Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-12-05

However, my professional duties
We're not so ardous that | did not find
time to notice a trim little figure that
fitted in and out through the big en-
trance door. dressed always exIuis. .tely.
but quietly.
My interest in Mrs. Traine deepened
when l heard her story. Her husband
had been killed in a railway accident
three years before. The insurance
money was almost gone, and the little
widow added 10 the income that must
support herself and invalid mother by
giving music lessons to a few wealthy
girls.
A daintier little rosebud of a woman
1t would have been hard to find. Soft
brown hair, tossed in truant curls about
the low forehead, a voice that spoke
always gently, blue eyes full of mirth,
and a complexion that looked like 1t
had been bathed in the morning dew.
Once or twice had held the big door
open for her to pass out, and bowed in
response to the low thank you Ear
ly after my coming to the building a
boy on the top floor had been accom-
modati! enough to get hurt in the ele-
vator, aud l had been called in as the
most available physician. Luckily, !!
brought the boy through so well that
his parents as well as the youngster
himself, sounded my praises so loudly
that found myself with quite a repu-
tation and incidentally practice in the
neighborhood. Still, l had not met Mrs.
Traine, and l was beginning wickedly
to hope some accident-ever so slight a
one, of course-might happen to her, a
sprained ankle or wrist, that l might
have the joy of caring for. However,
the fates preserved Mrs. Traine from
accident, and l continued to watch for
glimpses of her from my office window.
/ had bowed the last patient out for
the evening, and settled myself for
smoke before bedtime. My meditations,
. ningling with the blue curling smoke,
were interrupted by a piercing scream,
and then another. l rushed into the
hall The screams came from the
Traine apartment above. in another
moment | was knocking on the door,
which was opened by Mrs. Traine her
gasped, catching hold of my arm.
We've got him-out therein the pam
try-poor mamma"
"Who?' l asked.
''The burglar. He was hid in the
dining g-room-mamma saw him, and he
ran into the pantry-and l locked the
door-and-he's trying to jump out of
tne window.
l heard a noise as of some one trying
20 push up a window, and opening the
pantry door there he was. a sure
enough burglar, evil-browed ana sullen,
who cropped the window and turned to
face me.
You can't make a jump from that
window, my man." l said. you had
better be quiet"
1 turned the lock again, but Mrs.
.aine, divining my purpose, clung to
my arm. Don't co. she cried, fran
tically. I'VE can't stay here alone
minute Then to my relief that same
small boy who had served me so well
professionally appeared on the thresh-
old, attracted by the cries. OF he went
to call the police, while l tried to quiet
two hysterical women.
In a few minutes the burglar was
handcuffed and led away, but the shock
had proved too much for Mrs. Traine's
invalid mother. The fainting spell was
followed by delirium, and her daughter
and ! watched by her bedside until
morning.
OF course, was installed as attend
ing physician, and never failed to call
morning and evenings. When the pa
ut was able to sit up l sometimes
ad aloud to her as an excuse to re
main longer, watching the daughter a.
some household task.
One evening l staid for tea Mrs
CEsine wore Q dainty gown Of white