Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1903-12-18

| the ladies and the other guests were Ell
Their chatting in couples or grouped
about the piano, Mrs. Springthorpe
came and sat beside me. -.
"Well," she asked. ''have you found
the owner Of the voice?'
The speech was accompanied by a
slight, peculiar gesture, one of those
little nervous tricks of manner to which
we are all subject and which 80 clearly
mark our individuality. In this case
It supplied me with the missing link of
evidence and enabled me at once to re-
ply:
Eyes; it has just occurred to me-"
"Who was it,"
"A lady who once called to consult
me professionally"
"Indeed?''
Her tone implied a desire for further
Information, SO proceeded:
1T was about six years ago. I was
then a struggling young physician,
nursing feeble practice in a new
neighborhood. One day a lady in
thick veil called to ask my advice in
regard to her mother, who, she said,
was suffering from heart disease. Then
she described the symptoms, which
were those of person in very crit
ical state. They had been expecting,
she said, the return of a long absent
son and brother who was a naval Off
Ger, but she had that morning received
the sad intelligence Of the wreck Of his
vessel, with the loss Of all on board.
Some explanation would have to be
made to the mother of his continued
absence, but could they tell her the
truth in the state of her health? =
| II replied that such revelation at
such time would probably be attend
ed by fatal consequences. She left, de-
claring that at whatever cost she would
conceal the truth from her mother"
"And you have never seen her since?"
mo; I had quite forgotten the cir
cumstance."
"And you would not recognize her if
you met her again."
"As 1 said, her face was concealed by
a thick veil. I have not the slightest
idea Of her features"
| "But the voice was like mineY'
EYES,"
"You do not think it was 1?'
"Had it been you you would have
recollected the circumstance"
(which I do not. But there are re-
semblances between voices, suppose,
as there are sometimes between faces"
II do not remember ever having
heard Of such case"
"And you are skeptical on the point?'
!: : II should have been but for this in
stance
''The coincidence appears to me to be
remarkable, for at first sight it seemed
as though I had met you before. How
do you account for that?''
1T is something I cannot account
for"
"Do you believe that two people who
have never met in the flesh may meet
and become acquainted in dreams?''
II protest." I said, laughing. "You
have me at disadvantage. This is a
theory I never heard before and in re-
gard to which am unprepared to Of
fer an opinion. am curious to hear
more of it. What do you call tt?''
"Ah, doctor, am afraid you would
only prove scofter." At this point
she was called away.
That night in the smoking room
Springthorpe and I fingered over our
cigars after the other guests had re-
tired. I had been thinking over the
mystery of that woman with the yelled
face. That she and Mrs. Springthorpe
were the same I had not the slightest
doubt, but as she evidently feared rec
ognition had been too polite to insist
upon it., ;, Why there should be any
mystery about a visit to physician
puzzled me.
do you know I asked, IF Mrs:
Springthorpe is liable to any heredi-
tary malady?'
Il really cannot say he replied. II
never knew her family
"Are her parents dead, thenY'
Eyes; she has been an orphan since
childhood
Here made mental note.
A little later asked: g.
"Have you any children?"
II have an only son by my first wife,
He is an officer of one of my East In
dia packet ships" =
"Was he at home at the time of his
mothers death?'
mo, but he was hourly expected aft
er three years absence on foreign
station. Poor fellow! He arrived only
in time to find his mother in her COT
6n!' -.
Here made another mental note.
ibid the first Mrs. Springthorpe die
Of consumption?
"No; of heart disease" =
"Her end was unexpected, then?"
'Not altogether. She had been all
ing for years, and the doctors warned
us to be prepared for death at any mo-
ment. At the same time they said she
might live for years If spared excite
ment or shock" .s >*t
"Did she receive shock, thenY'<
"No; she retired. to rest in better
health than usual. The prospect of