The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-01-17

SAID with your PERMISSION 1 meau
10 straighten this tortured back and
tnls ugly shoulder. mean to undo the
mlschief wrought by we'll meaning ig-
torrance. mean that this little fellow
snail walk through life as straight and
upright rs God intended he should"
The girls eyes dilatcd.
And you will do this?" she muir
INJURED in an awcd tone.
with your permission and n certain
amount of your assistance" the strap-
ger smilingly said.
My assstancew she repeated.
Yes. have no acquaintances here.
ana Will need some help. Do YOU
think you have the nerve to stand by
me?"
Il will try" she simply answered.
Ihree days later square, leather
covered box Of considerable size was
brought over on the stage from the
nearest railway station. The surgeon
sat up late that night examining and
arranging its contents. Then he went
to bed and slept like healthy child.
The first thing he did when he arose
In the morning was to stretch out his
long, white hands and stare Mt them.
steady us the eternal rocks" he
said. with pleased smile.
TWO hours later he made his appear
ance ut the door Of the little cottage.
vallsc In hand, where the dark eyed
girl eagerly awaited him.
"Artic awole in capital spirits" She
whispered, and my stepmother has
gone to spend the day ut ncighbor's,
and everything that you ordered is
ready
Good" he said. with an admirinS
glance at her eager face and trim, alert
figure.
Then lie went in and closed the outer
door.
When 1t was all over, the dark eyed
girl walked with the great surgeon to
the gate. She was very pale. and there
were tears in her eyes
"Those wonderful, wonderful hands,"
She murmurcd. $50 swift, SO steady.
SO sure"
lie smiled down at her like pleased
boy.
Il make it practice never to nattcr
my assistants" lie said, "but l will say
to you coEtidcntially that the hospital
berth is yours whenever you choose to
call for it," He stopped her thanks
with Il quick gesture as he went OH q
little more gravely. ut certainly was
beautiful operation, and we may
both feel proud OF it. Our plastcrcd
and harnesscd and jackctcd little pa
tient ought to be on the highway to
recovery in months time. Then YOU
can safely leave him. Meanwhile YOU
will have to put up with daily call
from the surgeon in charge"
A cloud crossed the girls face
"But the-the bill for your services,
sir" she murmured. How are we to
pay that?"
II admire your frankness, my dear"
the surgeon. But chase that
troubled look from your eyes When
came to Marion, 1 dropped the shop. !
haven't even blank billhead among
my effects. Besides this, 1 took the
case for my own selfish amusement.
Oh, 1 can afford these little eccentrici-
ties. I'd have paid you for 1t sooner
than have missed it. Goodbye And
the great surgeon walked brislily down
the road quite unconscious that q pair
of worshiping eyes followed him un-
til swift rush Of grateful tears blur
red him from their sight.
Three weeks later. as he sat in the
parior car that was rapidly bearing
him back to the great city, he smiling
ly muttered to himself:
81 quite failed to carry out my vaca-
ton programme. But what Of that? l |
was never better nor surer Of myself. |
Besides. it has taught me valuable
lesson. Fixed habits Of life should |
only be broken off by dcgrecs"-C -Cleve-
and Plain Dealer