ca
10 prescribing for the man who went o
l. just now-an old patient of my own
S. mistake not. And 1 saw you wi
h these eyes taking fee from him as
id passed through the door. Are you awal
ID sir, that the latter is an indictat
1t offense?'
az Rilliam smiled with his usual Ouiet