Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1917-09-21
Doctor
BernertOn
UnwillingIy lie Left His
Wife to See a Patient.
By ELIN0R MARSH

&
o----~~~>~~~->~>>~~-~~~~c-
MY dear" said DR.. Joe Bemerton
us he threw of his coat and hat. toss
ing his heavy driving gloves Into the
latter, "Ill be hanged If go out again
tonight If I'm called by a mul.imillion
alrer
-Oh, Joe. I'm so glad You look aw
fully tired, aud just think how long IT
is since we've had a quiet evening to
geiherl'
"Rlght you are. Pol I'll get on my
yelveteen jacket, put on my easy shoes
sit down before these blazing logs with
You beside me, and wen have a real
old fashioned evening-like our court
ing days. ell. sweetheart"
He tweaked her ear and gave her q
kiss.
"Won't It be nice7 You can sit In
the big chair right before the fame
while | sit in nv little working rocker
beside you and darn the stockings"
"Oh, no; don't darn stockings! You
lidn't darn stockings in those days"
As soon as dinner was over the doc
,or pulled the big chair up to the IRE
place and drew his wife down on bis
knee She had weighed 100 pounds
when they courted Now she weighed
ll0. Remerton had had several obsti-
nate cases during the day and was
tired. 1t wasn't five minutes before he
remarked that he had strained mus
Gle IN his left leg when getting out Of
his auto, slipping on a bit of ice. He
thought that they'd better sit side by
side So Mrs. Bemerton got OF his
knee and with an effort succeeded in
squeezing in beside him. II she had
gained fifty pounds he had gained
more, so that instead Of the aggregate
bulk Of 215 pounds between the two
arms Of the chair, as In their courting
days. there were now $50. However,,
they managed to wedge themselves In.
and Mrs. Bemerton leaned back on her
husbands arm.
Just as nice as ever It was" he said
CALAMITY.
They sat chatting for awhile, but the
topics they talked about as lovers did
not seem to rise up with the sponta-
neity Of former DAYS. There were long
gaps in the conversation The doctor
yawned.
"We don't need to talk all the while
she said drowsily. Remember what
a clatter we used to keep upr
81 wonder how we did It"
did it! We didn't do 1t. 1t did IT
self"
There was a lull, during which the
doctors eyes closed, and he was be-
ginning TO draw the heavy breath OF
slumber when bis wife started in anew.
"Do you know, joe she said, that
wretched butcher sent in the most
abomlnable steak this morning-all
bone and gristle?"
yes. dear, but my arm is cramped
II you'll rise bit I'll move itp
He moved the arm and was sinking
again to snooze when the telephone
bell rang.
an 60" said Mrs. Bemerton. start.
ing up.
"No; you wouldn't understand" And
The doctor went to the telephone.
Yes, I'm DR.. Bemerton."
Reply.
am pretty tired"
Reply.
as he7"
Reply.
suffering muchT
Reply>
well, l suppose III have to CO."
Mrs. Bemerton, who was listening.
sighed. The doctor came back into the
room the picture of woe.
"Now, Joe. you said you wouldn't
go out again tonight for a millionaire.
You're tired out. In another moment
you'd have been asleep. Why didn't
you refuseY"
ing and called for a physician to re-
lieve you end he declined to go, what
would you think Of him7
"Well. I suppose It can't be helped.
VIII you ride?"
"No; it's not far. I'll walk"
She helped the poor man on with his
overcoat. He gave her a parting kiss
and as he went out said:
"If I'm going to be delayed I'll tele-
phone you. and you're not to sit up.
but go to bed like dear, good little
woman, and III come in without dis
turbing you and sleep In my own
room. Ta-ta, sweetheart"
Mrs Bemerton's regret was that her
tege lord must go out after a hard
days work into a cold night to incur
more responsibility. She was a prac-
tical woman and had discovered very
soon that the return to courting days
would not be a success.
As soon as the front door closed be-
hind him DIR. Bemerton hastened his
steps. A few blocks away was his
club, and thither he went Leaving
his overcoat at the coat room, he went
into the cafe aud there found Drs.
Nichols and ellison, who hailed his en-
trance with shonfs Of satisfaction.
"What did you mean,S exclaimed
Bemerton to Nichols, with mock sever
lty, "by telling me that the patient
was suffering and must come at once
20 relieve himf"
Il mean this" replied Niehols-"that
ellison Is suffering for some one to
split bottle of ginger ale with him.