Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-12-22
10 observe Tie nAtient.

knew my attitude must al all times be
strictly impersonal.
Mechanically, with my sinking
prescience of evil at my heart | ate
and drank without knowing or caring
what the fare might be. Now and |
then took some little part in the con |
strained conversation, which signally |
failed to tighten the bOding sense of !
trouble that dominated all. Every at !
tempt at light and casual talk ended |
and died a failure.
Alexandra said little. She took only |
tea. The fact that she ate nothing
showed me that the operation was in
deed to be reality. Even now she
was preparing for il. Within twenty
four hours, | knew, and probably in Il
still shorter time, the work would act
ually begin My time for escape, were
that now possible, was growing short.
| saw that the patient was truly
remarkable woman. The fine delicacy
and beauty OF her hands greatly I'M
pressed me with their artistic prom
Use. Her vigorous black hair, too,
struck me as splendid. judged her
to be about fifteen years younger IMAM
| in wears, but far older in experience
of the world, both here and beyond
the sea.
Her height seemed somewhat above
the average, her proportions perfect.
Each gesture was lowered with an
extreme grace. Her whole personality
gave out he ndefinable magnetic
charm more often found among Euro
pean women than among those born
in our newer and less cultured land.
Her charmingly attractive face,
though lacking in some essential quail
tiles OF real beauty, seemed to express
a character OF good, gentle and spirit
ual in nature, though tineed with mel
ancholy. From her features, coloring,
and accent | judged her TO be Rus
/ sian or a Rumanlan.
An extreme nobility dominated her
countenance, expressing every emo
ton quickly and with wonderful ac.
curacy. as ii she had been an actress
She spoke rather rarely; but what she
said was timely and well-chosen, with
An occasional CLEAN Of humor, too
despite the seriousness OF the meal
The conversation developed Itself
mostly between the two men, II was
OF most extraordinary character
partly in English, occasionally gong
over into French and even passing
into language which | knew nothing
of. but which Alexandra understood
and spoke with the greatest ease
The doctors rather ignored me, but
Alexandra with great tact for the
most part kept the discussion in Eng
fish and tried to limit il TO subjects
with which | was familiar
She showed unusually familiarity
with the topics of the da\--lhe Pana
ma scandal involving tive French, th'
Boring Sea arbitration with Grea
Britain, and the proposed annexation
of Hawaii, all of which matters an'
others came up during that memola
Bile dinner. Music and drama enioyc,
their share OF discussion, Spiced wall
3 bits of Renaissance about foreign lil
and travels in countries and elite
that to me were only names.
On the whole, had not the occasto
been 50 trying should have consider
ed that meal plain as it was, 4 Woi
droua treat,
one subject remained conspicuous
+ " absent, / E.ean mediocre ana SUI
gerry Nothing OF that nature cam
:. into the discussion at all, Doctors al
:, so prone 10 talk shop that the absenc
of it seemed glarna This false con
4, strain, weighing heavily ON M
4 served only 10 increase my apptehe'
!. sion
=, Thus the meal drew TO a close,
erected It's end With cast relief
"Now, Or. Boss said Vital +
puzv AZ we arose from table, "Ahd'
and | will leave you with AleXand'
=, for half an hour or 50 While we Snlof
" AN at,erdinner cigar After that
!, YOU like well show YOU our prepar
- lions for this most Interesting case,
:, lie and the Freedman wthdfe'
" With a gesture of gracious conl.den
Alexandra slipped her arm lhfou'
=, mine, and together We passed out In
The broad central hallway There y
:. sa1 down on deep couch by the fiji
II while old Mrs Sprage, beginning
clear the table, nodded and mumhl
=, ,o herself most Gisquietingly
so you're the brave woman WHIT
90 Going to help me through TINS
-. dcal?" 0ueried Alexandra gazinS II
No. The flame from Two huge, ghall
!, old apple.logs. I'm 80 glad YOU
"a here | truly need the comfort n
10 support of another woman You do
or know how lonely i. van BE- out h'
~ beyond these salt marshes, IN Il
=, gloomy old house surrounded by th'
: prim hedges that stand like ROWS
=, green sentincls all about
IL, "lou call it an ordeal, Miss
=, "CaI me Just Alexandra. That v
81, he enough Neither miss nor miss
have other names, but Aexan'