El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-26
PAID IN FULL.

|
| Pretty well fixed. old man. Ell ~" said
Jack Winters, my college classmate and
chum. who had come to make house
| warming for me. 'All you need to COM
plete your happiness is to get acquainted
with the pretty widow on the floor above
you. She is John Redmond's cousin, you
| know, and n sweeter little woman new
| err
Thank you," / said. checking Jacks
| enthusiasm. Jack always goes off on a
| tangent when a pretty woman is dis
cussed. II am trying to get patients and
have no time for social pleasures. and,
| besides, | don't mind saying it. Jack. I'm
not fond of widows"
''All 1 have to say 10 that is" said
Jack. you don't know Mrs. Traine."
However. my professional duties were
not so arduous that i did not find time
to notice a trim little figure that fitted
in and out through the big entrance door.
dressed always exquisitely, but quietly.
A daintier little rosebud of n woman il
would have been hard 10 find. Soft,
brown hair. tossed in truant curls about
the low forehead. n voice that spoke al
ways gently. blue eyes full of mirth and
a complexion that looked like il 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 n boy on
the top floor had been accommodating
enough to get hurt in the elevator. and
had been called i'm as the most available
physician. Luckily I brought the boy
through so well that his parents. as we'll
as the youngster himself, sounded my
praises SO loudly that 1 found myself
with quite n reputation and incidentally
practice in the neighborhood. Still / had
not met Mrs. Traine. and l was begin
ming wickedly to hope some accident
ever so slight n 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 continued 10
watch for glimpses of her from my Office
window.
had bowed the last patient out for
the evening and settled myself for a
smoke before bedtime. My meditations.
mingling 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 apart
ment above. In another moment I was
knocking on the door, which was opened
by Mrs. Traine herself, white and breath
less. oh" she gasped. catching hold of
my arm, we've got him-out therein
the pantry-poor mamma
"WhoY' I asked.
1.-THE burglar. He was hid in the din
ing room-mamma saw him. and he ran
into the pantry. and l locked the door
and-he's trying to jump out of the win
dow"
/ heard a noise as of some one trying
to 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." said. You had better
be quiet
turned the lock again, but Mrs.
Traine. divining my purpose, chung to my
arm.
Don't co." she said frantically. I'VE
can't stay here alone n minute" Then to
my relief that same small boy. who had
served me so well professionally, appear
ed on the threshold. attracted by the
cries. OFF he went to- call the police.
while i tried to quiet two hysterical wo-
men.
In few minutes the burglar was
handcufTed and led away, hut 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 morn
ing.
OF course I was installed as attending
physician and never failed to call morn
ing and evening. When the patient was
n BILE to sit up. / sometimes read aloud to
her an excuse to remain longer watch
ing the daughter at some household task.
One evening / staid for tea. Mrs.
Traine wore dainty gown of white and
blue with n great deal OF lace. There is
no sight so welcome to a bachelor as a
r.ra fba ~ a faa tn
The next morning l pictured the pretty
widow sitting opposite me at my break
fast table wearing the pretty house jack
ct ] had seen on my morning calls.
That afternoon took Mrs. Traine and
her mother for a 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 to prolong my delightful
calls when Mrs Traine knocked at my
door one evening.
81 have come to see you on business"
she said. taking the seat j offered her.
you have been very kind to mother"
she went on "Of course we want to pay
you for your trouble. Would you mind
telling me, please. how much the amount
is"
saw the anxious look growing deeper
in the sweet face opposite me. How
much denial and privation paying a doc
tors bill meant to that little woman, al
ready burdened with responsibility
-'It must be a large BILL" she said at
last as l remained silent, watching her.
'.You-you have made so many calls"
Eyes; it is a large BILL" l said slowly.
There was a quick uplifting of the blue
eyes. 81 hope" she said softly, that
you won't mind il we don't pay it quite
all ut once. If i can arrange to pay you
SO much every week until the bill is set
tied"
"No," / said in businesslike tones; 81
should prefer to have the whole bill set