Year: 1874

1ully at ner, anu SalQ I'd MIS. DIonA
"There's no time for nonsense; bring
me some cold water and kandages at
once, and send somebody to the hotel
for DR.. Chester's small case of surgical
instruments.


Mrs. Smith, left to herself, soon re-
covered, and insisted upon an explana-
ton of the affair.


cts nothing serious, I hope. l
have accidentally sent charge OF shot
into this young lady's arm. Are you
her mother?"


"No, indeed, sbe is poor dependent
creature that we've taken in for charl-
tvs sake; niece of mine, and what I'm
to do with her now I can't see. 1 can't
take care of her, and indeed, sir, it's
mighty inconvenient to have her laid
up just at this time. Sheis very neces.
sary to my comfort. 1 need a sight OF
care and waitin' on, night and day..


"Well, madam, she'll need a sight OF
care and waitin' on herself now for
awhile, and must have it."


BY this time the young girl revived
again under the vigorous treatment she
received, and the instruments were
brought to him.


"Now, madam, will you tell whereto
take this young lady, for she must be
put to bed at once" ~


"Well, she sleeps in little closet of
nv room"


"That will never do. Show me the
largest, best room you have IN the
house." Taking Meta gently in his
arms, the doctor followed Mrs. Smith
mp stairs to large, pleasant chamber;
She groaned in spirit as she turned
down the white counterpane, and as
sisted the doctor in getting Meta un-
dressed and into bed; but he was not
to be trifed with at such time. Now,
madam, I will excuse you, but let Mrs.
Brown bring me plenty of warm water
and soft, old linen, and remain to assist
me. And [ want servant close at hand
to get whatever else / may require while
dressing the arm.


1t was terrible hour to Meta while
he probed each wound and removed the
shot that were deeply imbedded in the
tender flesh. Fortunately no bone was
broken, and at last it was neatly
bandaged with soft linen and wet with
healing lotion, and she fell asleep.
Mrs. Brown proved an efficient helper !;
and as they passed quietly out OF the
room the doctor said:


"My patient must have the best of
care and attention. Could you stay and
nurse her for awhile ?"


eyes, might" ..


every we'll I will pay you well II
you will do it, for everything will de-
pend upon keeping her quiet now"


He met Mrs. Smith in the hail.


"Madam, this woman has consented
to stay and take care Of your niece, and
will see that she is well paid tor 1t.
But mind what I say: you must not
see her, nor must any one else see her
but Mrs. Brown and myself for week
at least, for she will have serious time
of it at the best. l regret it exceeding
ly, more than / can tell you, that have
been the cause of all this suffering, and
will do my best to have her about again
rs soon as possible" So saying, the
doctor wished them good day, and soon
disappeared from their view.


"Well, now, if that isn't cool !! And
what am I to do all this time" groan-
ed Mrs. Smith, rocking herself vigor-
ously in her great armchair. "And
my best spare room, too Say, did he
muss everything up dressing that arm ?"


"Oh 40 he was very careful about
that"


"Well, that's comfort any way. To
think I should have such trouble with
that girl just when L needed her most /!
I think it IS very mysterious dlspen-
sation of Providence.


The next morning the doctor found
Meta in a high fever, moaning with
pain and delirious. The arm was bad
Iy swollen and infamed, and altogether
her case had assumed a very alarming
aspect. He did not go hunting or fish
ing that day, but stayed by her bedside
administering medicine with his own
hand, and doing everything in his pow
er for her relief. He was greatly dis
tressed over the accident, and inwardly
vowed he would never fire of another
gun as long as he lived.


But what a revelation of toll, hard
ship, and cruel wrong the unconscious
Meta made in her delirium She fam
cicd the doctor, as he bathed her hot
head and hands and soothed her as he
would child, was her mother, and she
drew his head close to her lips and
whispered:


o mother I'm so glad you have
come for me ! I'm tired to death.
Auntie has no mercy or feeling for me
She has kept me at work over her night
and day, and I've gone hungry many
and many a time, because 1 couldn't
bear to eat the food so grudgingly
gwen. o, 1 am SO glad you have
come"


Now Meta was not beautiful girl,
though she had sweet, pure, womanly
face, and great, wistful eyes, and an
of dark, silky hair. But her
small hands were brown and hardened
with toll she was poor, dependent
alone in the world except for this sell
fish, unnatural aunt, and the cousins
who scarcely deigned to notice her.


Doctor Chester was rich, old bach
elor, not so very old either, only thirty
six. Why he had never married no one
could tell, but true it is 4e had remain
ed heart whole these years in spite OF
the many beautiful women who had
smiled gracefully upon him. But some
how this poor suffering orphan won his
heart completely during that week of
He was charmed with
her sweet prattle about her childhood
and her innocence and helplessness, to-
gether with the suffering he had so I'M
willingly caused appealed, strongly to
his sympathy, and he fully resolved to