Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-04-02

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She did not mention the ordered
steak.
81 don't know but what this little
doctor is good enough, as far as he
goes, miss Winslow remarked, watch
ing Bertha eat her egg; 'but he's
dreadful short and spindling. al
ways did like big man." She sat for
time in dreamy meditation, evident
ly lost in her dead past.
Bertha gazed at her rtenderly. When
she looked up, sit was so kind of you
to bring me this egg," she SAID; II
feel better for it already"
The little dressmaker came back to
herself, and resumed:
eyes, guess DR.. Malcolm's we'll
enough, and you do look brighter; but
it seems as if such big, splendid man
as DR.. Halberta ought to X now more
about hearts and things than mite of
a feller like him. Though T. don't say
but that I'm glad if you haven't got
tiff you haven't!'' She shook her
head obviously.
Bertha smiled. "Id rather trust
DR.. Malcolm and his stethoscope than
DR.. Halberta's eyes"
"Well, 1 don't know! He's awful
stylish, and he's got pretty convincing
eyes! Miss De Peyster says he's
highly connected. But I don't know"
DR.. Malcolm did not appear until
nearly noon. He was glad to find that
his patient had slept we'll.
"What did you have for breakfast?"
he asked.
Bertha blushed. She had not an
ticipated such direct questioning. But
she was honest.
"Toast aud coffee"
"Don't you like beefsteak?"
eyes"
"Why didn't you have it?"
She looked into his face. 1t was
grave, but kind.
because I could not afford it. DIR.
Halberta carried off most of my
money" she added, smiling. 81 ex-
pect more every. day" (which was
strictly true). "but it hasn't come"
"How much did that man charge
you?"
She told him.
|. He scowled, and muttered some
thing about "quacks" and clancy
prices" Then he inquired into her
mode of living.
"You must have nutritious food. 1t
is imperative. 1 think I'd better take
you over to the hospital this after
noon."
"But-how can go?"
''In my carriage. 1t is easy"
'T-haven't enough to pay my
board"
est. James Church has established
q free bed there, and it is unoccupied
just now. The rector is friend of
mine, and I will arrange it. am sure
you will be better at the hospital" he
added, seeing her flushed hesitation.
"You are very kind, doctor; but I
don't know whether I can ever pay
YOU" Her eyes filled.
'"That's all right" The young man
tossed off the words with an impatient
motion OF the head. He looked at his
watch. II will come for you ct three"
he said. "There will be plenty of
time," musingly. He turned to his
patient. II do not want you to get
up before one o'clock. You will keep
still till then?"
Certainly, If you WISH" There
was the hint of a question in her
voice; but the doctor did not appear
to heed.
Half an hour later found Bertha
still pondering the physicians last Or
der. She had begun to have sus-
picions concerning it. She heard
footsteps on the stairs, then fragmen-
tary talk near her door. A moment
more, and knock was followed by the
entrance of 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 1 was to wait and help
you," she said, in answer to Bertha'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 e1ertion.
"How good DR.. Malcolm isl"
ventured Bertha.
"Good!' echoed the other, "why,
he is just lovely! I don't know where
I'd be, il it hadn't been for HMM
my grave, maybe. I broke my hip,
and was long time at the hospital.
He carried me through that all right,
and then got me place with his
aunt. She is nice lady I've lived
there ever since. But I must go. |
You'll like it at the hospital, and I
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 q 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 and 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 aOartm ant housA