Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-08-22
CHANGE FOR ROBERT
OcuIist's Wife Meant Well, But
Results We're Not as
Anticipated.

llTcu = dbhcu tAC hooeSSo 80 w.
oculist's wife dropped into chair.
Yes, tired and Disguised with men
and--and dogs. Though 1t really
wasn't the dogs fault" she added.
Then it was the man's!" exclaimed
the brunette girl. 1T usually Is. Tell
US about It,"
We'll, yesterday afternoon l start
cd out to make some calls. l wore my
white wolfe dress, white lace hat, long
white kid gloves and white buckskin
shoes. Remember that; for what
wore plays an important part
1T does with every woman. sala
the widow.
Well" went on the oculists Wife,
1T was such lovely day and de-
sided to 60 by way Of the park.
was walking down a little shady pain
when noticed peculiar looking dog
following me. OF course, no woman
wants to be followed by an ugly
grimy cur l looked for policeman,
but there wasn't one in sight threw
a stone at the dog. but he thought l
was playing and came closer.
Then l observed that 1t was his
eyes that gave him such peculiar
look. They we're very pale, almost
white. looked at them closely.
Without doubt the poor dog was al
flicted with cataracts.
Then my heart almost stood still.
l thought what an opportunity THIS
would be for Robert! Being young
oculist. he Is always on the lookout
for material 1t didn't make any dlf-
ference whether 1t was a person or an
animal, as long as 1t was case. And
here was a case, an operative one.
And my husband loves to operate!
The dog began to wag his tail IN
joyful anticipation. That settled 1t.
l turned around and started home, the
dog at my heels. Some one called 10
me. 1t was a policeman.
els that your dog?' he asked. 1t
is l said firmly, but not proudly.
Then he wanted to know where its
collar and license and chain and muz-
zle were and a hundred other imper-
tinent things, and thought we should
never get away from him. But after
much arguing we finally did and
reached the street in safety Then
the dog suddenly changed his mind.
He didn't want to be operated on
after all. He bolted and bolted after
him, with big crowd Of people look
ing on.
after l had chased him block he
got into fight with another dog
which enabled me to catch up to him.
/ grabbed him away, determined that
he shouldn't have his eyes bitten out
before Robert got chance at them.
! bought a rope of boy and tied 1t
around the dogs neck while crowd
cheered. My new dress and gloves be-
came covered with streaks made by
the dirty rope.
Il held to the rope. however. and
dragged the dog on. He began to
choke. The rope was too tight. II
loosened it he might get away. There
was nothing to do but to carry him.
In addition to everything else that
could be said against that dog. he
was heavy. +
when reached home the janitor
was watering the lawn. You can't
take that dog into the building he
said. Who's going to- asked, pass
ing the house. Then l went around
| to the alley and sneaked my patient
up the back stairs and dropped him on
my clean kitchen floor. He began to
howl. To keep the janitor and all
| the tenants from hearing him l fed
him all the cold meat in the house
and finally had to give him the chops
bought for supper.
1T seemed ages before Robert came
home l led him out to the kitchen
and triumphantly showed him the dog
You are going to operate on him
tomorrow said proudly. What for?'
he asked. For cataracts. Just look
at his eyes, Mr.. Ophthalmologist.'
He bent down and carefully exam
ined the dogs eyes. You're poor
diagnostician, he said. The dog has
no cataracts.' But see, look how
white his eyes are faltered. That's
the natural color of the iris he re-
piled. Instead Of being brown or blue
it Is whitish. He can see as we'll as
you can
my eyes filled with tears. And
after all my trouble you are not going
to operate on his eyes at alp asked.
oh, I'll cut out his eyes II you insist,
| he said, but"
The oculist's wife stopped abruptly
and looked into the smiling faces
| around her.
Il don't see what you are laughing
at" she flashed. you are just as
heartless as he is. I'm going out now
I.... ~..c . oo<D