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

dut a hnOCh Ndo lOllOhC ny lhO
entrance of a young woman with a
basket.
CDR. Malcolm sent me with your
dinner" she announced, proceeding to
set the dishes upon the table.
Did ever beef tea and steak taste so
good! After she had eaten, the woman
made her rest little while while she
arranged her clothing and the few
articles which she would need to take.
doctor said l was to wait and help
you," she said, in answer to Berths's
protestations, and she gave such eff
cient aid that when the sick girl was
fully equipped for her little journey,
she was not much the worse for the
slight exertion.
''How good DIR. Malcolm isl"
ventured Bertha.
"Goodp echoed the other, "why,
he is just lovely / don't know where
I'd be, if it hadn't been for HMM
my grave, maybe. I broke my hip,
and was a long time at the hospital.
He carried me through that all right,
and then got me place with his
aunt. She is a nice lady. I've lived
there ever since. But 1 must go.
You'll like it at the hospital, and /
hope you'll get we'll fast"
The doctor was ON time.
"You will be back in little while,
better than you have been in year,
he said, as he steadied her across the
room.
Exertion made her conscious of her
weakness. She stood trembling while
he shut the door aud locked it.
''You must not walk" he said, and
before she realized his purpose he
had her comfortably in his arms and
was carrying her down the stairs. 1t
seemed useless to demonstrate, so she
only thanked him quietly when he set
her on her feet at the street entrance.
At the hospital she made fair pro-
gress towards health; but it was five
weeks before she went back to her lit
tie room in the apartment house.
''It does seem so good to have you
here again." said Miss Winslow,
establishing herself for a comfortable
chat. 'I've been so lonesome 1
couldn't set myself about anything
evenings. Queer, how DR.. Halberta
petered out, isn't it? Haven't you
heard? Why, he raked in the money
right and left, and finally cleared out
one night, leaving lots of debts, and
taking ever so many things he hadn't
paid for! Strange! when he was such
a good-looking mani I think some
times you can't trust anybody. Seems
as if you couldn't"
Bertha took up her writing again,
and worked as hard as she dared, in
hopes of earning enough to pay some
thing of her indebtedness to DIR.
Malcolm. He had treated the matter
very lightly when she had mentioned
it; but that did not lessen her feeling
of responsibility. She had been home
but few days when the doctor came
to take her for a drive. The fresh Dir
would do her good, he said. They
drove into the country, and talked
of many things. They had grown to
know each other well during these
weeks of Bertha's illness. That
morning she had received ten-dollar
check for poem. Now she drew it
from her purse, and handed it to the
doctor. He looked at it, and passed
it back to her.
The girl flushed. 81 know it isn't
much," she said; "but it is begin
ming"
"I never did like beginnings" he
laughed.
''But must begin to pay you for
your care of me-you have done so
much, more than can be told in dol
lars and cents"
''The worst of a physicians life is
the dollars-and-cents part" he said.
"I wish the doctors were paid by the
Government, and / might never have
to present another bill to a patient.
But 1 shall let you pay me, if you
will"
She held the check towards him.
"No," gently putting her hand
aside, "if you really wish to pay me,
there is only way in which you can do
it."
"How?"
"Turn about and take care of me.
I have no home; but 1 shall have one.
1t will be small and plain, for L am
not rich; but think we can be happy,
if you will come and care for me.
Will you?"
Had the wealth of the world been
dropped at Bertha's feet she could
scarcely have been more dazed. There
had never been the least hint of the
lover in DIR. Malcolm. She sat like
one stupefed.
care you not SO anxious to pay me,
if it be not in paper or silver?"
"Oh, no, no!-I mean -yesl" she
stammered, covered with confusion.
The doctor lifted his hat to patty
of ladies in smart strap. Then he
drew deep breath.
Bertha turned quickly towards him.
81 was thinking" said he, "what If
/ hadn't knocked at the wrong door!"
The Housewife.