Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-10-19
The Doctors Dilemma
by Aesba 9tretton


ter"
mo. she-is not my relative at ALL" I
replied I'VE were both In school at
Noireau, the school Of Monsieur Emile
Perrier. Perhaps you know 1t, mon
siemrY"
Certainly, madame" he said.
"He has failed. and run away" coz.
tinued; 'all the pupils are dispersed.
Minima and were returning through
Granville"
II understand. madame he respond.
cd, "but Il Is villainous, this AFFAIR."
Listen, my child. have much to say to
you. DO speak gently and slowly
enough for your
YES" I answered, II understand you
perfectly"
I'VE have had the fever In ville-en.
bois for some weeks" he went on: ut Is
now bad, very bad. Yesterday went to
Noircau to seek doctor. but could only
hear Of one, who Is In Paris at present,
and cannot come Immediately. At pres.
ent we have made my house into hos.
pital for the sick. My people bring their
sick to me. and we do our best. and put
our trust In God. But this little house
has been kept free from all infection.
and you would be safe here for one night.
40 I hoped. The mignonne must have
caught the fever some days ago. Now
I must carry her into my little hospital
But you. madame. what am I to do with
you? DO you wish to go on to Gran.
vile, and leave the mignonne with me!
We will take care Of her as a little angel
Of God. What shall do with you, my
childY"
Monsieur" I exclaimed. eagerly, take
me into your hospital. too. Let me take
care Of Minima and your other sick peo.
pie. am very strong. and In good
health; I am never ill-never, never. |
will do all you say to me. Let me stay,
dear monsieur"
"But your husband. your friends"
he said.
II have no friends" I interrupted. land
my husband does not love me. II have
the fever and die--good! very good! I am
not wicked; I am u Christian. I hope.
Only let me stay with Minima, and do all
| can In the hospital"
BE content. my child" he said. lyon
shall stay with u.s."
I felt a sudden sense Of conten tmeut.
for here was work for me to do. rs well
as a refuge. Neither should I be com.
PEELED to leave Minima. I wrapped her
up warmly In the blankets. and Monsieur
Laurentie lifted her carefully and ten.
derly from the low bed. He told me to
accompany him. and we crossed the court
and entered the house by the door ! hnd
seen the night before. a staircase led
up to u long, low room. which had been
turned into hastily titted-up fever ward
for women and children. There were
already nine beds In It. OF different sizes,
brought with the patients who now occ,i.
pied them. But one Of these was empty.
In this home.like ward I took up my
work as nurse.
Madame" said Monsieur Laurentic,
one morning. the eighth that had been
ir the fever-smitten village, you did
not take a promenade yesterday"
"NOt yesterday, monsieur"
"Nor the day before yesterday" he
continued.
mo. monsieur" I answered; II dare
not leave Minima. fear she Il going
to die"
Monsieur Laurentie raised me gently
from my low chair. and seated himself
upon 1t, with smile as he looked up ut
me.
MADAME" he said. II promise not to
quit the chamber I'M YOU return. NV sIs.
ter has n little commission for Won n do
Contide the mignonne TO me. and make
your promenade In peace. Il IL peces.
sary, madame: YOU must obey me-"
The commission for mademoiselle was
to carry some food and medicine to
cottage lower down the valley; and
Jeans eldest son, Pierre. was appointed
to be my guide. Both the cure aud his
sister gave me strict charge "a to what
We were to do; neither Of us was upon
any account to 70 near or enter the
dwelling; but after the basket was depOs-
tied upon Dat stone, which Pierre was
to point out to me. he was to ring a
small hand-bell which he carried with
him for that purpose. Then We were to
turn our backs and begin our retreat,
before any person came out Of the In.
fected house.
I set out with Pierre, a solemn looking
boy of about twelve years OF ape. We
passed down the village street, with i,s
closely backed houses forming very
nest for fever, until we reached the road
by which ] had first entered Ville-en-bois.
Above the tops OF the trees appeared a
tall chimney. and sudden turn in the
by-road we had taken brought us full In
sight OF small cotton mn, built on the
banks Of the noisy stream. A more
mournfully dilapidated place had never
seen.
In the yard adjoining this deserted fac
tory stood a miserable cottage with n
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