The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1910-08-11
"A STRANGE
ADVENTURE

He was a young physician, old
enough to have .outgrown the student
ov~erconf1dence and cynicism. still
young enough to be enthusiastic. He
loved study for its own sake. but he
did his charity work" with an att.
tude Of human sympathy that made
he poor love him. This was partly
due to his natural kindness Of heart
but more to the fact that he had
learned much through suffering. In
early youth he had loved a girl in his
own country village, and she. follow.
Ing him to the city to learn stenog.
raphy, had slipped out Of his sight and
knowledge entirely. The sad thought
that this would not have happened
but for the quarrel born Of his nerv
impattence was with Doctor Hud.
SOL always. For the sake Of Marie,
whom his loving, troubled fancy pic
tured always as Ill or In trouble, he
was ! to all un%fortunates, espe
cially If they belonged to her sex.
He made a specially Of eye and cal
maladies. and presently he had a elm
&c at the great infirmary where
streams of unhappy sufferers flowed
through daily. Every time he treated
a pair of afflicted eyes he tent up {
silent prayer for Marie, whose pretty
orbs. when last he had seer them
clearly had shown the effects of over
work. and who had hereditary DISPOSE
ton toward eye troubles. The poor
patients gained. however. by the gen
tie manner that had grown out of his
oWn self-condemnation for that need
less burst of wrath.
One day, turning from a particularly
a case. he was met by another. Two
M entered, one middle aged, I'm
cultured, kindly, leading the other, 6
slender girl evidently quite blind
The blind girl, seated in the proper
chair. removed the thick veil that GOV
cred her face, and lo!-thin, delicate,
poorly clad, plapably in the depths OF
poverty, Marie was disclosed. Profes,
sional reserve and impassivity were
proudly justified Of their child in that
moment. The doctors hands and voice
both shook a little, but his
was quite calm az he requested Marie's
companion and the other physician
present to leave him for a moment
alone with the patient, in whom he
had dtscerned an old friend.
Marie. hearing his voice. trembled
more than he and would have declined
the interview had she realized the sit.
uation sufficiently. But before her
senses really were awake the door had
closed on the r%etreating people. her
lovers arms were around her. and she
she who had vowed undying pride
n coldness was sobbing against his
breast. ? ID ~
The story Of her hard work and OF
the gradually failing eyesight, OF the
kind, ignorant woman in whose house
she had lodged latterly, of the visit
to the infrmary in the hope of a re-
neWed chance toward independence,
came later. There was no time for ii
in that moment, for Doctor Hudson,
when 1t was borne In upon him that
his colleague no longer could be kept
waiting, acted with his customary
speed and decision.
i feel sure this case is not hope.
less" Marie heard him saying, but
we will not treat her here, Stanley.
Will you send for a carriage, please
and will you," cordially ADDRESSING
good. surprised Mrs. Murphy, Ego with
Miss Drew to the hospital 1 have
chosen? This" forestalling. Marie's
ttmid remonstrance, lis my aflanced
wife, doctor, and my sister will take
charge of her from this moment
Shall we call the next case?"
And the next case, a grim old ma
lingerer, little knew to what he owed
the unexpected forfearance that sent
him unreproved aawy.