Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1900-03-30
Ahattero IF Conscience

sunshine and white with May bios
SONS, but the old stone house Mt the
end Of the straight path that led from
the gote looked somber and melan-
choly.
a gnarled apple tree tapped p~layfully
at the closed shutters Of one OF the Up
per rooms aud even went so far, under
extreme provocation from the wind,
as to poke some OF its blossom laden
twlgs between the ramshackle stats.
Or. Eaton, who walked up the
straight path through the sunshine,
could not restrain n sigh Of pleasure at
the beauty OF the scene. Young and
strong and healthy. life TO him was
good and delightful. though at that
very moment he might be hurrying
into the presence Of death.
A pale young woman opened the door
In response TO his knock, and without
any form OF greeting ushered him into
the chilly hall and went before him up
the stairs to the floor above.
-He Is very III, my poor little boy"
she said as she opened the door of a
bed chamber. Very. very III, | fear"
The doctor stepped into the room.
He stopped for an instant until he
could accustom himself to the general
dlmness. The woman caught Ills arm.
Here she whispered. and drew
him toward the bed.
The young man toOk the child's tiny
wrist between his fingers. Then he
leaned over and laid his ear against
the child's heart.
You thlnk''- she asked br~eathlessly.
Il think" he replied, looking at her
pltifully. that your little boy
Doctor
'BCt we Will do what we can"
Then he issued some hasty directions,
and the two began to work silently
over TIE little creature, who lay motion
less and impasslve under their hands.
After al hOur the doctor ceased.
airs. Grafton, you must send for
your husband"
"IIe is no bctter?' she asked. a look
of agony creeping Iuto her great dark
eyes.
NO better" he answered. "But he
does not snGIer. Take comfort from
that"
She covered her face with her hands
for an instant and then said In a dull.
quiet tone:
Il am n stranger In Elllsvillc and
have no friend or acquaintance here.
Wien Mr.. Grafton went away this
morning. the baby did not seem so very
I'll, but he said he would ask you to
call. ! have no ono TO send for him
now
Whore is he?" asked the doctor.
He has an Office on Front street.
He Is trying to establish an Insurance
agency here"
81 viii go for him." said the doctor
and turned away.
Late that afternoon the tiny spark Of
life that 1ickered in the chlld's breast
went out. Afterward there were weeks
Of Illness In the old stone house, and
when the garden had discarded its
blossoms and become n very bower Of
green Marion Grafton, n shadowy crca-
ture. with the saddest OF dark eyes,
walked down the straight path beside
her husband. and the gate Of the old
garden closed upon them forever.
Years sped away. The doctor. who
had never married, still lived on the
same street. and bis housckeeper was
frettilg and Tuning. partly because
there vas a lady waiting to see him
and partly and more particularly be-
cause his dinner was growing crisp
and dry 10 the oven. She went 10 the
Office door and peepcd in at the deli
cate looking little woman who had sat
patiently waiting for the last half hour.
THE doctors late" she said. "but
p'raps you don't mind waltln. How
far did you say you'd conner"
"From Grimby." replied the woman.
"Did you say DR.. Eaton was quite a
middle aged manT' she added nnx
iously.
II didn't say. ma'am, but l s'pose
you'd call him so In pint Of age. All,
here he Is nowT'
From the window the lady could see
n DOCTORS gig draw up at the curb and
a tall. dark man with grizzled beard
descend from IT.
The doctor entered and looked in
Qulrlngly NJ his visitor with keen. kind
ly eyes. She rose and said a little I'M
certainly:
I'll am afraid l have made a mis-
take and that you are not the doctor
I'm looking for"
Somehow the face and manner OF the
oma brought to DR.. Eaton's mind
an elusive memory OF a May morning
and a darkened room, with the scent
Of apple blossoms waited through clos
ed blinds. but the impression was
vague and transitory and was gone be-
fore he could attach any meaning to II.
"You were not looking for me. thenY'
he asked. 'If you viii tell me the
name OF the man you want 10 nnd. per
haps ! can help you"
'I-don't know his name. I-don't
remember IT," she said. with a flush
and a little deprecatory smile. 1--WE
beer TO a great many doctors In Ellis
Vile and have not found him. I'm
afraid be must have gone away-or be
dead"
Or. Eaton looked puzzled and sat for
D moment. his eyes narrowed In
thought and bis fingers beating a noise
less tattoo on bis knee. The woman
watched him silently. the color coming
a - -. &c.