The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1909-12-24
THE DOCTORS FIRST
CHRISTMAS PRESENT
written for the Echol

At lastl But you were long in
coming!'
She had been standing at a window,
watching with one eye the wild, cha
otto beauty Of the falling snow, and
turned at the words to find herself al
most in the embrace of a tall. distin-
guished-looking man whose face ex-
pressed the most joyful surprise.
III beg your PARDON" he SIAM
mered, as she drew back from him,
but I have been waiting for you for
ten long weary years, and suppose
you have forgotten me" He covered
his face with his hands and a convul-
sive shudder shook his frame.
AS for her, she glanced about for a
means of escape, but as he stood just
in front OF her she feared to pass him,
thinking, as was but natural, that she
was in the presence of an escaped
lunatic. III called to see the Doc
tor" she faltered, rubbing her eye.
Instantly his manner changed. He
Strengthened up like a ramrod, and
bowling, said, Madam, I am"
DIR. West, you are wanted at the
phone" called the boy from the door.
Excuse me, one moment, please"
he said, gravely, and left the room.
She was tempted to run, but her eye
was smarting so, and then she was
rather curious to see more of this
strange man; so she seated herself and
glanced about carelessly until her eye
fell on a little sketch on the desk.
Where did he get that7" she asked
aloud of the empty room in surprise.
That" was a very good likeness of
herself, only younger. She hastily re-
placed it as the doctors footsteps
sounded coming down the hall.
You wished to consult me?" he
asked.
No-I-yes-that is, there is some
thing in my eye. I think it is probably
cinder; it happened just as I got
here, and seeing there was an"
"Ah! I understand" Then very
gently he removed what proved to be
sharp little piece Of coal, and then
bathing the infamed member he told
her to sit down and rest awhile. After
several commonplace remarks, he said:
And now that you have two eyes
with which to see, do you not recog-
nize me? ''You have changed but
little in the last ten years, it's true, but
I would have known you anywhere in
a thousand; aye, in million!"
AS her glance wavered and fell, he
cried, Don't be afraid to look at me.
1 promise not to bite you at any rate. "
At which they both laughed.
I am sorry, but perhaps can help
YOU to remember. Can you go back
ten years to very hot day in July, and
young girl walking slowly across a
narrow foot bridge, when suddenly a
mad dog, frothing at the mouth and
followed by mob Of screaming boys
iran towards me-" she interrupted,
excitedly, and you it was you sprang
out from among the bushes and grasped
the brute by his tail and threw him
into the creek before anyone could
realize that you were there!"
And then you quietly tainted away
in my arms he finished for her. Il
had to leave you with your friends, as
I was running to catch train and
could not stop. I knew you was un-
hurt, though"
And l never knew who had saved
me, as none Of those there at the time
seemed to know who you were"
1T was five long years before l
could get back to that little village, and
then you had gone-but l knew you
would come to me some time, or that
I would find you. You have come to
me in dreams, when l hated to waken
and lose you; you always smiled at me,
and once" he flushed as he said it,
"you-kissed me!'
A slow blush mantled her cheeks as
she listened. This man, whom she
had never really met before, seemed to
move her strangely. She wanted to go
away at once, bur her limbs refused to
obey her and her throat felt parched
and dry, the while delirious sense OF