Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-18
CHAPTER VIII.

fronted by a man who lived half way be-
tween Alton and the next village on the
north. He had walked some three miles to
get some medicine for his wife, who was
suffering from rheumatism. He was pa
theticaly insistent upon the fact that his
wife did not require a call from the doctor,
only some medicine. NOW see here, Joe,
said Gordon. "if really thought your wife
needed a call. 1 would go. and it should not
cost you cent more than the medicine,
but | am dog tired, and not feeling any too
well myself, and If her symptoms are just
I as you say l think l can send her some
thing which will fix her up all right
she is just the way she was last year..
said the man. He did not look unlike Cor
don, although he was poorly clad. and was
q genuine son of the New Jersey soil. His
I poor clothes even his skin, had a clayey
hue as II he had been really cast from the
mother earth. 1t was frozen outside. but
q reddish crust from the last thaw was on
= his hulking boots. He spoke with a drawi
which was nasal. and yet had something
sweet in it. Il would have came this after
noon. but 1 afraid you might have
went out" he remarked.
Yes. l was out" replied Gordon. who
was filing out prescription. The man
stopped and patted the bull terrier, which
had not evinced the slightest emotion a. his
entrance.
Mighty fine dog" said the man.
Yes. he is a pretty good Sort" replied
Gordon.
up to your house an no one round, and he
had took dislike to me-"
Il should not myself" said Gordon. But
he does not dislike you"
Dogs know me poorly WELL. said the man.
'They amt no particler likin' for me. Don't
want to run and jump an wag. but they
know I mean well and they mostly let me
alone"
Yes, 1 guess that's So" said Gordon.
"Jack would have barked If he had not
known you were all right Joe"
Queer how much they know" said the
man reilectively. and a dazed look over
spread his dingy face. with it's cloud of
beard. If once he became launched upon a
current of reflection, he lost his mental
bearings instantly and drifted.
well. they. do know said Gordon.
Now listen, joe You see this bottle. You
give your wife a spoonful of the medicine
in glass of water every three hours
Mind you make it whole tumbler full of
water"
Yes. SIR" replied the man.
"Of course. you need not wake her up if
she gets to sleep" said the doctor, but
every three hours when she is awake.
Yes. sir" The man began fumbling in
his pocket. but Gordon stopped him. No
he said. put up your pocketbook, joe 1
don't want any money. l get this medi-
cine at wholesale. and 1t don't cost much
II come prepared to pay, said the man.
He Strengthened his shoulders and flushed.
"Oh, WE'LL" said Doctor Gordon, wait.
II you need more medicine. or 1t seems
necessary that I should drive over to see
your WIFE you can do little work on my
garden in the spring, or you can let me have
a bushel of your new potatoes when they
are grown next summer. or some appfes,
and we'll call II square. Walt: don't want
any money for that bottle or medicine TO-
night anyhow. Did you walk over. Joeg
Joe said that he had walked over. Aaron
might just as well drive you home as not,
said Gordon. THE sooner your wife has
that medicine the better. How Is the baby
getting along?
''First-rate I'd just as soon walk. doc
tor"
For answer Gordon opened the door and
called Aaron. and told him TO hitcn up ana
take the man home.
Doctor Elliot has gone with the bay.
said Aaron. THE teams are about played
out, and there's nothin' except the gray.
Take her then .
..She looked when 1 fed her just now as II
phe was half mind to balk at takin' her
feed" Aaron remarked doubtfully.
Nonsense! Give her loose rein ana
She'll be all right"
Aaron went out grumbling.
Gordon offered the man cigar, which ne
accepted as If 1t had been a diamond. III
save II M for next Sunday, when I've got
q little time to sense 1t, ne SAID
know what your cigars be.
Gordon forced another upon him, and the
man looked as pleased as a child;
presently a shout was heard, and GORDON
opened the office door.
He stood In the doorway watching, but
the gray instead OF baking. went out OF
the yard with an angry plunge GORDON
shook his head.
"Confound him, he's pulling too hard on
tho lines,"' he muttered. Then he closed
and locked the office door, and went into
the living room to find II deserted Cor
don called up the stairs. Have you gone
10 bed. Clara His voice was at once
tenderly solicitous and angry.
Mrs Ewing answered him from above
and in her tone was something propltiatihs'
"Yes, Tom, dear" she called
Gordon hesitated moment. His face
took on its expression of utmost misery.
'Is-the pain very bad?' he called then,
and called as If he were in actual fear.
mo dear" the woman's patient. be
seeching voice answered, mot very bad.
Not very?'
NO. only I felt a little twinge. and
thought I had better go to bed l am
quite comfortable now. 1 think l shall go
TO sleep. am sorry. to leave you alone
all the evening. Tom"
That's right" called Gordon. His voice
rang harsh. in spite of his effort to control
It. He threw his arm over his eyes, and
fairly CROPPED his way back to his office,
sitting his sobs. When he was in his
office he flung himself into chair, and
and his whole frame shook. oh. my
God9" he muttered. "Oh, my God?' He
did not weep but he gasped like child
whom his mother has commanded not to
weep. IerrlDl6 emOllou larry SOHNdiScN
him He struggled with 1t as with WISH
BILE foe At last he sat up and filled his
pipe. The dog had crept close to him. and
was nesting against him and whfmpering
Gordon patted his head. The dog licked his
hand.
The simple. ignorant sympathy OF this
poor speechless thing nearly unnerved the
man again, but he continued to smoke. He
looked at the dog, whose honest brown
eyes were fxed upon him with an almost
uncanny understanding, and reflected how
the woman upstairs, who was passing out
OF his life. had become In a few days so
associated with the animal that after she
was gone he could never see him without a
pang. He looked about the office, with
whose belongings she was less associated
than with anything In the house. and 1t
seemed to him that everything even there
would have for him. after she had pass
ed. terrible sting OF "reminiscences. 1t
seemed to him, as he looked about, as n
nhe were already gone. He was. In fact
suffering as keenly in anticipation as he
would In reality. The horror, the worst