The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1912-06-21
The Doctors
Patients


one of the finest in Connecticut, long
without tenant, was sold at last. A
gentleman, with an invalid wife and
q pretty daughter, purchased and took
possession Of 1t. They seemed very
pleasant people, but slow In making
acquaintance.
Young Doctor Everson always ad-
mired the place, when he passed 1t In
his rides; but, Of course, he would not
venture to call without an invitation.
However, one day, accident gave him
the desired opportunity. AS he was
riding by, the front door opened, and
Miss Bennett came tripping down the
steps.
please stop a moment!" she called
out. Are you not doctor?" she
said.
IT am. Can l be of service?" he
said, with his most professional air.
Eyes, indeed" was the quick an
swer. my mother is very Ill, and pa
pa not here. AS we are strangers, I
did not know whom to go to, SO i
ventured to stop YOU"
Perfectly right said the doctor.
II am at your disposal Immediately"
Mamma" said the girl, bending
tenderly over her, "the doctor Is here"
ooh, well, he can't do me any good"
was the fretful answer.
Doctor Everson stepped UP and laid
his hand upon the invalid's wrist, say
ing cheerfully: Suppose we try, any
way. What have you been taking?"
Mrs. Bennett gave list. The doctor
laughed.
"As you are alive after all that he
said, there's hope yeti Now, can you
tell me your bad feelings?"
The lady went over all her symp-
toms, and the doctor said, in that
CHEEKY tone which always brings new
life into a sick-room: THAT Is better
than / hoped You can almost cure
yourself. madam, If you will follow a
few OF the simplest directions"
What are they?" asked the daugh-
ter eagerly.
"Only to dispense with all medi-
cine, unless some light thing for her
nerves: eat plenty Of nourishing food;
throw these windows all OPEN"
Doctor Everson left some simple
powders, and, at the daughters re-
quest, promised to call again the next
day.
papa will be here, and wish you
to see him. Here are our cards" said
Miss Bennett, as she showed the doc
tor downstairs.
The doctor bowed and gave her In
return his own card, upon which,
after he was gone, she read the name
Frank Everson, M. D."
To effect cure, of course, the doc
tor called frequently. And II, in SO
doing, he became more interested in
the nurse than in the patient, nobody
was the wiser
Sometimes, to relieve the tedious
hours of duty, he took the fair nurse
out to drive, and in those pleasant
hours they grew very well acquainted.
Mrs. Bennett had been for two
months under the doctors care, and
was so greatly improved that Nellie
sometimes left her, to take a rambler
by herself in the pleasant fields and
woods near Rose Hill. One afternoon.
having strayed down road which was
new to her, she came to an old mill,
the ruins of which we're grass-worn
and rotten. But Nellie supposed they
would bear her light weight, and,
from mere impulse, walked out on the
old timbers, which overhung the
stream, and stood f1inging pebbles in
to the water, to watch the ripples they
made. a
She did not notice the wavering OF
the timbers uatil, just as she turned
to go back, crash! went the log on
which she stood. and down went
Nellie into the stream. AS she went
down, she gave a frantic clutch and
succeeded In grasping a cross-timber.
which held her suspended, with her
shoulders just out of the water
Nellie knew that the stream was
deep, and she could not swim. She
shrieked and shrieked for help.
An instant, and cheerful shout
rang answering back: Hold hard!
I'm coming!"
Poor Nellie knew the voice, and
strove to turn her head. She saw
Doctor Everson leap from his buggy
and fling off his coat as he ran for the
creek. A moment more, and he had
dashed into the stream, and his strong
arms held her firmly.
Nellie, with great feeling of Sc
curity, lay passive on his broad breast.
until few bold strokes carried them
to the shore.
II should have come sooner If had
known you needed me-" said he.
AS he spoke, he hurriedly picked up
his coat, fastened 1t over her shout
ders, put her, all dripping and SILVER
ing, into his vehicle, and drove like
the wind.
AS they started, she said: Doctor.
/ can't thank you. But you seem to
be near whenever I want help"
He turned to her with a great light
In his face, and for one instant his
arm clasped her as he said, fervently:
my darling. would ask nothing bet
ter OF life than to be near you al
ways!"
Then he took his arm away, but
gently, and not a word more was said
during the short driva Pint AZ no