Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-12-16

the builder. He'll brighten the poor won-
EN- into shutting out every breath Of
fresh air. and then take every atom of
strength away from those poor wasted
crea lures by his drastic treatment. It's
no use talking, my dear, I'm a little
Knocked out. but I've no more fever
about me than you have. and shall
go out this evening. I shall go round
aud see those people. There's a woman
in the lane behind the church "a widow
with three children, lying i'll; and she
seems to believe In me, poor creature.
as il | was Providence itself. ! can't |
forget the look she gave me yesterday. |
when she stood on the threshold of her |
wretched hovel. asking me to save her |
children, MS If she thought II rested with |
me to save her children. ] cant forget |
her look. lizzie. II haunted me all last |
night. And when | think of Pawlkatt |
pouring his drugs down those childrcn's
threats. IL tell you it's no use, my
dear. I'll take II cup of tea, and then
get up and dress"
1t was in vain that Isabel plcaded; in
vain that she brought to her aid Mrs.
Jeffson. the vigorous and outspokcn, who
declared that IL would he nothing short
u
going out that evening; equally In vain
the threat of summoning Mr.. Pawlkatt.
George was resolute: these quiet people
always are resolute. not to say obstinate.
He was wanted yonder among his pa
tients, aud he must go. Isabel and Mrs.
JefIson retired in melancholy rcsigna-
ton TO prepare the tea, which was to
fortify the surgeon for his evenings
work. George came downstairs half an
hour afterward. looking. not III. or even
weak. but at once flushed and haggard.
There's nothing whatever the matter
with me. my dear Izzie," he said, as his
wife followed him to the door; II am
only done up with very hard work. l
feel tired and crnmped In my limbs. ns
II I'd caught cold somehow or other. |
was out all day In the wet last week.
you know: but there's nothing In that. l
shall just look In at those people ut
Briargatc. and come back by the lanes;
and then an hour or ~ In the surgery
will finish my work, and I shall have
an assistant, my dear. The agricultural
population gets very thick about Gray
bridge, and unless some one takes pity
on the poor people. and brings about
some Improvement in the places they live
In. we may look for plenty of fever"
lie went ont ut the little gate. and
Isabel watched him going along the lane.
lie walked q little slower than usual.
and that was all. She watched him
with quiet affection on her face. There
was no possible phase Of circumstances
by which she could have been ever
brought to love him; but she knew that
he was good. she knew that there was
something prniseworthy in what he was
doing to-night-this resolutc visiting of
wretched sick people.
Ii was not the knightlv sort Of good.
ness she had adored In the heroes of her
| choice: but II was good. and she admired
| her husband u little, In u calm, unenthu-
! siastic Numerals she might have adj
mircd very estimable grandfather. had
| she happened to possess such relative.
She was trying TO be good. and all the
| sentimental tenderness Of her nature had
been aroused by Georges illness. lie
/ was u more agreeable person lying faint
| and languid In q shaded room. and re.
| curing his head constantly bathed with
vinegar and water, than when In the full
vigor Of health and clumsiness.
She finally walked out into the lane,
watching for her husbands coming. Two
or three people went slowly by at con.
| siderable intervals; and ut last. when Il
was growing quite dark, the figure Of a
slouching country-built lad, doomed out
Of the obscurlty.
"Be this Muster Gilberts the doc.
tor'sY' he asked OF Isabel.
"Yes; do you want him?'
II don't want him; but I've got let
| 90 hi xN'tf rn N m hut ~.
lug up ut our place. lie you she?"
eyes; give me the letter." answered
Isabel, putting her hand over the gate.
She took the mlssive from the hand Of
the hoy. who resigned It In a slow. nm.
willing manner. and then slouched away.
Mrs. Gilbert put the letter In her pocket
and went into the house. The doctors
wife seated herself at the little table. and
took tho letter from her pocket and tore
Il open. 1t was n very brief and unccre'
these words:
1--WE found comfortable quarters. fol
the nonce. in little crib down In Ness
brough Hollow. ! suppose you know til,
place; and shall expect to see you IL
the course Of to morrow. Don't forge,
the sinews Of war; and be sure you ash
for Captain Morgan.
There was no signature. The lettel
was written In big, dashlng hand
,, which had sprawled recklcssly over
sheet of old-fashioned letter paper; i
seemed a riotous. improvident kind o.
writing, that g,oried In the wasted spac,
and squandered Ink.
GLOW cruel Of him to come here. =
muttercd Isabel, as she tore the lette
into a little heap Of fragments; "hov
cruel Of him To come. as II had no
suffered enough already; as II the miser,
, and disgrace had not been bitter enough
ana hard enough to bear"
She rested her elbows OH the table
! and sat quite still for some time, witt
her face hidden In her hands. He
thoughts were very painful; but, 70
once In a way. they were not entirel
= devoted to Roland Lansdell; and yet tn
! master of MOrdrad PriOry did figure i
that long revsrie. George came In b.
and by. and found her sitting In the att
; tude into which she had fallen after dc
y stroying the letter. She had been yer
anxious about her husband some tim
!, ngo; but for the last half hour he
:. thoughts had been entirely removed fror
, him; aud she looked up ut him confused
; ~, almost startled by his coming as
= he had been the last person In the worl
whom she expected to see. MIR. Gilber
> dropped heavily into the nearest chail
like q man who feels himself powerles
f,,ethar