Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-05
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
BY IVAN TURGENEv.
The District Doctor.

| Ivan 9. Turrenev. Russian writer. lie un-
doubtedly one Of the greatest names IN Rus
san literature. The present story y from
| Sketches "
Queer things happen TO all of US. OF
! course, and as II district doctor In
these Russian regions I have had my
unusual experiences also. But there
was one--it was in Lent. at the time
Ct the t.1aws. J was interrupted in q
game Of cards OF the judges house by
n servant. who summoned me to a
patient. Well. patients are our bread
anC butter, YOU know. but this--it
vas obvious that they were poor. and
| ! might get nothing out Of It,. II as
n widow. and her daughter was dying,
and she had sent horses. But she was
20 miles from town and IL was mid
| night. and the roads were in a terri
Die state.
I wont. The coachman had his cap
off out of respect. another sign OF pow
crty. II the coachman is a snob, you
can be sure of rubles at least. But.
then, duty before everything. !
snatched up the most necessary drt )
and We were off.
only just managed 10 get there at
all. The road was CHASTITY, what with
streams. snow. and the dyke had burst
1
little matched house. There was a
lig' t In the window, meaning they
expected me. l was met by an old
lady. who said:
Save her-she Is dying
G. bed i found my patient-a
beautiful girl OF 20, unconscious, with
a raging fever. ] did what | could
= ID prescribed a mixture. | had never
seen such face beauty, in a word.
Such lovely features and such eyes,
l was quite moved with pity.
l told them all u fear nothing. that
sh- WAS in no immediate danger.
stayed the night There was nothing
else for me to do. with he roads in
such a state. / finally sent the Old
mother off to bed. promising TO call
her II there was a crisis.
AS for myself, / could not get to
sleep. / could not get my patient on,
of my head. At last. unable 10 stand
II any longer, / decided to 60 and :
how she was getting on. Her bed
room was next the parior. The Sery.
ant on watch had fallen asleep. l
went up to the girl. my patient. I'd
she suddenly opened her eyes and
stared at me. l explained who / was.
that her mother had sent for me.
1t was very queer. She insisted on
|
did not want to die. ! did not under.
stand word OF IT, She was very
mysterious about II. but did not
have the slightest idea. And she con-
cluded with:
Remember. doctor. tell It TO no
one"
The next day. contrary to my ex.
pectatiors. she was no better ! de.
cided to remain there. after long
thought. to do what I could. In the
first place. the patient was really in
danger. and in the second place /
felt strongly atfracte TO her. / even
liked the whole family. They were
poor. but they were cultivated people,
YOU understand. They treated me like
one OF the family, and the roads were
worse than ever.
Even medicine could he obtained
only by sending a servant. who would
tale days for the journey 10 town and
| hack. And the sick girl did not i'm
prove. Day after day. day after day.
and then-well. / hardly know how TO
| tell IL.
/ won't beat about the bush. how.
ever. The fact is she had fallen in
love with me. Orwell / hardly
know how TO put IL. but she couIdn I
exactly have been in love with me-
I'm not so young and I'm not really
| handsome. / think no man should
give himself too much credit. Per.
haps 1t was friendliness and a certain
| respect. for she trusted me.
| But she kept getting worse and
| worse. II you were a doctor you
| could understand something OF my
feelings. II is especially so when one
has had few .patients-tust starting
QUITO see that disease is getting
4 h.. A~m -
J begin. 10 dauft yourself Really. IL
! can't be described. You fancy that
other people begin TO notice how up
set you are. and that they begin TO
| harhor suspicion about your ability.
| Meantime. this girl was dying. There