The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1921-04-01
The
Doctors Bride
-
By KATE EDMoNDs


"Yes, miss, that's the way to the VII
lage. So you're the new principal OF
the free school! hope you'll like
the place, miss, and stay with US
a while; the last principal she found
ed the school-Miss Brown from Bos-
ton,i you know--and she bided here
for seven anc twenty years until Doc
Bentley sent her home to die.
Couldn't do nothing for her, he said.
and that's saying heap, for we all
thinks good. deal Of Doe Bentley
down this way.
doc Bentley did you askf Yes,
he's been our doctor for nigh upon Eve
years now. That's his house on the
hill.
.Fiye years ago Doc Bentley was
practicing in Nortonville, a hundred
miles across the mountains yonder.
Doc Bentley was considered the best
doctor there, and he used to be thick
with all the society folks in the place.
"But for all his big practice Bentley
wasn't the man to sacrifice the poor TO
get bigger fee.
.You see, miss. Doc Bentley was en-
gagged to be married TO Miss Edith
Somers, the only daughter of old Jim
Somcrs, who built the railroad from
Clafiin clear over those mountains.
The day was set for their marriage at
the Presbyterian church. And you'd
have thought that he'd have let up
little on his practicing, with his wed.
ding day a few hours OFF. But he
didn't.
"The night before his marriage u
call came over the long distance tele-
phone from Carriers, which lies Is
miles south from Nortonvilie, in the
midst OF the mountains. A negro
man had been crushed by wagon and
he was the nearest doctor. Would he
come AZ once?
doc Bentley dropped the telephone
receiver and called to his man; Sad
| die my horse, jim, he said. I'm go
ing to ride to Carriers And, seeing
that nothing he could say would stop
him. Jim sadded the horse, and Doc
Bentley reached Carriers at midnight
| and saved life.
ut had been downhill TO Carter, but
Ii was uphill going back, and IL
miles upon tired horse may mean
five hours, or twenty-four, when the
mountain roads have become rushing
| streams. and especially when your
horse falls and breaks his leg in two
places. Doc Bentley rose up from the
! muddy ground, looked at the animal,
! and drew his revolver from his pocket
| TO nut IL out Of its pain. Then he re-
| fiected If can cure a mans broken
! leg / reckon | can cure a horses, he
said TO himself SO he pulled the beast
/ into thicket. and. 1--WE days later. he
Was back there with plaster Of paris
| and Load of corn--and the end of II
| is that Doc Bentley rides that same
nag today, up and around Changers.
See, there he comes over that rise.
He'll he here In five minutes.
"Where was l ar OH yes Well,
when he was six miles out Of Norton
vile. and walked Into town, Miss
Edith Somers was waiting AT the Pres
byterian church, That was at noon.
and you might think Doc Bentley
could have covered the distance on
foot by then. Bht the fact is-which
forgot 70 tell yoA--tliat he had been
stunned by mis- fall and lay like a log
in the road from two in the morning
until half-past eight Also, he had a
broken shoulder.
Miss Somers waited with the bridal
party from noon until quarter past
one. Then her father took her home,
and an hour later they were speeding
in their car out of Nortonville. She
never went back guess she was too
proud. OF course you know Jim Somers
lost his fortune In the panic year
DOC Bentley had to leave Norton
vile. OF course. We learned his story
soon after he got here, but ! reckon
nobody holds 1t against him. Anyway,
he's a powerful good doctor. But don't
you believe what other folks say, for,
as ! told you, theyJl get 1t wrong.
miss.
"Well, l must leave you here, for
I've got some shopping to do. But
walk straight ahead to the turn and
you'll see the school on top OF that
rise. Good morning, doctorl This is
the new principal Of You know her?
Garry Myers. come herel Come
here. There, you're too slow! You've
missed 1t! What did see? Why,
Doc Bentley kissing the new principal
of the free school In the middle Of the
street, as bold as brass, and-look
Why, they're carrying on as If there
wasn't another human being in the
world but just themselves"