Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-09-03

his face. while he was utetring a low
humming noise, as if he were practis.
ing the art of initiating musical bee
What have you been doing, Bob? ?"
/ said Rich hastily.
ME, Miss? Doing?" said the boy
wonderingly. II amt a-been doing no.
thing. 'Tain't likely rmong all these
here dangerous things" and Bob
waved his hand round the surgery as
! if indicating the bottles and speci-
men jars.
Because you have been warned fire.
quently, sir, not to NEEDLE"
Course | have, Miss, and | wouldn't
! do no harm
is my father asleep?"
! "Jist like top, Miss. He took his
drops, and he's lying on the sofy
sleeping beautiful. You can hear him
breathe If you come and put your ear
to the keyhole."
! mo, no" said Rich hastily; but, all
the same, she walked quickly to the
consulting.room door and opened it
softly to took in and see across the
table, with its chemical apparatus the
light OF the shaded lamp thrown upon
the calm, placid handsome face, as the
doctor lay back on the couch, taking
his drug-brought rest according to his
nightly custom.
Rich sighed and walked right in the
door clsoing behind her as she crossed
the room, and stood gazing down, her
head bent, and hands clasped, while
for the moent she forgot her nerve
pains, and the tears started to her
eyes.
Poor father" she sighed always
so kind and gentle in spite Of all.
How do know what he may suffer be-
meath the mask he wears?'
She thought of the prosperity they
had once enjoyed, the many patients
who came, and how, in this very
room, as a child, he used to play with
her long curling hair, while she, with
childlike delight emptied the little
wooden bowl, and counted how many
guineas papa had received that morn
ing
She recalled, too, the carriage in
which she had sat waiting, while he,
the handsome young doctor, had made
his calls upon rich patients; and then
like cloud, came creeping up the
memories of the gradual decline OF
his practice as he had devoted him
self more and more to the dream of
his life-this discovery Of a vital fluid
which should repair the waste of all
disease, and with the indulgence in his
chmera came the poverty and despair
Poor father" she sighed again,
bending down and kissing the broad
white forehead; there has never
been anything between us but love-
She rose slowly went to a corner
where a faded old dressing-gown hung
upon n chair, and this she softly laid
over the sleeping man, gazed at the
fire, which was burning brightly, and
then stole away with the agonizing
pang, forgotten for the moment, sweep
in back, and seeming to drive her mad.
II see yer a-kissing of him, Miss,
said Bob, grinning. as she closed the
door.
Rich turned upon him angrly; bur
the boy was looking dreamily towards
the doctor and rubbing hiss hook heau
of hair.
Don't he look niste when he's
asleep like that? There amt such
good-looting gent nowhere's about
here as our master"
There was so much genuine admirl.
tion in the boys tones that the angry
ment, half pity.
I've often wondered whether If
ever I'd had a father, he'd ha' been like
the doctor, Miss. Amt yer proud on
him?"
Yes, Bob, yes" she cried, laying her
strange sensation of depression, as of
impending trouble. came over her,
making her forget everything, and
hardly notice the next act of the boy.
1t is hardly fair to say that Bobs
hands were dirty, but they We're very
'odl ST III gram anu ulSEo'oINu, lue
nails were worn down, and tho fingers
were blue with chilhlains where they
were not red with the chaps which
roughcned them; and those were the
hands which took hold Of Rich's and
held ii for few moments against the
boys cheek. while he rubbed the said
cheek softly against the smooth palm.
his bright eyes looking up at her MS a
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