The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-29
Paid in Full

mouse, with careful miuole-agei To-
man 70 act as my housekeeper and
cook.
Pretty well fixed, old man, chi" said
Jack Winters, my college classmate and
chum, who had come over that evening
| from the West Side TO make a house
warming for me. IAN you need to com
| plete your happiness is TO get acquainted
| with the pretty widow on the floor above
! you. She's John Redmond's cousin, yoa
know, and a sweeter little woman
never
Thank YOU" 1 said, checking Jacks
| enthusiasm-Jaek always goes off on a
tangent when pretty woman is dis
cussed. 81 am trying to get patients
and have no time for social pleasures
and, besides, I don't mind saying it.
Jack, I'm not fond Of widows
IAN I have to say to that isl said
Jack. you don't know Mrs. Traine."
| However, my professional duties were
not so arduous that I did not find time
In and out through the big entrance
I door, dressed always exqusitely, but
| quietly
Ny interest in Mrs. Traine deepened
| when I 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 to the income that must support
| herself and invalid mother by giving
music lessons TO few wealthy girls
| A daintier little rosebud OF a woman II
would have been hard TO find. Soft
brown hair, tossed in truant curls about
the low forehead a voice that spoke al
ways gently, blue eyes full of mirth
and a complexion that looked like It 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" Early
after my coming TO the building boy
on the top floor had been accommodate
! ing enough to get hurt in the elevator
| and I had been called in as the most
| available physician. Luckily, I brought
| the boy through so well that his par
ents, as we'll as the youngster himself
sounded my praises so loudly that
| found myself with quite a reputat on
and incidentally a practice in yle ne gh-
borhood. Still. had not met Mrs
Traine, and I was beginning wicke lly
to hope some accident-ever so slight a
| one, of course-might happen to her.
sprained ankle or wrist, that I might
have the joy Of caring for However
the fates preserved Mrs. Traine from
| accident, and I continued to watch for
glimpses Of her from my office window
I had bowed the last patient out for
the evening, and settled myself for q
smoke before bedtime. NY meditations
mingling with the blue curling smoke
were interrupted by a piercing scream,
and then another. I 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 herself, whit
and GREATNESS. co. she gasped, catch
ing hold of my arm. We've got him
out therein the pantry-poor mamma
"Who?" asked
1.-THE burglar. He was hid in the din
ingroom-mamma saw him, and he ran
into the pantry--and I locked the door
and-he's trying to jump out Of the win
dow
I heard a noise as Of some one try
ing OF push up a window, and opening
the pantry door there he was, a sure
enough burglar, evil-browed and sullen.
who dropped the window and turned to
face me-
You can't make a jump from that win
dow, my man. I said. you had bet
ter be quiet"
I turned the lock again, but Mrs
Traine, divining my purpose, chung TO
my arm. Don't CO." she cried. fran
tically. eve can't stay here alone a
minute" Thenlto my relief that same
small boy who had served me so we'll
professionally appeared on the thresh-
old, attracted by the cries. Off he went
to call the police. while I tried to quiet
two hysterical women.
In few minutes the burglar was
handcuffed and led away. but the shock
had proved too much for Mrs Train'e's S
invalid mother. The fainting spell was
followed by deliriun, and her daughter
and I watched by her bedside until
morning.
OF course, was installed as attend
ing physician, and never failed to call
morning and evening. When the pa
tent was able TO sit up sometime s
read aloud TO her as an excuse to re
main longer. watching the daughter at
some household task
One evening I staid for tea. Mrs.
Traine wore a dainty gown of white and
blue, with q great deal OF lace There
is no sight so welcome to a bachelor as
a pretty woman at the head of a tea
table. The next morning I pictured the
pretty widow sitting oppisite me at my
own breakfast atble wearing the pref
" house jacket I had seen on my morn
ing calls.
That afternoon I took Mrs. Traine and
her mother for 4 drive, and was reward
ed by another invitation to tea.
A reason for such close attention to
my patient was no longer apparent.
was hunting about in my mind for an
other excuse 10 prolong the delightful
calls when Mrs Traine knocked at my
door one evening.
81 have come 10 see you on business"
she said taking the seat I offered her.
you have been kind 10 mother" she
went on. go course. we want to pay
you for your trouble. Would YOU mind
telling me. please, how much the amount
is?"
I saw the anxious look growing deerer
in the sweet face opposite ne. How
much denial and privation paying doc
tors bill meant 70 that little woman. al
ready burdened with responsibility
1T must be a large BILL she sad
at last. as I remained silent. watching
her "You-you've made SO many calls
Yes. il Is a large BILL" I sad, slowly.
There was a quick uplifting of the
blue eyes "T hope" she said softly.
that you won't mind If we don't rav
It quite all at once: If I could arrauge
10 pay you - much every week until
tire hill IS settled"
No" 7 said. in business-iike tones
81 should prefer 10 have the Tho.e D u
settled for at once"
Nv heart smote ne for the alarm n
the face thai was lifted 20 mine
leaned forward ard took her hand D.
you Fant to know hcw much NJ 81
. Will BE? Well. is = great deal 10 h
ing less TRAN the giving IF your cEr
self 20 ne. my darling. viii satisfy M
claim against YOU
You mean said Mrs Trzine. tie
blush-s difusiuE her pale facs.
That 7 want you 70 be ny wife"
said. drawing her head down uoon NJ
shoulder. Is tire prits TOO g>eat7"
T-der-tcod He Rusiar-s.
From the Mex York Weekly
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