Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1900-03-20
!. A Matter Of Conscience

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3 AHaEter Of Conscience :
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The garden was ablaze with May
sunshine aud white with May bios
SONS, but the old stone house at the
end of the straight path that led from
the gate looked Somber and rnelan-
choly.
a gnarled apple tree tapped playfully
at the closed shutters of one of the up
per rooms and even went so far, under
extreme provocation from the wind,
as to poke some of its blossom laden
twigs between the raHlshackIe stats.
DIR. Eaton, who walked up the
straight path through the sunshine,
could not restrain 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 lie 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 i'll, my poor little boy,''
she said as she opened the door of a
bed chamber. Very, very i'll, fear y
The doctor stepped into the room.
He stopped for an instant until he
could accustom himself to the general
dimness.. The woman caught his arm.
Here sine whispered. and drew
him toward the bed
The young laal took the child's tiny
wrist between his fingers. Then he
leaned over and laid his ear against
the child's heart.
You thiuk''- She asked brenthIessly.
u think" he replied. looking at her
pitifully, that your little boy
"Doctor!"
But we viii do what we can"
Then lie issued some hasty directions,
and the two began to work silently
over the little creature, who lay motion
less and impassive under their hands.
After an hour the doctor ceased.
Mrs. Grafton, you. must send for
your husband"
''He is no better? she asked. look
of agony creeping into her great dark
eyes.
mo better" he answered. But he
does not suffer. Take comfort from
that"
Size covered her face with her hands
for an instant and then said in duh,
quiet tone:
81 am n stranger in Elllsville and
have no friend or acquaintance here.
When Mr.. Grafton went away this
morning, the baby did not seem so very
i'll, but he said he would ask you to
call. l have no one to send for him
now"
''Where is he?" asked the doctor.
'He has an office on Front street.
He is trying to establish an insurance
agency here"
81 will go for him. said the doctor
and turned away.
Late that afternoon the tiny spark of
life that fickered in the child'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 very bower of
green Marion Grafton. shadowy crea-
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 his housekeeper was
fretting and fuming, partly because
there was lady waiting to see him
and partly and more particularly be-
cause his dinner was growing crisp
and dry in the oven. She went to the
office door aud peeped in at the deli
cate looking little woman who had sat
patiently waiting for the last half hour.
s'The doctors late" she said. but
p'T'aps you don't mind waftin. How
far did you say you'd Gomez"
''IFrom Grimby.' replied the woman.
did you say DR. Eaton was quite a
middle aged man?" she added anx-
iously.
81 didn't say, ma'am. but l s'pose
you'd call him SO in pint of age. All,
here he is no.r!!''
From the window the lady could see
Doctors gig draw Up at the curb and
tall, DARK man with grizzled beard
descend from it.
ne QOcIOf entered anu looked IN
quiringly Mt his visitor with keen. kind
ly eyes. She rose and said a little un-
certainly:
IL an afraid have made mis-
take and that you are not the doctor
I'm looking for"
Somehow the face and manner of the
woman brought to DR. Eaton's mind
an elusive memory OF May morning
and Garkeued 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 1t.
You were not looking for me, thenl''
he asked. If you Will tell me the
name of the man you want to find, per
haps 1 can help you"
"I-don't know his name I-don't
remember it," she said. with n flush
and a little deprecatory smile. I've
been to a great many doctors in Ellis
vile and have not found him. I'm
afraid he must have gone away-or be
dead"
DR.. Eaton looked puzzled and sat for
a moment his eyes narrowed In
thought and his fingers beating a noise
Ioe,e rT-l,r n