Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-08-31

in his own hands and dashed off at
break neck pace toward Beverly town
Ten o'clock had just struck from the
steeples, ten o'clock from the modest
Dutch timepiece on DR.. Covers man
tel as the roll Of the wheels sounded
at the gate Of the doctors cottage.
Tired out with a days hard work
the young practitioner was just taking
his tea from the hands Of a yellow
haired angel whom he called wife-the
loveliest little creature that the rough
Cape winds ever blew upon. A tramp
of feet on the walk. Then, harsh and
loud through the happy house pealed
the bell.
who can it be?" said the golden
haired angel, dropping the teacups,
with a wrinkle showing in her smooth
forehead.
mo one for me, I hope" sighs the
tired doctor.
Another furious peal.
A maid of all work goes flying
through the hall to the rescue of the
bell-rope and opens the door.
"A lady very sick over at Duffs!
Where's the doctor?" demands voice.
The messenger steps into the hall.
The rain dashes after him. He stands
in his long cloak and his slouched hat,
and stares into the doctors parlor
opening just beyond, in warmth and
light and pleasant appointments. He
looks at a cradle in a corner, holding
a child, like a sleeping cherub; at a
lovely, golden-haired woman on the
hearth; at the jaded young doctor, who
rises from his chair with great sigh
looks, but sees none of these things.
"A lady sick at Duff's," mutters the
doctor, ruefully, casting off his slip
pers and dressing gown. Nothing
serious, hope?'
Great heaven! don't stop to ask
auestions!" bursts out the man in the
hall, but come along! Here's a car
riage waiting. She is sick, for all that
1 know, unto DEATH"
The doctor struggles sadly into his
coat and boots. While doing this his
dainty little wife suddenly shuts the
door opening on the hall, and runs
breathlessly up to her husband.
Philip" she whispers and clings to
his arm and looks up in his face with
dilating eyes, don't go! Oh, my own,
don't go with that mani"
"Dimple! Why, Dimple, little wo-
MANI" cries the doctor, who thinks she
has suddenly taken leave Of her senses.
But she clings the closer, and tears
break from her blue eyes.
81 can't explain" she sobs; but I've
a feeling that it will bring you no good,
Philip. 1 know it-yes, 1 know it, af-
ter the fashion Of dumb creatures who
scent danger from afar. Don't go with
that mani"
But the doctor looks utterly dunn
founded.
BLESS my soul! Dimple, I never be-
fore suspected you Of the vapors," he
laughs, yet a little troubled by her
earnestness. What has come over
you, my love? What can I do, but go
with him? 1t is one Of your own sex
who is in need, too. Fie! you would
not have me play the brute, even upon
such night as this? A lady at Duff's.
Very odd, I'm sure. l didn't suppose
Hannah cultivated that sort Of exotic.
There! keep the tea hot till 1 come
back, and sit up for me-there's a
dear. Il not be gone long"
He bends to embrace her, for the
young doctor Is inordinately fond Of
his wife. She clings around his neck
with pale face.
Don't go! don't go!" she keeps re-
peating. Some harm will come to you
from it, Phillip"
Great heaven! are you never COM
ing?" roars a voice from the hall.
There! there! Indeed, mrst, Dim
plei" cries the doctor, and puts her
soft arms tenderly away. Nonsense!
You are a trifie fanciful tonight, that
Nothing worse than an influenza. A
doctor, you know, Is everybody's SER
want, and belongs to everybody but
his wife,"
Don't go!" her lips still strive to
frame, but he kisses them silent, rush.
es out to the man in the hall, leaps
with him into the carriage. and is off
and away to Hannah Duffs.
Dimple stands like a statue and lis
tens till the last roll of receding wheels
dies away.
"Oh!" she murmurs, ''is this what
people call a presentiment? Can trou-
BILE, indeed, come Of such trifle-
trouble for Philip or me?"
She runs to the cradle Of her Sleep
ing baby, over which the doctor has
flung his dressing gown in his haste,
and kneels down and buries her face in
the shabby old thing and bursts into a
violent storm of tears.
Meanwhile the carriage has reached
Hannah Duffs door and stopped. AS
the doctor was crossing the threshold
Captain Forrest laid a hand on his
shoulder.
81 beg you will ask no questions re-
garding the patient" ne said, stiffiy.
Il beg, Furthermore, that you will
promise, on your honor as a gentle
man, never to mention this matter to
living mortal"
"Certainly-since you request it,"
answered the doctor.
He advanced to the bed where the
patient lay. Hannah Duff stood at the
footboard trimming the candle. Its
wasting wick cast an uncanny glare
throughout the room-shone blue and
ghastly on the face Of Captain ForreS
as he followed after the doctor.
"Will she live?" he asked, whitish
about the lips.
I'VE must wait and see." answered
Cover, quietly. 1T looks like a crit
ical case"
Captain Forrest turned abruptly and
went outside. For hours after the two
watchers within heard him pacing up
and down in the darkness under the
curtained window.