Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-04-19

cried Fannie, to whom a swoon was
suggestive of immediate dissolution.
ooh, Sybil, Sybil! Darling Sybil. do
speak to me once again! OBJ, 4sWyllis,
look how white she is! Will Herbert
never come back with the doctor?
Sybil-'
sibilant voice seemed to startle our he
rome from her momentary tOrDOr, as
though it We're the hiss Of a snake
s'do be quiet! 1t is only faint. See,
she seeming to nicely now. Take a
little of this brandy, Miss Wraye.
Now you feel better, I Lam sure"
Yes. better-nluch better!' gasped
Sybil. 81 am quite recovered now
She passed her hand slowly over her
brow ''What was it that frightened
me so:" 49,! 80. l~
I'm sure 1 don't KNOW" answered
Fanny, hysterical between joy ana
grief. "You were just going to speak
to papa, and fell right down, as if he
had struck you; and YOU frightened me
out of my very wits. you precious.
precious darling!" concluded the I'M
pulsive girl, emphasizing each adjcct-
i've With an embrace.
'Yes. 1 assure YOU. my dear. it was
nothing but a swoon." said the house.
keeper gently. sit was quite unneces-
sary to send for the DOCTOR
Dear me- Mrs. Wyllis! l don't be-
leve that YOU would get excited if any
one We're dying" said Fannie, Detu-
lantly. "Of course it was necessary to
send for doctor. and l am very hap
py to say here comes DR.. Bond now"
The doctor entered the room as she
spoke. He was queer-loolSing little
man. With snow-whitc hair plated in
an old-fashoned que down his back
and he was arraycd in the primitive
style of knee-breechcs and shoe-buck-
les. He had lived for nearly forty
years in a quaint little vine-Wreathed
cottage about a quarter of Il milo from
the Towers, and although his practice
was comparatively small. his vigorous
pen had ade him known far and wide
as Il man of deep thought and extend
ed culture.
He had q brisk, caustic manner. that
caused him to be generally feared
rather than loved: but those who had
experienced his kindly aid in sickness.
or felt his delicate sympathy in SORROW.
were proud to number the old doctor
among their nose cherished and val
ued friends.
He entered the pretty boudoir With
his usual quick step, but started and
paused suddenly at sight of the white
ROBBED golden-haired figure upon the
lounge.
Good God." he muttered, with a
g-drawn breath; ''who is that?
"Oh. doctor. I'm so glad you have
Gomez said Fannie. springing to meet
him. II was so afraid you might be
cross and cranky this morning, and
send DR.. Reed in your place, and l
wanted YOU to see Sybil yourself"
"Sybil!' repeated the doctor, his face
that had the ruddy hue of a winter
apple, paling vigorously. "Sybil!' who
is it that YOU call by that name,
child?"
:.Why. this is sybil," said Fannie,
fondly stroking her friends beautiful
hair-''my dearest friend, Sybil Wraye;
and she has been real sick-awfully
sick L want you to cure her, D1.
Bond" -
"Sybil Wraye?" repeated the old gen
tleman, drawing near his patient with
a strange softness in voice and man
ner-' Sybil Wraye? All, well, my dear,
what can the old doctor do for Sybil
Wraye"
There was something so kind and
friendly in the old mans tone that the
sorrow-stricken girl lifted her soft gray
eyes to him gratefully-those wonder
full eyes that were the windows OF
SYPHILIS hushed and hidden soul.
But ere she could speak, Mrs. Wyllis
folding her mittens over and over one
another. in her feline fashion. softly
said
:'MisS Wraye was nervous and weak
this morning, and had come down
stairs against my advice. She had
overtaxed her strength, and the conse-
quence was that she tainted from the
unnecessary exertion."
"Ah!" said the doctor, laying a fin,
ger on SYPHILIS pulse, "overtaxed her
strength, eh?-overtaXed her strength.
Are YOU subject to these fainting fits,
my dear?"
mo. was the low reply. 'This is
the first I ever had
"And you We're not frightened,
shocked. excited in any way?"
ooh, good gracious, nor answered
cdulllc, cdSclly. w ny, we "SiS ON.AA
speaking, as quietly as possible, to
papa, when Sybil frightened me to
death by tumbling over right at my
feet
"No-that is sybil hesitated, 81
felt a little nervous at meeting Mr..
| Give; ard-and-'
.s.Humph! yes said DR.. Bond,
thouglltfully; "a little nervous-a little
nervous. Fevered pulse, flushed cheeks,
quick breathing. My dear child, you
must keep quiet, or you'll be very sick
very sick. indeed. Give her this,
continued the old gentleman, Serb
bling prescription hastily on a torn
leaf Of his pocket-book. 'Darken the
room and keep her quiet, or, Miss Fan,
ME, your friend will be seriously sick
indeed. I will step around this even
ing and see how she is. Meantime
remember-quiet, quiet quiet. No fuss
no talk. no trouble. Fret and worry
kill half the world. and physic the 9th
er half" muttered the doctor, as he
left the room. THAT doesn't either kill
or cure: but it will serve my purpose
It will ease. for a while, at least, thai
poor little throbbing brain Sybil, eh
Sybil! And, great heavens, what {