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diff --git a/38752-h/38752-h.htm b/38752-h/38752-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8c01a6f --- /dev/null +++ b/38752-h/38752-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10427 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8"/> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"/> +<title>The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife, by Ellen M. Firebaugh—A Project Gutenberg eBook</title> +<link rel="coverpage" href="images/title-page.jpg"/> +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- +p +{ + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.5em; + line-height: 1.25; +} + +p.center, +p.right, +p.no-indent, +#tnote p, +#tnote-bottom p +{ + text-indent: 0; +} + +h1, +h2 +{ + text-align: center; + clear: both; + font-weight: normal; +} + +h1 +{ + font-size: x-large; + margin: 4em auto 1em auto; + line-height: 1.4; +} + +h2 +{ + font-size: large; + margin: 6em auto 1em auto; + line-height: 1.5; +} + +a:link, +a:visited +{ + text-decoration: none; +} + +hr +{ + visibility: hidden; + margin: 1.5em auto; +} + +blockquote +{ + margin: 1.5em 0; + font-size: 0.9em; +} + +ins +{ + text-decoration: none; + border-bottom: 1px dashed #add8e6; +} + +.center +{ + text-align: center; +} + +.right +{ + text-align: right; +} + +p.right +{ + margin-right: 1.5em; +} + +.small-caps +{ + font-variant: small-caps; +} + +.poetry +{ + margin-left: 1.5em; +} + +.poetry .stanza +{ + margin: 1em auto; +} + +.poetry .line +{ + text-indent: -3em; + padding-left: 3em; +} + +.poetry .indent1 +{ + margin-left: 0.4em; +} + +.poetry .indent2 +{ + margin-left: 0.8em; +} + +.poetry .indent3 +{ + margin-left: 1.4em; +} + +.footnote +{ + border: 1px solid silver; + padding: 0.25em 1em; +} + +a[title].pagenum +{ + position: absolute; + right: 3%; +} + +a[title].pagenum:after +{ + content: attr(title); + border: 1px solid silver; + display: inline; + font-size: x-small; + text-align: right; + color: #808080; + background-color: inherit; + font-style: normal; + padding: 1px 4px 1px 4px; + font-variant: normal; + font-weight: normal; + text-decoration: none; + text-indent: 0; + letter-spacing: 0; +} + +#tnote, +#tnote-bottom +{ + text-align: justify; + padding: 0 0.75em; + margin: 6em auto; +} + +ul#corrections +{ + list-style-type: none; + margin: 0; + padding: 0; +} + +ul#corrections li +{ + margin: 0.5em 0.25em; +} + +ul#corrections .correction +{ + text-decoration: underline; +} + +@page +{ + margin: 0.25em; +} + +@media screen +{ + body + { + width: 80%; + max-width: 35em; + margin: auto; + } + + p + { + margin: 0.75em auto; + } + + #tnote, + #tnote-bottom + { + border: 1px dashed #808080; + background-color: #fafafa; + max-width: 26em; + } + + .page-break + { + margin-top: 8em; + } +} + +@media print, handheld +{ + p + { + margin: 0; + } + + #tnote p, + #tnote-bottom p + { + margin: 0.25em 0; + } + + #tnote .screen, + .pagenum + { + display: none; + } + + ins + { + border: none; + } + + a:link, + a:visited + { + color: black; + } + + #tnote, + #tnote-bottom, + h1, + h2, + .page-break + { + page-break-before: always; + } + + #tnote-bottom + { + page-break-after: always; + } +} + +@media handheld +{ + body + { + margin: 0; + padding: 0; + width: 95%; + } + + p + { + line-height: 1; + margin: 0; + } + + #corrections li + { + margin: 0; + } +} +--> +</style> +<!--[if lt IE 8]> +<style type="text/css"> +a[title].pagenum +{ + position: static; +} +</style> +<![endif]--> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of a Doctor's Telephone--Told by +His Wife, by Ellen M. Firebaugh + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Story of a Doctor's Telephone--Told by His Wife + +Author: Ellen M. Firebaugh + +Release Date: February 3, 2012 [EBook #38752] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A DOCTOR'S TELEPHONE *** + + + + +Produced by Norbert H. Langkau, Jana Srna and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div id="tnote"> +<p class="center"><b>Transcriber's Notes:</b></p> + +<p>Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully +as possible, including inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation.</p> + +<p>Some corrections of spelling and punctuation have been made. +<span class="screen">They are marked <ins title="transcriber's note">like +this</ins> in the text. The original text appears when hovering the cursor +over the marked text.</span> A <a href="#tn-bottom">list of amendments</a> is +at the end of the text.</p> +</div> + +<h1>THE STORY OF A DOCTOR'S +TELEPHONE—TOLD +BY HIS WIFE</h1> + +<p class="center" style="margin: 4em auto; line-height: 1.5;"><small>BY</small><br/> +<big>ELLEN M. FIREBAUGH</big><br/> +Author of “<span class="small-caps">The Physician's Wife</span>”</p> + +<p class="center" style="line-height: 1.5;">BOSTON, MASS.:<br/> +THE ROXBURGH PUBLISHING COMPANY<br/> +(<span class="small-caps">Incorporated</span>)</p> + +<p class="center page-break">Copyrighted, 1912<br/> +<span class="small-caps">By Ellen M. Firebaugh</span></p> + +<p class="center"><i>All rights reserved</i></p> + +<p class="center page-break" style="font-size: large;">TO MY HUSBAND</p> + +<h2><a class="pagenum" name="Page_5" title="5"> </a>TO THE READER.</h2> + +<p>The telephone has revolutionized the doctor's +life.</p> + +<p>In the old days when a horse's galloping hoofs +were heard people looked out of their windows +and wondered if that wasn't someone after a +doctor! The steed that Franklin harnessed bears +the message now, and comments and curiosity +are stilled. In the old days thunderous knocks +came often to the doctor's door at night; they are +never heard now, or so rarely as to need no mention. +Neighbors have been awakened by these +importunate raps: they sleep on undisturbed now.</p> + +<p>The doctor's household enjoys nothing of this +sweet immunity. A disturbing factor is within +it that makes the thunderous knocks of old pale +into insignificance.</p> + +<p>When the telephone first came into the town +where our doctor lived he had one put in his +office of course, for if anyone in the world needs +a 'phone it is the doctor and the people who want +him. By and by he bethought him that since his +office was several blocks from his residence he +had better put one in there, too, because of calls +that come in the night. So it was promptly installed. +The doctor and his wife found their sleep +disturbed far oftener than before. People will +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_6" title="6"> </a> +not dress and go out into the night to the doctor's +house unless it is necessary. But it is an easy +thing to step to the 'phone and call him from his +sleep to answer questions—often needless—and +when several people do the same thing in +the same night, as frequently happens, it is not +hard to see what the effect may be.</p> + +<p>One day the doctor had an idea! He would +connect the two 'phones. It would be a handy +thing for Mary to be able to talk to him about +the numberless little things that come up in a +household without the trouble of ringing central +every time, and it would be a handy thing +for him, too. When he had to leave the office +he could just 'phone Mary and she could keep +an ear on the 'phone till he got back.</p> + +<p>About this time another telephone system was +established in the town—the Farmers'. Now +a doctor's clientele includes many farmers, so he +put one of the new 'phones into his office. By +and by he reflected that farmers are apt to need +to consult a physician at night—he must put +in a Farmers' 'phone at home, too. And he did. +Then he connected it with the office.</p> + +<p>When the first 'phone went up Mary soon accustomed +herself to its call—three rings. When +her husband connected it with the office the rings +were multiplied by three. One ring meant someone +at the office calling central. Two rings meant +someone calling the office. Three rings meant +someone calling the residence, as before. Mary +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_7" title="7"> </a> +found the three calls confusing. When the +Farmers' 'phone was installed and the same order +of rings set up, she found the original ring +multiplied by six. This was confusion worse +confounded. To be sure the bell on the Farmers' +had a somewhat hoarser sound than that on the +Citizens' 'phone, but Mary's ear was the only +one in the household that could tell the difference +with certainty. The clock in the same room +struck the half hours which did not tend to simplify +matters. When a new door-bell was put +on the front door Mary found she had eight different +rings to contend with. But it is the bells +of the Telephone with which we are concerned +and something of their story will unfold as we +proceed.</p> + +<p>When the doctor was at home and the 'phone +would ring he would start toward the adjoining +room where the two hung and stop at the first.</p> + +<p>Mary would call “Farmers'!” and he would +move on to the next. Perhaps at the same instant +the tall boy of the household whose ear was +no more accurate than that of his father would +shout “Citizens'!” and the doctor would stop +between the two.</p> + +<p>“<em>Farmers'!</em>” the wife would call a second time, +with accrued emphasis. Then she would laugh +heartily and declare:</p> + +<p>“Any one coming in might think this a sort +of forum where orations were being delivered,” +and sometimes she would go on and declaim:</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_8" title="8"> </a>“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your +ears—my husband has borrowed mine.”</p> + +<p>So the telephone in the doctor's house—so +great a necessity that we cannot conceive of life +without it, so great a blessing that we are hourly +grateful for it, is yet a very great tyrant whose +dominion is absolute.</p> + +<p>I had a pleasing picture in my mind in the +writing of this chronicle, of sitting serene and undisturbed +in a cosy den upstairs, with all the +doors between me and the 'phone shut tight +where no sound might intrude. In vain. Without +climbing to the attic I could not get so far +away that the tintinnabulation that so mercilessly +wells from those bells, bells, bells did not +penetrate.</p> + +<p>I hope my readers have not got so far away +from their Poe as to imagine that ringing sentence +to be mine. And I wonder if a still greater +glory might not crown his brow if there had +been telephone bells to celebrate in Poe's day.</p> + +<p>So I gave up the pleasant dream, abandoned +the cosy den and came down stairs to the dining +room where I can scatter my manuscript about +on the big table, and look the tyrants in the face +and answer the queries that arise, and can sandwich +in a good many little odd jobs besides.</p> + +<p>Through a doctor's telephone how many +glimpses of human nature and how many peeps +into the great Story of Life have been mine; and +if, while the reader is peeping too, the scene suddenly +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_9" title="9"> </a> +closes, why that is the way of telephones +and not the fault of the writer.</p> + +<p>And knowing how restful a thing it has been +to me to get away from the ringing of the bell +at times, I have devised a rest for the reader also +and have sent him with the doctor and his wife +on an occasional country drive where no telephone +intrudes.</p> + +<p class="right">E. M. F.</p> + +<p class="no-indent">Robinson, Ill.</p> + +<p class="center page-break" style="font-size: large;"><a class="pagenum" name="Page_11" title="11"> </a>The Story of a Doctor's Telephone</p> + +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<p>The hands of the clock were climbing around +toward eleven and the doctor had not returned. +Mary, a drowsiness beginning to steal over her, +looked up with a yawn. Then she fell into a soliloquy:</p> + +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">To bed, or not to bed—that is the question:<br/></div> +<div class="line">Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse,<br/></div> +<div class="line">Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her<br/></div> +<div class="line">And lie down to pleasant dreams?<br/></div> +<div class="line">To dream! perchance to sleep!<br/></div> +<div class="line">And by that sleep to end the headache<br/></div> +<div class="line">And the thousand other ills that flesh is heir to,<br/></div> +<div class="line">The restoration of a wilted frame,—<br/></div> +<div class="line">Wilted by loss of sleep on previous nights—<br/></div> +<div class="line">A consummation devoutly to be wished.<br/></div> +<div class="line">To dream! perchance to sleep!—aye, there's the rub;<br/></div> +<div class="line">For in that somnolence what peals may come<br/></div> +<div class="line">Must give her pause. There is the telephone<br/></div> +<div class="line">That makes calamity of her repose.<br/></div> +<div class="line">Her spouse may not have come to answer it,<br/></div> +<div class="line">Which means that she, his wife, must issue forth<br/></div> +<div class="line">All dazed and breathless from delicious sleep,<br/></div> +<div class="line">And knock her knees on intervening chairs,<br/></div> +<div class="line">And bump her head on a half open door,<br/></div> +<div class="line">And get there finally all out of breath,<br/></div> +<div class="line">And take the receiver down and say: “Hello?”<br/></div> +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_12" title="12"> </a><div class="line">The old, old question: “Is the doctor there?”<br/></div> +<div class="line">Comes clearly now to her awakened ear.<br/></div> +<div class="line">Then, tentatively, she must make reply:<br/></div> +<div class="line">“The doctor was called out an hour ago,<br/></div> +<div class="line">But I expect him now at any time.”<br/></div> +<div class="line">Good patrons should be held and not escape<br/></div> +<div class="line">To other doctors that may lie in wait;<br/></div> +<div class="line">For in this voice so brusque and straight and clear<br/></div> +<div class="line">She recognizes an old friend and true,<br/></div> +<div class="line">Whose purse is ever ready to make good,<br/></div> +<div class="line">And she hath need of many, many things.<br/></div> +<div class="line">But then, again, the message of the 'phone<br/></div> +<div class="line">May be that of some stricken little child<br/></div> +<div class="line">Whose mother's voice trembles with love and fear.<br/></div> +<div class="line">Then must the listener earnestly advise:<br/></div> +<div class="line">“Don't wait for him! Get someone else to-night.”<br/></div> +<div class="line">Perchance again the message may be that<br/></div> +<div class="line">Of colics dire and death so imminent<br/></div> +<div class="line">That she who listens, tho' with 'customed ear,<br/></div> +<div class="line">Shrinks back dismayed and knows not what to say,<br/></div> +<div class="line">Lacking the knowledge and profanity<br/></div> +<div class="line">Of him who, were he there, would settle quick<br/></div> +<div class="line">This much ado about much nothingness.<br/></div> +<div class="line">And so these anticipatory peals<br/></div> +<div class="line">Reverberate through fancy as she sits,<br/></div> +<div class="line">And make her rather choose to bear the ills<br/></div> +<div class="line">She has than fly to others she may meet;<br/></div> +<div class="line">To wait a little longer for her spouse,<br/></div> +<div class="line">That, when at last she does retire to rest,<br/></div> +<div class="line">She may be somewhat surer of her sleep.<br/></div> +<div class="line">And so she sits there waiting for the step<br/></div> +<div class="line">And the accompanying clearing of the throat<br/></div> +<div class="line">Which she would know were she in Zanzibar.<br/></div> +<div class="line">And by-and-by he comes and fate is kind<br/></div> +<div class="line">And lets them slumber till the early dawn.<br/></div> +</div> +</div> + +<h2><a class="pagenum" name="Page_13" title="13"> </a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<p>Ten P.M. The 'phone is ringing and the +sleepy doctor gets out of bed and goes to answer +it.</p> + +<p>“Hello.”</p> + +<p>No response.</p> + +<p>“Hello!”</p> + +<p>Silence.</p> + +<p>“Hello!!”</p> + +<p>“Is this Doctor Blank?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“I want you to come out to my house—my +wife's sick.”</p> + +<p>“Who is it?”</p> + +<p>“Jim Warner. Come just as—”</p> + +<p>A click in the receiver.</p> + +<p>The doctor waits a minute. Then he says +“Hello.” No answer. He waits another minute. +“<em>Hell-o!!</em>”</p> + +<p>Silence. “Damn that girl—she's cut us off.” +He hangs up the receiver and rings the bell +sharply. He takes it down and hears a +voice say leisurely, “D'ye get them?”</p> + +<p>“Yes! What in h-ll did you cut us off for?”</p> + +<p>“Wait a minute—I'll ring 'em again,” says +the voice, hasty and obliging, so potent a thing is +a man's unveiled wrath. She rings 'em again. +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_14" title="14"> </a> +Soon the same voice says, “Are you there yet, +Doctor?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, <em>now</em> what is it!”</p> + +<p>The voice proceeds and the doctor listens putting +in an occasional “Yes” or “No.” Then he +says, “All right—I'll be out there in a little bit.” +He hangs up the receiver and his wife falls +asleep again. The doctor dresses and goes out. +The house is in darkness. All is still. In about +five minutes Mary is suddenly, sharply awake. +A slight noise in the adjoining room! She listens +with accelerated heart-beats. The doctor +has failed to put on the night latch. Some thief +has been lying in wait watching for his opportunity, +and now he has entered. What can she +do. Muffled footsteps! she pulls the sheet over +her head, her heart beating to suffocation. The +footsteps grope their way toward her room! +Great Heaven! A hand fumbles at the door +knob. She shrieks aloud.</p> + +<p>“What on earth is the matter!”</p> + +<p>O, brusque and blessed is that voice!</p> + +<p>“John, you have nearly scared me to death,” +she says, sitting up in bed, half laughing and +half crying. “But I heard you tell that man you +were coming out there.”</p> + +<p>“Yes. I told him I was.”</p> + +<p>“Well, why didn't you go?”</p> + +<p>“I <em>did</em> go.”</p> + +<p>“You don't mean to tell me you have been a +mile and back in five minutes.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_15" title="15"> </a>The doctor flashed on the light and looked at +his watch,—“Just an hour since I left home,” +he said. Mary gasped. “Well, it only proves +how soundly I can sleep when I get a chance,” +she said.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>It is the office ring but Mary hurries at once +to answer it.</p> + +<p>“Is this Dr. Blank's office?”</p> + +<p>“This is Mrs. Blank. But the doctor telephoned +me about twenty minutes ago that he +would be out for half an hour. Call him again in +ten or fifteen minutes and I think you will find +him.”</p> + +<p>In about fifteen minutes the call is repeated. +Mary would feel better satisfied to know that the +doctor received the message so she goes to the +'phone and listens. Silence. She waits a minute. +Shall she speak? She hesitates. Struggle +as she will against the feeling, she can't quite +overcome it—it seems like “butting in.” But +that long silence with the listening ear at the +other end of it is too much for her. Very +pleasantly, almost apologetically she asks, “What +is it?”</p> + +<p>“The doctor hasn't come yet?” says a plainly +disappointed voice.</p> + +<p>“No—not yet. There are often unexpected +things to delay him—if you will give me your +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_16" title="16"> </a> +number or your name I will have him call <em>you</em>.”</p> + +<p>“No, I'll just wait and call him again.” The +inflection says plainly, “I don't care to admit the +doctor's wife into my confidences.”</p> + +<p>“Very well. I am sure it can't be long now +till he returns.”</p> + +<p>Mary goes back to her chair and ponders a +little. Of what avail to multiply words. No use +to tell the woman 'phoning that she was willing +to take the waiting and the watching, the seeing +that the doctor received the message upon herself +rather than that the other should be again +troubled by it. No use to let her gently understand +that she doesn't care for any confidences +which belong only to her husband, but Fate has +placed her in a position where she has oftentimes +to seem unduly interested. That these messages +which are only occasional with the one calling +are constant with her and that she is only mindful +of them when she must be.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>“Watch the 'phone.” How thoroughly instilled +into Mary's consciousness that admonition +was! She did not heed the office ring when it +came, but if it came a second time she always +went to explain that the doctor had just stepped +over to the drug store probably and would be +back in a very few minutes. Often, as she stood +explaining, the doctor himself would break into +the conversation, having been in another room +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_17" title="17"> </a> +when the first call came, and getting there a +little tardily for the second. But occasions sometimes +arose which made Mary feel very thankful +that she had been at the 'phone. One winter +morning as she stood explaining to some woman +that the doctor would be in in a few minutes, her +husband's “Hello” was heard.</p> + +<p>“There he is now,” she said. Usually after +this announcement she would hang up the receiver +and go about her work. Today a friendly +interest in this pleasant voice kept it in her hand +a moment. Mary would not have admitted idle +curiosity, and perhaps she had as little of it as +falls to the lot of women, but sometimes she lingered +a moment for the message, to know if the +doctor was to be called away, so that she might +make her plans for dinner accordingly. The +pleasant voice spoke again, “This is Dr. Blank, +is it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“We want you to come out to Henry Ogden's.”</p> + +<p>“That's about five miles out, isn't it. <ins title="Whose">Who's</ins> +sick out there?”</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Ogden.”</p> + +<p>“What's the matter?”</p> + +<p>No reply.</p> + +<p>“How long has she been sick?”</p> + +<p>“She began complaining last night.”</p> + +<p>“All right—I'll be out some time today.”</p> + +<p>“Come right away, please, if you can.”</p> + +<p>This is an old, old plea. The doctor is thoroughly +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_18" title="18"> </a> +inured to it. He would have to be twenty +men instead of one to respond to it at all times. +He answers cheerfully, “All right,” and Mary +takes alarm. That tone means sometime in the +next few hours. She feels sure he ought to go +<em>now</em>. Somebody else can wait better than this +patient. There was a kind of hesitancy in that +voice that Mary had heard before. A woman's +intuitions are much safer guides than a man's +slow reasoning. She must speak to John. She +rings the office.</p> + +<p>“Hello.”</p> + +<p>“Say, John,” she says in a low voice, “I came +to the 'phone thinking you were out and heard +that message. I think you ought to go out there +right <em>away</em>.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I'm going after a little.”</p> + +<p>“But I don't think you ought to wait. I'm +sure it's—<em>you</em> know.”</p> + +<p>“Well,—maybe I had better go right out.”</p> + +<p>“I wish you would. I know they'll be looking +for you every minute.”</p> + +<p>A few minutes later Mary saw him drive past +and was glad. Half an hour later the office ring +sounded. She did not wait for the second peal. +True, John had not said, “Watch the 'phone,” +today, but that was understood. Occasionally +he got an old man who lived next door to the +office to come in and stay during his absence. +Possibly he might have done so today. But even +if he were there the telephone and its ways were +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_19" title="19"> </a> +a dark mystery to him and besides, his deafness +made him of little use in that direction.</p> + +<p>Mary took down the receiver and put it to +her ear. A lady's voice was asking, “Who <em>is</em> +this?”</p> + +<p>Mary knew from her inflection that she had +asked something before and was not satisfied +with the reply.</p> + +<p>“<em>This</em> is Dr. Blank's office?” announced the old +man in a sort of interrogative.</p> + +<p><ins title="Well">“Well</ins>, where is the <em>doctor</em>?”</p> + +<p>“The doctor,” said the old man meditatively, +as if wondering that anybody should be calling +for him—“the doctor—you mean Dr. Blank, +I reckon?”</p> + +<p>“I certainly do.”</p> + +<p>“Good Heavens,” thought Mary, “why <em>don't</em> +he go on!”</p> + +<p>“Why, he's out.”</p> + +<p>“Where <em>is</em> he?”</p> + +<p>“He went to the country.”</p> + +<p>Mary shut her lips tight.</p> + +<p>“<em>Well</em>, when will he be back?”</p> + +<p>“He 'lowed he'd be back in about an hour +or so.”</p> + +<p>“How long has he been <em>gone</em>? Maybe I'll get +some information after a while.”</p> + +<p>Mary longed to speak. Why hadn't she done +so at first. If she thrust herself in now it would +make her out an eavesdropper. But this was unbearable. +She opened her mouth to speak when +the old man answered.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_20" title="20"> </a>“He's been gone over an hour now, I reckon.”</p> + +<p>“Then he'll soon be back. Will you be there +when he comes?”</p> + +<p>“Yes ma'am.”</p> + +<p>“Then tell him to come up to Mrs. Dorlan's.”</p> + +<p>“To Mrs. Who's?”</p> + +<p>“Mrs. <em>Dorlan's</em>.”</p> + +<p>“I didn't ketch the name.”</p> + +<p>“<em>Mrs. Dorlan's</em>, on Brownson street.”</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Torren's?”</p> + +<p>“MISS-ES—DOR-LAN'S!” shouted the +voice.</p> + +<p>Mary sighed fiercely and clinched her teeth +unconsciously. “I <em>will</em> speak,” she thought, when +the old voice ventured doubtingly,</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Dorlan's?”</p> + +<p>“That's it. Mrs. Dorlan's on Brownson street, +will you remember it?”</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Dorlan's, on Brownson street.”</p> + +<p>“That's right. Please tell him just as soon as +he comes to come right up.”</p> + +<p>“All right—I'll tell him.”</p> + +<p>“Poor old fellow!” said Mary as she turned +from the 'phone, “but I don't want to go through +any more ordeals like that. It was a good deal +harder for me than for the other woman.”</p> + +<p>The doctor came down late to dinner. “You +got Mrs. Dorlan's message did you?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I'll go up there right after dinner.” He +looked at his wife with peculiar admiration.</p> + +<p>“How did you know what was wanted with me +out in the country?” he asked.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_21" title="21"> </a>With a little pardonable pride she replied: “Oh, +I just felt it. Women have ways of understanding +each other that men never attain to. Is it +a boy or a girl added to the world today?”</p> + +<p>“Neither,” said the doctor placidly, helping +himself to a roll.</p> + +<p>Chagrin overspread her face. “Well,” she said +with an embarrassed smile, “I erred on mercy's +side, and it <em>might</em> have happened in just that +way, John, and you know it.”</p> + +<p>The doctor laughed. “There was mighty little +the matter out there—they didn't need a doctor.”</p> + +<p>“Are they good pay?”</p> + +<p>“Good as old wheat.”</p> + +<p>“Then there are compensations.”</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Some hours later when the 'phone rang, Mary +went to explain that the doctor had 'phoned her +he would be out about twenty minutes. But she +found no chance to speak. A spirited dialogue +was taking place between a young man and a +maid:</p> + +<p>“Where <em>are</em> you, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“I'm right here.”</p> + +<p>“Smarty! Where <em>are</em> you!”</p> + +<p>“In Dr. Blank's office.”</p> + +<p>“What are you there for?”</p> + +<p>“I'm waiting for the doctor and to while away +the time thought I'd call you up.”</p> + +<p>Then it was his ring that Mary had answered. +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_22" title="22"> </a> +“I ought to hang this receiver right up,” thought +she, but instead she held it, her face beaming with +a sympathetic smile.</p> + +<p>“Are you feeling better today, Dolly?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I'm better.”</p> + +<p>“Able to go to the show then, tonight?”</p> + +<p>“<em>Yes</em>, I'm able to go.”</p> + +<p>Here a thin small voice put in, “No, you're not +able! You're not going.”</p> + +<p>“Mamma says,—” began a pouting voice.</p> + +<p>“I heard what she said,” said Jack, laughing. +“Have you been up all day?”</p> + +<p>“Most of the day.”</p> + +<p>“Can you eat anything?”</p> + +<p>“I ate an egg, some toast and some fruit for +dinner.”</p> + +<p>“That's fine. I'll bring you a box of candy +then pretty soon—I'm coming down in a little +bit.”</p> + +<p>“That will be lovely.”</p> + +<p>“Which, the candy or the coming down?”</p> + +<p>“The candy, goose, of course.” A laugh at +both ends of the wire.</p> + +<p>Then Jack's voice. “Well, here comes the +doctor. I've got to have my neck amputated now. +Goodbye.”</p> + +<p>“Good-bye.”</p> + +<p>“All's fair in love and war,” said Mary, “and +it's plain to see what this is.” Then she hung +up the receiver without a qualm.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_23" title="23"> </a>There were other times when the doctor's wife +was glad she had gone to the 'phone, as in this +instance.</p> + +<p>She had taken down the receiver when a man's +voice said, “The doctor just stepped out for a +few minutes. If you will tell me your name, +madam, I'll have him call you when he comes +in.”</p> + +<p>Disinterested courtesy spoke in his voice, but +Mary was not in the least surprised to hear the +curt reply, “It won't be necessary. I'll call <em>him</em> +when he comes.”</p> + +<p>“I dare say that gentleman, whoever he may +be, is wondering what he has done,” thought +Mary.</p> + +<p>But it was not altogether unpleasant to her to +hear somebody else squelched, too!</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>There came a day when the doctor's wife rebelled. +When her husband came home and ate +his supper hastily and then rose to depart, she +said, “You'd better wait at home a few minutes, +John.”</p> + +<p>“Why?” He put the question brusquely, his +hat in his hand.</p> + +<p>“Because I think someone will ring here for +you in a minute or two. Some man rang the +office twice so I went to the 'phone to explain that +you must be on your way to supper and he could +find you here.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_24" title="24"> </a>“Who was it?”</p> + +<p>“I do not know.”</p> + +<p>“Thunder! Why didn't you find out?”</p> + +<p>Mary looked straight at her husband. “How +many times have I told you, John, that many people +decline to give their names or their messages +to any one but you. I think I should feel that +way about it myself. For a long time I have +dutifully done your bidding in the matter, but +now I vow I will not trample my pride under +my feet any longer—especially when it is all in +vain. I will watch the 'phone as faithfully as in +the past, but I will not ask for any name or any +message. They will be given voluntarily if at +all.”</p> + +<p>“All right, Mary,” said the doctor, gently, seeing +that she was quite serious.</p> + +<p>“I do not mean to say that most of the people +who 'phone are grouchy and disagreeable—far +from it. Indeed the majority are pleasant and +courteous. But it is those who are not who have +routed me, and made me vow my vow. Don't +ask me to break it, John, for I will not.”</p> + +<p>And having delivered this declaration, Mary +felt almost as free and independent as in ante-telephone +days.</p> + +<p>The doctor had seated himself and leaning +forward was swinging his hat restlessly between +his knees. He waited five minutes.</p> + +<p>“I'll have to get back to the office,” he exclaimed, +starting up. “I'm expecting a man +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_25" title="25"> </a> +to pay me some money. Waiting for the +'phone to ring is like watching for the pot to +boil.”</p> + +<p>When he had been gone a minute or two, the +ring came. With a new step Mary advanced to +it.</p> + +<p>“Has the doctor got there yet?” the voice had +lost none of its grouch.</p> + +<p>“He has. And he waited for your message +which did not come. He could not wait longer. +He has just gone to the office. If you will 'phone +him there in two or three minutes, instead of +waiting till he is called out again, you will find +him.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, Mrs. Blank.” The man was surprised +into courtesy.</p> + +<p>The clear-cut, distinct sentences were very different +from the faltering, apologetic ones, when +she had asked for his name or his message +twenty minutes before.</p> + +<p>Mary's receiver clicked with no uncertain +sound and a smile illumined her face.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>One day when the snow was flying and the +wind was blowing a gale the doctor came hurrying +in. “Where is the soapstone?” he asked, +with small amenity. His wife flew to get it and +laid it on the hearth very close to the coals. “Oh +dear! How terrible to go out in such a storm. +Do you <em>have</em> to?” she asked.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_26" title="26"> </a>“I certainly do. Do you think I'd choose a +day like this for a pleasure trip?”</p> + +<p>“Aren't you glad you got that galloway?” she +asked, hurrying to bring the big, hairy garment +from its hook in the closet. She helped her husband +into it, turned the broad collar up—then, +when the soapstone was hot, she wrapped it up +and gave it to him. “This ought to keep your +feet from freezing,” she said. The doctor took +it, hurried out to the buggy, pulled the robes up +around him and was gone.</p> + +<p>“Eight miles in this blizzard!” thought Mary +shivering, “and eight miles back—sixteen miles. +It will take most of the day.”</p> + +<p>Two hours after the doctor had gone the telephone +rang.</p> + +<p>“Is Dr. Blank there?”</p> + +<p>“No, he is in the country, about eight miles +southwest.”</p> + +<p>“This is Drayton. We want him at John +Small's as soon as possible. How soon do you +think he will be back?”</p> + +<p>“Not for several hours, I am afraid.”</p> + +<p>“Well, will you send him down as soon as he +comes? We want him <em>bad</em>.”</p> + +<p>Mary assured him she would do so. “Poor +John,” she thought as she put up the receiver.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes she went hurriedly back. +When she had called central, she said, “I am +very anxious to get Dr. Blank, central. He is +eight miles southwest of here—at the home of +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_27" title="27"> </a> +Thomas Calhoun. Is there a 'phone there?” +Silence for a few seconds then a voice, “No, there +is no 'phone at Thomas Calhoun's.”</p> + +<p>Disappointed, Mary stood irresolute, thinking. +Then she asked,</p> + +<p>“Is there a 'phone at Mr. William Huntley's?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, William Huntley has a 'phone.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you. Please call that house for me.”</p> + +<p>In a minute a man's voice said, “Hello.”</p> + +<p>“Is this Mr. Huntley?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Huntley, this is Mrs. Blank. You live +not far from Thomas Calhoun's, do you not?”</p> + +<p>“About half a mile.”</p> + +<p>“Dr. Blank is there, or will be very soon, and +there is an urgent call for him to go on to Drayton. +I want to save him the long drive home +first. I find there is no 'phone at Mr. Calhoun's +so I have called you hoping you might be able +to help me out. Perhaps someone of your family +will be going down that way and will stop in.”</p> + +<p>“I'll go, myself.”</p> + +<p>“It's too bad to ask any one to go out on a +day like this—”</p> + +<p>“That's all right, Mrs. Blank. Doc's been +pretty clever to me.”</p> + +<p>“Tell him, please, to go to John Small's at +Drayton. I am very deeply obliged to you for +your kindness, Mr. Huntley,” she said, hanging +the receiver in its place.</p> + +<p>“Eight miles back home, six miles from here +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_28" title="28"> </a> +to Drayton, six miles back—twenty miles in +all. Four miles from Calhoun's to Drayton, six +miles from Drayton home—ten miles saved on +a blizzardy day,” she thought in the thankfulness +of her heart.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later she was again at the +'phone. “Please give me John Small's at <ins title="Drayton.">Drayton.”</ins> +When the voice came she said, “I wanted +to tell you that the doctor will be there perhaps +in about an hour now. I got your message to +him so that he will go directly to your house.”</p> + +<p>“I'm mighty glad to know it. Thank you, Mrs. +Blank, for finding him and for letting us know.”</p> + +<p>A terrible drive saved and some anxious hearts +relieved. That dear 'phone! How thankful she +was for it and for the country drives she had +taken with her husband which had made her familiar +with the homes and names of many farmers. +Otherwise she could not have located her +husband this morning. One day like this covered +a multitude of tyrannies from the little instrument +on the wall.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>It was about half past seven. The doctor had +thought it probable that he could get off early +this evening and then he and Mary and the boys +would have a game of whist. He had been +called in consultation to W., a little town in an +adjoining county, but he would be home in a +little bit—in just ten minutes the train would be +due.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_29" title="29"> </a>“O, there goes that 'phone,” said the small boy +wrathfully. “Now, I s'pose papa can't get +here!”</p> + +<p>His mother was already there with the receiver +at her ear.</p> + +<p>“This is Dr. Blank's residence.”</p> + +<p>“No, but he will be here in fifteen or twenty +minutes.”</p> + +<p>“To Drayton?”</p> + +<p>“Very well. I will give him your message as +soon as he gets home. I'm afraid that ends the +game for tonight, boys,” putting the receiver up.</p> + +<p>“Why, does papa have to go away?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, he has to drive six miles.”</p> + +<p>“Gee-mi-nee—this dark night in the mud!”</p> + +<p>Here a thought flashed into Mary's mind—Drayton +was on the same railroad on which +the doctor was rapidly nearing home—the next +station beyond. She flew to the telephone and +rang with nervous haste.</p> + +<p>“Hello.”</p> + +<p>“Is this the Big Four?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“This is Mrs. Blank. Dr. Blank is on the +train which is due now. He is wanted at Drayton. +When he gets off, will you please tell +him?”</p> + +<p>“To go on to Drayton?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, to Alfred Walton's.”</p> + +<p>“All right. I'll watch for him and see that he +gets aboard again.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_30" title="30"> </a>“Thank you very much.”</p> + +<p>The train whistled. “Just in time,” said Mary.</p> + +<p>“But how'll papa get back?” asked the smaller +boy.</p> + +<p>“He's got a tie-ticket,” said his brother.</p> + +<p>“Yes, papa would rather walk back on the +railroad than drive both ways through this deep +mud,” said their mother. “I have heard him +say so.”</p> + +<p>Another ring.</p> + +<p>“Is the doctor there?”</p> + +<p>“He has just gone on the train to Drayton.”</p> + +<p>“How soon will he be back?”</p> + +<p>“In an hour and a half, I should think.”</p> + +<p><ins title="“Mary">Mary</ins> heard the 'phoner say in an aside, “He +won't be back for an hour and a half. Do you +want to wait that long?”</p> + +<p>Another voice replied, “Yes, I'll wait. Tell +'em to tell him to come just as quick as he gets +back, though.”</p> + +<p>This message was transmitted.</p> + +<p>“And where is he to go?”</p> + +<p>“To Henry Smith's, down by the Big Four +depot.”</p> + +<p>A few minutes later Mary had another idea. +She went to the 'phone and asked central to +give her Drayton, Mr. Walton's <ins title="house.”">house.</ins></p> + +<p>In a minute a voice said, “What is it?” It +was restful to Mary to have the usual opening +varied. Perhaps eight out of ten began with,</p> + +<p>“Hello!” The other two began, “Yes,” +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_31" title="31"> </a> +“Well,” “What is it?” and very rarely, “Good +morning,” or “Good evening.”</p> + +<p>“Is this the home of Mr. Walton at Drayton?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Dr. Blank is there just now, isn't he?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but he's just going away.”</p> + +<p>“Will you please ask him to come to the +'phone?”</p> + +<p>In a minute her husband's voice was heard +asking what was wanted.</p> + +<p>“I want to save you a long walk when you get +home, John. You're wanted at Henry Smith's +down by the Big Four depot.”</p> + +<p>“All right. I'll go in to see him when I get +there. Much obliged.”</p> + +<p>“A mile walk saved there,” mused the doctor's +wife, as she joined the two boys, mildly grumbling +because they couldn't have their game, and +never could have it just when they wanted it. But +a few chapters from Ivanhoe read to them by +their mother made all serene again.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>The Citizens' 'phone was ringing persistently. +The doctor's wife had been upstairs and could +not get to it in less than no time! But she got +there.</p> + +<p>“Do you know where Dr. Blank is?” the words +hurled themselves against her ear.</p> + +<p>“I don't know just at this minute—but he's +here in town. I'm sure of that.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_32" title="32"> </a>“Why don't he <em>come</em> then!” The sentence +came as from a catapult.</p> + +<p>“I don't know anything about it. Where was +he to go?”</p> + +<p>A scornful “<em>Huh!</em>” came over the wire—“I +guess you forgot to tell 'im.”</p> + +<p>“I have not been asked to tell him anything +this morning.”</p> + +<p>There was heated silence for an instant, then +a voice big with wrath:</p> + +<p>“You told me not fifteen minutes ago that you +would send him right down.”</p> + +<p>“You are mistaken,” said Mary gently but +firmly. “This is the first time I have been at the +'phone this morning.”</p> + +<p>“Well, what do you think of that!” This was +addressed to someone at the other end of the +line, but it came clearly to Mary's ear and its +intonation said volumes.</p> + +<p>“You're the very identical woman that told me +when I 'phoned awhile ago that you'd send him +right down. It's the very same voice.”</p> + +<p>“There is a mistake somewhere,” reiterated +Mary, patiently, “but I'll send the doctor as soon +as he gets in if you will give me your name.”</p> + +<p>“I'll tell ye agin, then, that he's to come to +Lige Thornton's.”</p> + +<p>“Very well. I'll send him,” and Mary left the +'phone much mystified. “She was in dead earnest—and +so was I. I can't understand it.” +Glancing out of the window she saw her tall, +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_33" title="33"> </a> +young daughter coming up the walk. The solution +came with lightning quickness—strange +she didn't think of that, Gertrude had answered. +She remembered now that others had thought +their voices very much alike, especially over the +'phone. “If the woman had not talked in such +a cyclonic way I would have thought of it,” she +reflected.</p> + +<p>When the young girl entered the room her +mother said, “Gertrude, you answered the 'phone +awhile ago, didn't you?”</p> + +<p>“About twenty minutes ago. Some woman +was so anxious for father to come right away +that I just ran down to the office to see that he +<em>went</em>.”</p> + +<p>“That was very thoughtful of you, dear, but +it's little credit we're getting for it.”</p> + +<p>She related the dialogue that had just taken +place and mother and daughter laughed in sympathy.</p> + +<p>“Why, Mamma, we couldn't forget if we +wanted to. That telephone is an Old Man of the +Sea to both of us—is now and ever shall be, +world without end.”</p> + +<p>“But did you find your father at the office?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and waited till he fixed up some medicine +for two patients already waiting, then shooed +him out before some more came in. I wanted +to get it off <em>my</em> mind.”</p> + +<p>“I'm glad he is on his way. Now stay within +hearing of the 'phone, dearie, till I finish my +work up-stairs.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_34" title="34"> </a>“All right, Mamma, I'm going to make a cake +now, but I can hear the 'phone plainly from the +kitchen.”</p> + +<p>It wasn't long till a ring was heard. Gertrude +dusted the flour from her hands and started. +“Which 'phone was it?” she asked the maid.</p> + +<p>“I think it was the Farmers',” said Mollie, hesitating.</p> + +<p>So to the Farmers' 'phone went Gertrude.</p> + +<p>“Hello.”</p> + +<p>No answer.</p> + +<p>“Hello.”</p> + +<p>Silence.</p> + +<p>She clapped the receiver up and hurried to +the Citizens' 'phone.</p> + +<p>“Hello.”</p> + +<p>“Is this Dr. Blank's?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Is he there?”</p> + +<p>“No, he was called—” Here a loud ring from +the other 'phone sounded.</p> + +<p>“He was called down to—” said Gertrude rapidly, +then paused, unable to think of the name +at the instant.</p> + +<p>“If you will tell me where he went, I'll just +'phone down there for him,” said the voice.</p> + +<p>A second peal from the other 'phone.</p> + +<p>“<em>Yes, yes!</em>” said Gertrude impatiently. “O, +I didn't mean that for you,” she hurried apologetically. +“The other 'phone is calling, and I'm +so confused I can't think. Will you excuse me +just an instant till I see what is wanted?”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_35" title="35"> </a>“Certainly.”</p> + +<p>She flew to the Farmers' <ins title="phone">'phone</ins>.</p> + +<p>“Is this Dr. Blank's?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Good while a-answerin',” grumbled a voice.</p> + +<p>“I did answer but no one answered <em>me</em>.”</p> + +<p>“Where's the doctor?”</p> + +<p>“He's down in the east part of town—will +be back in a little bit.”</p> + +<p>“Well, when he comes tell him—just hold the +'phone a minute, will you, till I speak to my +wife.”</p> + +<p>“All right.” But she put the receiver swiftly +up and rushed back to the waiting man. She +could answer him and get back by the time the +other was ready for her.</p> + +<p>“Hello, still there?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“I've thought of the name—father went to +Elijah Thornton's.”</p> + +<p>“Thornton's—let's see—have you a telephone +directory handy—could you give me +their number?”</p> + +<p>“Wait a minute, I'll see.” She raced through +the pages,—<ins title="yes">“yes</ins>, here it is.”</p> + +<p>A violent peal from the Farmers' 'phone. +“He'll think I'm still hunting for the number,” +she thought, letting the receiver hang and rushing +to the other 'phone.</p> + +<p>“Hello.”</p> + +<p>“Thought you was a-goin' to hold <ins title="the' phone">the 'phone</ins>. +I've had a turrible time gittin' any answer.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_36" title="36"> </a>“I've had a turrible time, too,” thought poor +Gertrude.</p> + +<p>“Tell the doctor to call me up,” and he gave +his name and his number.</p> + +<p>“All right, I'll tell him.” She clapped the receiver +up lest there might be more to follow and +sped back.</p> + +<p>“Here it is,” she announced calmly, “Elijah +Thornton, number 101.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, I'm afraid I've put you to a good +deal of trouble.”</p> + +<p>“Not at all.”</p> + +<p>As she went back to her cake she said to herself, +“Two telephones ringing at once can certainly +make things interesting.”</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>One day in mid winter Mary sat half dreaming +before the glowing coals. Snow had fallen all +through the previous night and today there had +been good coasting for the boys and girls.</p> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. +Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>She started up and went to answer it.</p> + +<p>“Is this you, Mary?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“I'll be out of the office about twenty minutes.”</p> + +<p>“Very well.”</p> + +<p>Sometimes Mary wished her husband would be +a little more explicit. She had a vague sort of +feeling that central, or whoever should chance +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_37" title="37"> </a> +to hear him make this announcement to her so +often, might think she requested or perhaps demanded +it; might think she wanted to know +every place her husband went.</p> + +<p>In about half an hour the 'phone rang again, +two rings.</p> + +<p>John ought to be back. Should she +take it for granted? It would be safer to put the +receiver to her ear and listen for her husband's +voice.</p> + +<p>“Hello.”</p> + +<p>“Hello.”</p> + +<p>“Is this you Dr. Blank?”</p> + +<p>“Looks like it.”</p> + +<p>“We want ye to come down to our house right +away.”</p> + +<p>“Who is this?”</p> + +<p>“W'y, this is Mrs. Peters.”</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Peters? Oh yes,” said the doctor, recognizing +the voice now.</p> + +<p>“What's the matter down there, grandmother?”</p> + +<p>“W'y—my little grandson, Johnny, was slidin' +down hill on a board and got a splinter in his +setter.”</p> + +<p>“He did, eh?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, he did, and a big one, too.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I'll be down there right away. Have +some boiled water.”</p> + +<p>Mary turned away from the telephone that it +might not register her low laughter as she put the +receiver in its place. The next instant she took +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_38" title="38"> </a> +it down again with twinkling eyes and listened. +Yes, the voices were silent, it would be safe. She +rang two rings.</p> + +<p>“Hello,” said her husband's voice.</p> + +<p>“John,” said Mary, almost in a whisper, “for +English free and unadorned, commend me to a +little boy's grandmother!”</p> + +<p>Two laughs met over the wire, then two receivers +clicked.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>One day Mary came in from a walk and noticed +at once, a vacant place on the wall where +the Farmers' 'phone had hung. She had heard +rumors of a merger of the two systems and had +fervently hoped that they might merge soon and +forever.</p> + +<p>“Look! Mamma,” said Gertrude, pointing to +the wall.</p> + +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">“Oh frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!<br/></div> +<div class="line">One telephone is taken away!”<br/></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="no-indent">she chortled in her joy.</p> + +<p>(The small boy of the household had been +reading “Alice” and consequently declaiming the +Jabberwock from morning till night, till its weird +strains had become fixed in the various minds of +the household and notably in Gertrude's.)</p> + +<p>“It will simplify matters,” said her mother, +smiling, “but liberty is not for us. <em>That</em> tuneful +peal will still ring on,” and as she looked at the +Citizens' 'phone the peal came.</p> + +<h2><a class="pagenum" name="Page_39" title="39"> </a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<p>One Monday evening the doctor and his wife +sat chatting cosily before the fire. In the midst +of their conversation, Mary looked up suddenly. +“I had a queer little experience this morning, +John, I want to tell you about it.”</p> + +<p>“Tell ahead,” said John, propping his slippered +feet up on the fender.</p> + +<p>“Well, I got my pen and paper ready to write +a letter to Mrs. E. I wanted to write it yesterday +afternoon and tell her some little household +incidents just while they were taking place, as +she is fond of the doings and sayings of boys and +they are more realistic if reported in the present +tense. But I couldn't get at it yesterday afternoon. +When I started to write it this morning it +occurred to me to date the letter Sunday afternoon +and write it just as I would have done yesterday—so +I did. When I had got it half done +or more I heard the door-bell and going to open +it I saw through the large glass—”</p> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>The doctor went to the 'phone.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Where do you live?”</p> + +<p>“I'll be right down.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_40" title="40"> </a>He went back, hastily removed his slippers and +began putting on his shoes. Mary saw that he +had clean forgotten her story. Very well. It +wouldn't take more than a minute to finish it—there +would be plenty of time while he was getting +into his shoes—but if he was not enough +interested to refer to it again she certainly would +not. In a few minutes the doctor was gone and +Mary went to bed. An hour or two later his +voice broke in upon her slumber. “Back again,” +he said as he settled down upon his pillow. In +a minute he exclaimed, “Say, Mary, what was +the rest of that story?”</p> + +<p>“O, don't get me roused up. I'm <em>so</em> sleepy,” +she said drowsily.</p> + +<p>“Well, I'd like to hear it.” The interest in her +little story which had not been exhibited at the +proper time was being exhibited now with a +vengeance. She sighed and said, “I can't think +of it now—tell you in the morning. Good +night,” and turned away.</p> + +<p>When morning came and they were both awake, +the doctor again referred to the unfinished story.</p> + +<p>“It's lost interest for me. It wasn't a story to +start with, just a little incident that seemed +odd—”</p> + +<p>“Well, let's have it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, then,” said Mary, “I was writing away +when the door-bell rang. I went to open it and +saw through the glass the laundry man—”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_41" title="41"> </a>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. +Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>“Go on!” exclaimed her husband, hurriedly, +“I'll wait till you finish.”</p> + +<p>“I'll not <em>race</em> through a story in any such John +Gilpin style,” said Mary, tartly. “Go, John!”</p> + +<p>The doctor arose and went.</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“I think not.”</p> + +<p>“Has she any fever?”</p> + +<p>“All right, I'll be down in a little bit.”</p> + +<p>Then he went back. “Now you can finish,” he +said.</p> + +<p>“Finis is written <em>here</em>,” said Mary. “Don't +say story to me again!” So Mary's story remained +unfinished.</p> + +<p>But a few days later, when she was in the +buggy with her husband she relented. “Now +that the 'phone can't cut me short, John, I will +finish about the odd incident just because you +wanted to know. But it will fall pretty flat now, +as all things do with too many preliminary +flourishes.”</p> + +<p>“Go on,” said the doctor.</p> + +<p>“Well, you know I told you I dated my letter +back to Sunday afternoon, and was writing away +when I heard the door-bell ring. As I started +toward the door I saw the laundry man standing +there. I was conscious of looking at him in +astonishment and in a dazed sort of way as I +walked across the large room to open the door. +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_42" title="42"> </a> +I am sure he must have noticed the expression +on my face. When I opened the door he asked +as he always does, ‘Any laundry?’”</p> + +<p>“‘Any laundry <em>today</em>?’ The words were on +my tongue's end but I stopped them in time. +You see it was really Sunday to me, so deep into +the spirit of it had I got, and it was with a +little shock that I came back to Monday again +in time to answer the man in a rational way. +And now my story's done.”</p> + +<p>“Not a bad one, either,” said John, “I'm glad +you condescended to finish it.”</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>The doctor came home at ten o'clock and went +straight to bed and to sleep. At eleven he was +called.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” he asked gruffly.</p> + +<p>“It's time for Silas to take his medicine and +he won't do it.”</p> + +<p>“Won't, eh?”</p> + +<p>“No, he vows he won't.”</p> + +<p>“Well, let him alone for a while and then try +again.”</p> + +<p>About one came another ring.</p> + +<p>“We've both been asleep, Doctor, but I've been +up fifteen minutes trying to get him to take his +medicine and he won't do it. He says it's too +damned nasty and that he don't need it anyhow.”</p> + +<p>“Tell him I say he's a mighty good farmer, +but a devilish poor doctor.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_43" title="43"> </a>“I don't know what to do. I can't make him +take it.”</p> + +<p>“You'll have to let him alone for awhile I +guess, maybe he'll change his mind after awhile.”</p> + +<p>At three o'clock the doctor was again at the +telephone.</p> + +<p>“Doctor, he just will <em>not</em> take it,” the voice was +now quite distressed. “I can't manage him at +all.”</p> + +<p>“You <em>ought</em> to manage him. What's a wife +for? Well, go to bed and don't bother him or +me any more tonight.”</p> + +<p>But early next morning Silas' wife telephoned +again.</p> + +<p>“I thought I ought to tell you that he hasn't +taken it yet.”</p> + +<p>“He'll get well anyway. Don't be a bit uneasy +about <em>him</em>,” said the doctor, laughing, as he rung +off.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>“It's time to go, John.”</p> + +<p>Mary was drawing on her gloves. She looked +at her moveless husband as he sat before the +crackling blaze in the big fireplace.</p> + +<p>“This is better than church,” he made reply.</p> + +<p>“But you promised you would go tonight. +Come on.”</p> + +<p>“It isn't time yet, is it?”</p> + +<p>“The last bell will ring before we get there.”</p> + +<p>“Well, let's wait till all that singing's over. +That just about breaks my back.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_44" title="44"> </a>Mary sat down resignedly. If they missed the +singing perhaps John would not look at his watch +and sigh so loud during the sermon. And it +might not be a bad idea to miss the singing for +another reason. The last time John had gone to +church he had astonished her by sliding up beside +her, taking hold of the hymn-book and singing! +It happened to be his old favorite, “Sweet +fields beyond the swelling flood.”</p> + +<p>Of course it was lovely that he should want +to sing it with her—but the <em>way</em> he sang it! He +was in the wrong key and he came out two or +three syllables behind on most of the lines, but +undismayed by the sudden curtailment went +boldly ahead on the next. And Mary had been +much relieved when the hymn was ended and +the book was closed. So now she waited very +patiently for her husband to make some move +toward starting. By and by he got up and they +went out. No sooner was the door closed behind +them than the “ting-a-ling-ling-ling” was heard. +The doctor threw open the door and went back. +Mary, waiting at the threshold, heard one side of +the dialogue.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Down where?”</p> + +<p>“Shake up your 'phone. I can't hear <ins title="you.">you.”</ins></p> + +<p>“That's better. Now what is it?”</p> + +<p>“Swallowed benzine, did she? How much?... That +won't kill her. Give her some warm water +to drink. And give her a spoonful of mustard—anything +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_45" title="45"> </a> +to produce vomiting...... She has? +That's all right. Tell her to put her finger down +her throat and vomit some more..... No, I +think it won't be necessary for me to come down..... +You would? Well, let me hear again in +the next hour or two, and if you still want me +I'll come. Good-bye.”</p> + +<p>They walked down the street and as they drew +near the office they saw the figure of the office +boy in the doorway silhouetted against the light +within. He was looking anxiously in their direction. +Suddenly he disappeared and the faint +sound of a bell came to their ears. They quickened +their pace and as they came up the boy came +hurriedly to the door again.</p> + +<p>“Is that you, Doctor?” he asked, peering out.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“I told a lady at the 'phone to wait a minute, +she's 'phoned twice.” Mary waited at the door +while her husband went into the office and over +to the 'phone.</p> + +<p>“Yes. What is it?.... No. No. <em>No!</em>.... +Listen to me..... Be <em>still</em> and listen to <em>me</em>! She's +in no more danger of dying than <em>you</em> are. She +couldn't die if she tried..... Be still, I say, and +listen to me!” He stamped his foot mightily. +Mary laughed softly to herself. “Now don't +hang over her and <em>sympathize</em> with her; that's +exactly what she don't need. And don't let the +neighbors hang around her either. Shut the +whole tea-party out..... Well, tell 'em <em>I</em> said so..... +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_46" title="46"> </a> +I don't care a damn <em>what</em> they think. Your +duty and mine is to do the very best we can for +that girl. Now remember..... Yes, I'll be down +on the nine o'clock train tomorrow morning. +Good-bye.” He joined his wife at the door. “If +anybody wants me, come to the church,” he said, +turning to the boy.</p> + +<p>Mary laid her hand within her husband's arm +and they started on. They met a man who +stopped and asked the doctor how soon he would +be at the office, as he was on his way there to get +some medicine.</p> + +<p>“I'd better go back,” said the doctor and back +they went. It seemed to Mary that her husband +might move with more celerity in fixing up the +medicine. He was deliberation itself as he cut +and arranged the little squares of paper. Still +more deliberately he heaped the little mounds of +white powder upon them. She looked on anxiously. +At last he was ready to fold them up! +No, he reached for another bottle. He took out +the cork, but his spatula was not in sight. Nowise +disturbed, he shifted bottles and little boxes about +on the table.</p> + +<p>“Can't you use your knife, Doctor?” asked +Mary.</p> + +<p>“O, I'll find it—it's around here somewhere.” +In a minute or two the missing spatula was discovered +under a paper, and then the doctor +slowly, <em>so</em> slowly, dished out little additions to +the little mounds. Then he laid the spatula up, +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_47" title="47"> </a> +put the cork carefully back in the bottle, turned +in his chair and put two questions to the waiting +man, turned back and folded the mounds in the +squares with the most painstaking care. In spite +of herself Mary fidgeted and when the powders +with instructions were delivered and the man had +gone, she rose hastily. “<em>Do</em> come now before +somebody else wants something.”</p> + +<p>The singing was over and the sermon just beginning +when they reached the church. It progressed +satisfactorily to the end. The doctor usually +made an important unit in producing that +“brisk and lively air which a sermon inspires +when it is quite finished.” But tonight, a few +minutes before the finale came, Mary saw the +usher advancing down the aisle. He stopped at +their seat and bending down whispered something +to the doctor, who turned and whispered something +to his wife.</p> + +<p>“No, I'll stay and walk home with the Rands. +I see they're here,” she whispered back.</p> + +<p>The doctor rose and went out. “Who's at the +office?” he asked, as he walked away with the +boy.</p> + +<p>“She's not there yet, she telephoned. I told +her you was at church.”</p> + +<p>“Did she say she couldn't wait?”</p> + +<p>“She said she had been at church too, but a +bug flew in her ear and she had to leave, and she +guessed you'd have to leave too, because she +couldn't stand it. She said it felt <em>awful</em>.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_48" title="48"> </a>“Where is she?”</p> + +<p>“She was at a house by the Methodist church, +she said, when she 'phoned to see if you was +at the office. When I told her I'd get you from +the other church, she said she'd be at the office +by the time you got there.”</p> + +<p>And she was, sitting uneasily in a big chair.</p> + +<p>“Doctor, I've had a flea in my ear sometimes, but +this is a different proposition. Ugh! Please get +this creature out <em>now</em>. It feels as big as a bat. +Ugh! It's crawling further in, hurry!”</p> + +<p>“Maybe we'd better wait a minute and see if +it won't be like some other things, in at one ear +and out at the other.”</p> + +<p>“O, hurry, it'll get so far in you can't reach it.”</p> + +<p>“Turn more to the light,” commanded the doctor, +and in a few seconds he held up the offending +insect.</p> + +<p>“O, you only got a little of it!”</p> + +<p>“I got it all.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it certainly felt a million times bigger +than that,” and she departed radiantly happy.</p> + +<h2><a class="pagenum" name="Page_49" title="49"> </a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<p>One day in early spring the doctor surprised +his wife by asking her if she would like to take +a drive.</p> + +<p>“In March? The roads are not passable yet, +surely.”</p> + +<p>But the doctor assured her that the roads +were getting pretty good except in spots. “I +have such a long journey ahead of me today that +I want you to ride out as far as Centerville and +I can pick you up as I come back.”</p> + +<p>“That's seven or eight miles. I'll go. I can +stop at Dr. Parkin's and chat with Mrs. Parkin +till you come.”</p> + +<p>Accordingly a few minutes later the doctor +and Mary were speeding along through the town +which they soon left far behind them.</p> + +<p>About two miles out they saw a buggy down +the road ahead of them which seemed to be at +a stand-still. When they drew near they found +a woman at the horses' heads with a broken strap +in her hand. She was gazing helplessly at the +buggy which stood hub-deep in mud. She recognized +the doctor and called out, “Dr. Blank, if +ever I needed a doctor in my life, it's now.”</p> + +<p>“Stuck fast, eh?”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_50" title="50"> </a>The doctor handed the reins to his wife and +got out.</p> + +<p>“I see—a broken single-tree. Well, I always +unload when I get stuck, so the first thing we +do we'll take this big lummox out of here,” he +said picking his way to the buggy. The lummox +rose to her feet with a broad grin and permitted +herself to be taken out. She was a fat girl +about fourteen years old.</p> + +<p>“My! I'll bet she weighs three hundred +pounds,” observed the doctor when she was +landed, which was immediately resented. Then +he took the hitching-rein and tied the tug to the +broken end of the single-tree; after which he +went to the horses' heads and commanded them +to “Come on.” They started and the next instant +the vehicle was on terra firma. Mother +and daughter gave the doctor warm thanks and +each buggy went its separate way.</p> + +<p>Mary was looking about her. “The elms have +a faint suspicion that spring is coming; the willows +only are quite sure of it,” she said, noting +their tender greenth which formed a soft blur +of color, the only color in all the gray landscape. +No, there is a swift dash of blue, for a jay has +settled down on the top of a rail just at our travelers' +right.</p> + +<p>Soon they were crossing a long and high +bridge spanning a creek which only a week before +had been a raging torrent; the drift, caught +and held by the trunks of the trees, and the +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_51" title="51"> </a> +weeds and grasses all bending in one direction, +told the story. But the waters had subsided and +now lay in deep, placid pools.</p> + +<p>“Stop, John, quick!” commanded Mary when +they were about half way across. The doctor +obeyed wondering what could be the matter. He +looked at his wife, who was gazing down into +the pool beneath.</p> + +<p>“I suppose I'm to stop while you count all the +fish you can see.”</p> + +<p>“I was looking at that lovely concave sky +down there. See those two white clouds floating +so serenely across the blue far, far below the +tip-tops of the elm trees.”</p> + +<p>The doctor drove relentlessly on.</p> + +<p>“Another mudhole,” said Mary after a while, +“but this time the travelers tremble on the brink +and fear to launch away.”</p> + +<p>When they came up they found a little girl +standing by the side of the horse holding up +over its back a piece of the harness. She held it +in a very aimless and helpless way. “See,” said +Mary, “she doesn't know what to do a bit more +than I should. I wonder if she can be alone.”</p> + +<p>The doctor got out and went forward to help +her and discovered a young man sitting cozily +in the carriage. He glanced at him contemptuously.</p> + +<p>“Your harness is broken, have you got a +string?” he asked abruptly.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_52" title="52"> </a>“N-n-o, I haven't,” said the youth feeling +about his pockets.</p> + +<p>“Take your shoe-string. If you haven't got +one I'll give you mine,” and he set his foot energetically +on the hub of the wheel to unlace his +shoe.</p> + +<p>“Why, I've got one here, I guess,” and the +young man lifted a reluctant foot. The doctor +saw and understood. The little sister was to fix +the harness in order to save her brother's brand +new shoes from the mud.</p> + +<p>“You'd better fix that harness yourself, my +friend, and fix it strong,” was the doctor's parting +injunction as he climbed into the buggy and +started on.</p> + +<p>“I don't like the looks of this slough of despond,” +said Mary. The next minute the horses +were floundering through it, tugging with might +and main. Now the wheels have sunk to the +hubs and the horses are straining every muscle.</p> + +<p>“Merciful heaven!” gasped Mary. At last they +were safely through, and the doctor looking back +said, “That is the last great blot on our civilization—bad +roads.”</p> + +<p>After a while there came from across the +prairie the ascending, interrogative <em>boo-oo-m</em> of +a prairie chicken not far distant, while from far +away came the faint notes of another. And now +a different note, soft, melodious and mournful +is heard.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_53" title="53"> </a>“How far away do you think that dove is?” +asked the doctor.</p> + +<p>“It sounds as if it might be half a mile.”</p> + +<p>“It is right up here in this tree in the field.”</p> + +<p>“Is it,” said Mary, looking up. “Yes, I see, +it's as pretty and soft as its voice. But I'm getting +sunburned, John. How hot a March day +can get!”</p> + +<p>“Only two more miles and good road all the +way.”</p> + +<p>A few minutes more and Mary was set down +at Centerville, “I'll be back about sunset,” announced +her husband as he drove off.</p> + +<p>A very pleasant-faced woman answered the +knock at the door. She had a shingle in her hand +and several long strips of muslin over her arm. +She smilingly explained that she didn't often +meet people at the door with a shingle but that +she was standing near the door when the knock +came.</p> + +<p>Mary, standing by the bed and removing hat +and gloves, looked about her.</p> + +<p>“What are you doing with that shingle and +all this cotton and stuff, Mrs. Parkin?” she +asked.</p> + +<p>“Haven't you ever made a splint?”</p> + +<p>“A splint? No indeed, I'm not equal to that.”</p> + +<p>“That's what I'm doing now. There's a boy +with a broken arm in the office in the next +room.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_54" title="54"> </a>“Oh, your husband has his office here at the +house.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and it's a nuisance sometimes, too, but +one gets used to it.”</p> + +<p>“I'll watch you and learn something new about +the work of a doctor's wife.”</p> + +<p>“You'll learn then to have a lot of pillow slips +and sheets on hand. Old or new, Dr. Parkin +just tears them up when he gets in a hurry—it +doesn't matter to him what goes.”</p> + +<p>The doctor's wife put cotton over the whole +length of the shingle and wound the strips of +muslin around it; then taking a needle and +thread she stitched it securely. Mary sat in her +chair watching the process with much interest. +“You have made it thicker in some places than +in others,” she said.</p> + +<p>“Yes; that is to fit the inequalities of the arm.” +Mary looked at her admiringly. “You are something +of an artist,” she observed.</p> + +<p>Just as Mrs. Parkin finished it her husband +appeared in the doorway.</p> + +<p>“Is it done?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“It's just finished.”</p> + +<p>“May I see you put it on, Doctor?” asked +Mary, rising and coming forward.</p> + +<p>“Why, good afternoon, Mrs. Blank. I'm glad +to see you out here. Yes, come right in. How's +the doctor?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, he is well and happy—I think he expects +to cut off a foot this afternoon.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_55" title="55"> </a>A boy with a frightened look on his face stood +in the doctor's office with one sleeve rolled up. +The doctor adjusted the fracture, then applied +the splint while his wife held it steady until he +had made it secure. When the splint was in +place and the boy had gone a messenger came to +tell the doctor he was wanted six miles away.</p> + +<p>About half an hour afterward a little black-eyed +woman came in and said she wanted some +more medicine like the last she took.</p> + +<p>“The doctor's gone,” said Mrs. Parkin, “and +will not be back for several hours.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you can get it for me, can't you?”</p> + +<p>“Do you know the name of it?”</p> + +<p>“No, but I believe I could tell it if I saw it,” +said the patient, going to the doctor's shelves +and looking closely at the bottles and phials with +their contents of many colors. She took up a +three-ounce bottle. “This is like the other bottle +and I believe the medicine is just the same color. +Yes, I'm sure it is,” she said, holding it up to +the light. Mary looked at her and then at Mrs. +Parkin.</p> + +<p>“I wouldn't like to risk it,” said the latter lady.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I'm not afraid. I don't want to wait until +the doctor comes and I know this must be like +the other. It's exactly the same color.”</p> + +<p>“My good woman,” said Mary, “you <em>certainly</em> +will not risk that. It might kill you.”</p> + +<p>“No, Mrs. Dawson, you must either wait till +the doctor comes or come again,” said Mrs. +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_56" title="56"> </a> +Parkin. The patient grumbled a little about +having to make an extra trip and took her leave.</p> + +<p>When the door had closed behind her Mary +asked the other doctor's wife if she often had +patients like that.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes. People come here when the doctor +is away and either want me to prescribe for them +or to prescribe for themselves.”</p> + +<p>“You don't do it, do you?”</p> + +<p>“Sometimes I do, when I am perfectly sure +what I am doing. Having the office here in the +house so many years I couldn't help learning a +few things.”</p> + +<p>“I wouldn't prescribe for anything or anybody. +I'd be afraid of killing somebody.” About +an hour later Mary, looking out of the window, +saw a wagon stopping at the gate. It contained +a man and a woman and two well-grown girls.</p> + +<p>“Hello!” called the man.</p> + +<p>“People call you out instead of coming in. +That is less trouble,” observed Mary. The doctor's +wife went to the door.</p> + +<p>“Is Doc at home?”</p> + +<p>“No, he has gone to the country.”</p> + +<p>“How soon will he be back?”</p> + +<p>“Not before supper time, probably.”</p> + +<p>The man whistled, then looked at his wife +and the two girls.</p> + +<p>“Well, Sally,” he said, “I guess we'd better +git out and wait fur 'im.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_57" title="57"> </a>“W'y, Pa, it'll be dark long before we git +home, if we do.”</p> + +<p>“I can't help that. I'm not agoin' to drive +eight miles tomorry or next day nuther.”</p> + +<p>“If ye'd 'a started two hour ago like I wanted +ye to do, maybe Doc'd 'a been here and we c'd +'a been purty nigh home by this time.”</p> + +<p>“Shet up! I told ye I wasn't done tradin' +then.”</p> + +<p>“It don't take <em>me</em> all day to trade a few aigs +for a jug o' m'lasses an' a plug o' terbacker.”</p> + +<p>For answer the head of the house told his +family to “jist roll out now.” They rolled out +and in a few minutes they had all rolled in. Mrs. +Parkin made a heroic effort not to look inhospitable +which made Mary's heroic effort not to +look amused still more heroic.</p> + +<p>When at last the afternoon was drawing to a +close Mary went out into the yard to rest. She +wished John would come. Hark! There is the +ring of horses' hoofs down the quiet road. But +these are white horses, John's are bays. She +turns her head and looks into the west. Out in +the meadow a giant oak-tree stands between her +and the setting sun. Its upper branches are outlined +against the grey cloud which belts the entire +western horizon, while its lower branches +are sharply etched against the yellow sky beneath +the grey.</p> + +<p>What a calm, beautiful sky it was!</p> + +<p>She thought of some lines she had read more +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_58" title="58"> </a> +than once that morning ... a bit from George +Eliot's Journal:</p> + +<p>“How lovely to look into that brilliant distance +and see the ship on the horizon seeming to +sail away from the cold and dim world behind +it right into the golden glory! I have always +that sort of feeling when I look at sunset. It +always seems to me that there in the west lies +a land of light and warmth and love.”</p> + +<p>A carriage was now coming down the road at +great speed. Mary saw it was her husband and +went in to put on her things. In a few minutes +more she was in the buggy and they were bound +for home. It was almost ten o'clock when they +got there. The trip had been so hard on the +horses that all the spirit was taken out of them. +The doctor, too, was exceedingly tired. “Forty-two +miles is a long trip to make in an afternoon,” +he said.</p> + +<p>“I hope Jack and Maggie are not up so late.”</p> + +<p>“It would be just like them to sit up till we +came.”</p> + +<p>The buggy stopped; the door flew open and +Jack and Maggie stood framed in the doorway +with the leaping yellow firelight for a background.</p> + +<h2><a class="pagenum" name="Page_59" title="59"> </a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<p>Once in a while sympathy for a fellow mortal +kept the doctor's wife an interested listener at +the <ins title="phone">'phone</ins>. Going, one morning, to speak to a +friend about some little matter she heard her +husband say:</p> + +<p>“What is it, doctor?” A physician in a little +town some ten or twelve miles distant, who had +called Dr. Blank in consultation a few days before, +was calling him.</p> + +<p>“I think our patient is doing very well, but her +heart keeps getting a little faster.”</p> + +<p>“How fast is it now?”</p> + +<p>“About 120.”</p> + +<p>“But the disease is pretty well advanced now—that +doesn't mean as much as it would earlier. +But you might push a little on the brandy, or +the strychnine—how much brandy have you +given her since I saw her?”</p> + +<p>“I have given her four ounces.”</p> + +<p>“Four ounces!”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Four ounces in three days? I think you must +mean four drachms.”</p> + +<p>“<em>Yes.</em> It <em>is</em> drachms. Four ounces <em>would</em> be +fixing things up. I've been giving her digitalis; +what do you think about that?”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_60" title="60"> </a>“That's all right, but I think that strychnine +would be a little better.”</p> + +<p>“Would you give her any aromatic spirits of +ammonia?”</p> + +<p>“Does she rattle?”</p> + +<p>“A little.”</p> + +<p>“Then you might give her a little of that. +And keep the room open and stick right to her +and she ought to get along. Don't give her +much to eat.”</p> + +<p>“Is milk all right?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. You bet it is.”</p> + +<p>“All right then, doctor, I believe that's all. +Good-bye.”</p> + +<p>On another occasion, Mary caught this fragment:</p> + +<p>“She's so everlastin' sore that she just hollers +and yells every time I go near her. Would +you give her any more morphine?”</p> + +<p>“Morphine's a thing you can't monkey with +you know, Doctor. You want to be mighty careful +about that.”</p> + +<p>“Yes. I know. How long will that morphine +last?”</p> + +<p>“That depends on how you use it. It won't +last long if you use too much and neither will +she.”</p> + +<p>“I mean how long will it last in the system?”</p> + +<p>“O! Why, three or four hours.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I think she don't need no more medicine.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_61" title="61"> </a>Mary smiled at the double negative and when +she laughingly spoke of it that night her husband +assured her that that doctor's singleness +of purpose more than offset his doubleness of +negative. That he was a fine fellow and a good +physician just the same.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>One morning in March just as the doctor arose +from the breakfast table he was called to the +'phone.</p> + +<p>“Is this Dr. Blank?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Doctor, will it hurt the baby to bathe it +every <ins title="morning?”">morning?</ins> I've been doing that but +some of the folks around here say I oughtn't to +do it; they say it isn't good for a baby to bathe +it so often.”</p> + +<p>The doctor answered solemnly, “The baby's +fat and healthy isn't it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“And pretty?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, <em>sir</em>.”</p> + +<p>“Likes to see <ins title="it's">its</ins> mamma?”</p> + +<p>“You <em>know</em> it.”</p> + +<p>“Likes to see its papa?”</p> + +<p>“He does that!” said the young mother.</p> + +<p>“Then ask me next fall if it will hurt to bathe +the baby every morning.”</p> + +<p>“All right, Doctor,” laughed the baby's +mamma.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_62" title="62"> </a>“The fools are not all dead yet,” said John, as +he took his hat and departed. On the step he +turned back and put his head in at the door. +“Keep an ear out, Mary. I'm likely to be away +from the office a good bit this morning.”</p> + +<p>An hour later a call came. Mary put the ear +that was “out” to the receiver:</p> + +<p>“It's on North Adams street.”</p> + +<p>“All right. I'll be out there after awhile,” +said her husband's placid voice.</p> + +<p>“Don't wait too long. He may die before you +git here.”</p> + +<p>“No, he won't. I'll be along pretty soon.”</p> + +<p>“Well, come just as quick as you can.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” and the listener knew that it +might be along toward noon before he got there.</p> + +<p>About eleven o'clock the 'phone rang sharply.</p> + +<p>“Is this Dr. Blank's house?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Is he there?”</p> + +<p>“I saw him pass here about twenty minutes +ago. I'm sure he'll be back to the office in a little +bit.”</p> + +<p><ins title="My">“My</ins> land! I've been here three or four times. +Looks like I'd ketch him <em>some</em> time.”</p> + +<p>“You are at the office then? If you will sit +down and wait just a little while, he will be in.”</p> + +<p>“I come six miles to see him. I supposed of +course he'd be in <em>some</em> time,” grumbled the voice +(of course a woman's).</p> + +<p>“But when he is called to visit a patient he +must go, you know,” explained Mary.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_63" title="63"> </a>“Y-e-s,” admitted the voice reluctantly. “Well, +I'll wait here a little while longer.”</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later Mary rang the office. Her +husband replied.</p> + +<p>“How long have you been back, John?”</p> + +<p>“O, five or ten minutes.”</p> + +<p>“Did you find a woman waiting for you?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I assured her you'd be there in a few +minutes and she said she'd wait.”</p> + +<p>“Do you know who she was?”</p> + +<p>“No. Some one from the country. She said +she came six miles to see you and she supposed +you'd be in your office <em>some</em> time, and that +sometime was <ins title="mightly">mightily</ins> emphatic.”</p> + +<p>“O, yes, I know now. She'll be in again,” +laughed the doctor and Mary felt relieved, for +in the querulous tones of the disappointed +woman she had read disapproval of the doctor +and of herself too, as the partner not only of +his joys and sorrows, but of his laggard gait as +well. The people who wait for a doctor are not +apt to consider that a good many more may be +waiting for him also at that particular moment +of time.</p> + +<h2><a class="pagenum" name="Page_64" title="64"> </a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<p>One of the most discouraging things I have +encountered is a great blank silence. The doctor +asks his wife to keep a close watch on the +telephone for a little while, and leaves the office. +Pretty soon it rings and she goes to answer it.</p> + +<p>“Hello?” Silence. “What is it?” More silence. +She knows that “unseen hands or spirits” +did not ring that bell. She knows perfectly well +that there is a listening ear at the other end of +the line. But you cannot converse with silence +any more than you can speak to a man you meet +on the street if he purposely looks the other way.</p> + +<p>Mary knew that the listening ear belonged to +someone who recognized that it was the wife +who answered instead of the doctor, and +therefore kept silent. She smiled and hung up +the receiver—sorry not to be able to help her +husband and to give the needed information to +the patient.</p> + +<p>But when this had happened several times she +thought of a more satisfactory way of dealing +with the situation. She would take down the +receiver and ask, “What is it?” She would wait +a perceptible instant and then say distinctly and +pleasantly, “Doctor Blank will be out of the office +for about twenty minutes. He asked me to +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_65" title="65"> </a> +tell you.” That never failed to bring an answer, +a hasty, shame-voiced, “Oh, I—well—thank +you, Mrs. Blank, I'll call again, then.”</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>The doctor's absence from town has its telephonic +puzzles. One day during Dr. Blank's +absence his wife was called to the 'phone.</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Blank, a telegram has just come for the +doctor. What must I do with it?” It was the +man at the office who put the question.</p> + +<p>“Do you know what it is, or where it's from?”</p> + +<p>“I asked the operator and he says it's from +Mr. Slocum, who is in Cincinnati. He telegraphed +the doctor to go and see his wife who +is sick.”</p> + +<p>“Well, take it over to Dr. Brown's office and +ask him to go and see her.”</p> + +<p>About half an hour later the thought of the +telegram came into her mind. “I wonder if he +found Dr. Brown in. I'd better find out.”</p> + +<p>She rang the office. “Did you find Dr. +Brown in?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, he was there.”</p> + +<p>“And you gave the message to him?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, he took it.”</p> + +<p>“I hope he went right down?”</p> + +<p>“No, he said he wouldn't go.”</p> + +<p>“Wouldn't go!” exclaimed Mary, much astonished.</p> + +<p>“He said he knew Slocum and he was in all +probability drunk when he sent the message.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_66" title="66"> </a>“Why, what a queer conclusion to arrive at. +The doctor may be right but I think we ought +to know.”</p> + +<p>“I called up their house after I came back from +Dr. Brown's office, but nobody answered. So +she can't be very sick or she'd be at home.”</p> + +<p>Mary put up the receiver hesitatingly. She +was not satisfied about this matter. She went +about her work, but her thoughts were on the +message and the sick wife. Suddenly she +thought of something—the Slocum children +were in school. The mother had not been able +to get to the 'phone to answer it. The thought +of her lying there alone and helpless was too +much. Mary went swiftly to the telephone and +called the office.</p> + +<p>“Johnson, you have to pass Mrs. Slocum's on +your way to dinner. I think she may have been +too ill to go to the 'phone. Please stop and find +out something definite.”</p> + +<p>“All right.”</p> + +<p>“And let me know as soon as you can. If she +isn't sick don't tell her anything about the telegram. +Think up some excuse as you go along +for coming in, in case all is well.”</p> + +<p>In about twenty minutes the expected summons +came.</p> + +<p>“Well, I stopped, Mrs. Blank.”</p> + +<p>“What did you find?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I found a hatchet close to Slocum's +gate.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_67" title="67"> </a>“How lucky!”</p> + +<p>“I took it in to ask if it was theirs.”</p> + +<p>“Was it?”</p> + +<p>“No, it wasn't.”</p> + +<p>“Who told you so?”</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Slocum, herself, and she's about the +healthiest looking invalid I've seen lately.”</p> + +<p>“I'm much relieved. Thank you, Johnson.” +And as she left the 'phone she meditated within +herself, “Verily, the tender thoughtfulness of the +husband drunk exceedeth that of the husband +sober.”</p> + +<p>When night came and Mary was preparing +for bed she thought, “It will be very unpleasant +to be called up only to tell people the doctor is +not here.” She rose, went to the 'phone and +called central.</p> + +<p>“This is Mrs. Blank, central. If anyone +should want the doctor tonight, or for the next +two nights, please say he is out of town and will +not be home until Saturday.”</p> + +<p>Then with a delicious sense of freedom she +went to bed and slept as sweetly as in the long-ago +when the telephone was a thing undreamed +of.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>The ting-a-ling-ling-ling—came as Mary was +pouring boiling water into the teapot, just before +six on a cool July evening. The maid was temporarily +absent and Mary had been getting supper +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_68" title="68"> </a> +in a very leisurely way when she saw her +husband step up on the porch. Then her leisure +was exchanged for hurry. The doctor's appearance +before meal time was the signal to which +she responded automatically—he had to catch a +train—someone must have him right away, or +what not? She must not keep him waiting a +minute. She pushed the teapot back on the stove +and went swiftly to the 'phone.</p> + +<p>“Is this Dr. Blank's office?” asked a disturbed +feminine voice.</p> + +<p>“No, his residence. He is here. Wait a minute, +please, and I will call him.”</p> + +<p>She hurried out to the porch, “Isn't papa +here?” she asked of her small boy sitting there.</p> + +<p>“He <em>was</em>.”</p> + +<p>“Well, where is he now?”</p> + +<p>“I don't know where he is.”</p> + +<p>Provoking! She hurried back. He must be +in the garden. An occasional impulse to hoe +sometimes came over him (especially if the day +happened to be Sunday).</p> + +<p>In the kitchen her daughter stood at a table +cutting the bread for supper. “Go quick, and +see if papa's in the garden. Tell him to come to +the 'phone at once.”</p> + +<p>Then she hurried back to re-assure the waiting +one. But what could she tell her? Perhaps the +doctor was not in the garden. She rushed out +and beat her daughter in the race toward it. +She sent her voice ahead, “John!” she called.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_69" title="69"> </a>“Come to the 'phone this minute.” Back she +ran. Would she still be waiting?</p> + +<p>“Hello.”</p> + +<p>“Hello.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, the doctor's here. He's in the garden +but will be in in just a minute. Hold the 'phone +please.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, thank you.”</p> + +<p>It was a minute and a half before the doctor +got there.</p> + +<p>“Hello.” No answer.</p> + +<p>“Hello!” Silence.</p> + +<p>“<em>Hello!</em>” Still no reply. The doctor rang +sharply for central.</p> + +<p>“Who was calling me a minute ago.”</p> + +<p>“I don't know—we can't keep track of everybody +who calls.”</p> + +<p>The doctor hung up the receiver with an explosive +monosyllable. Mary's patience was giving +out too. “She couldn't wait one half minute. +I told her you would be here in a minute and it +took you a minute and a half.”</p> + +<p>“She may be waiting at the office, I'll go down +there.”</p> + +<p>“I wouldn't do it,” said Mary, warmly. “It's +much easier for her to stay a half minute at the +'phone than for you to tramp back to the office.”</p> + +<p>But he went. As his wife went back to the +kitchen her daughter called, “Mother, did you +take the loaf of bread in there with you?”</p> + +<p>“Why, no.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_70" title="70"> </a>“Well, it's not on the table where I was cutting +it when you sent me after father.”</p> + +<p>“It's on the floor!” shouted the small boy, +peering through the window. “<em>I</em> won't eat any +of it!”</p> + +<p>“Don't, exquisite child,” said his sister, stooping +over to recover the loaf, dropped in her +haste. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Mary went.</p> + +<p>“Isn't the doctor coming?”</p> + +<p>“He came. He called repeatedly, but got no +reply.”</p> + +<p>“I was right here with my ear to the 'phone +the whole time.”</p> + +<p>“He concluded it might be someone waiting +for him at the office, so he has gone down there.”</p> + +<p>“I'm not there. I'm here at home.”</p> + +<p>“Hello,” broke in the doctor's voice.</p> + +<p>“O, here you are!”</p> + +<p>“Doctor, I've been taking calomel today and +then I took some salts and I thoughtlessly dissolved +them in some lemonade I had handy!”</p> + +<p>A solemn voice asked, “Have you made your +will?”</p> + +<p>A little giggle before the patient said “No.”</p> + +<p>“You'll have plenty of time. You needn't +hurry about it.”</p> + +<p>“You don't think it will hurt me then?”</p> + +<p>“No. Not a bit.”</p> + +<p>“I was afraid the acid might salivate me.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that's an old and popular idea. But it +won't.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_71" title="71"> </a><ins title="That">“That</ins> sounds good, Doctor. I was awfully +scared. Much obliged. Good-bye.”</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>A week or two after the above incident the +doctor was seated at his dinner, a leisurely Sunday +dinner. The telephone called and he rose +and went to it. The usual hush fell upon +the table in order that he might hear.</p> + +<p>“Is this Dr. Blank?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Doctor, this is Mrs. Abner. Would it +be too much trouble for you to step into Hall's +and ask them to send me up a quart of ice-cream +for dinner?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly not. A quart?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, please. I'm sorry to bother you with it. +They ought to have a 'phone.”</p> + +<p>“No trouble.”</p> + +<p>The doctor hung up the receiver and reached +for his hat.</p> + +<p>“Why, John, you surely can finish your dinner +before you go!” exclaimed Mary.</p> + +<p>“Then I'd spoil Mrs. Abner's dinner.”</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Abner!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, she wants a quart of ice-cream for +dinner.”</p> + +<p>“I'd like to know what <em>you've</em> got to do with +it,” said Mary tartly.</p> + +<p>“She thinks I'm at the office.”</p> + +<p>“And the office is next door to Hall's and +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_72" title="72"> </a> +Hall's have no 'phone,” said Mary smiling. “Of +course you must go. Wouldn't Mrs. Abner feel +mortified though if she knew you had to leave +your home in the midst of dinner to order her +ice-cream. But do hurry back, John.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe I'd better stay there till the dinner +hour is well over,” laughed John. “Every now +and then someone wants me to step into Hall's +and order up something.”</p> + +<p>He went good-naturedly away and his wife +looked after him marveling, but withal admiring.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>The doctor and his wife had been slumbering +peacefully for an hour or two. Then came a +loud ring and they were wide awake at once.</p> + +<p>“That wasn't the telephone, John, it was the +door-bell.”</p> + +<p>The doctor got into his dressing-gown and +went to the door.</p> + +<p>His wife heard a man's voice, then her husband +reply, then the door shut. She lay back on +her pillow but it was evident John was not coming +back. She must have dozed, for it seemed +to her a long time had gone by when she started +to hear a noise in the other room. John had not +yet got off.</p> + +<p>“You have to go some place, do you?” she +called.</p> + +<p>“Yes,—just a little way. Look out for the +'phone, Mary. I think I'll have to go down to +Hanson's tonight, to meet the stork.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_73" title="73"> </a>“But how can I get word to you? They have +no 'phone or that man wouldn't have come +after you.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I have promised Hanson and I'll have +to go there. If he 'phones before I get back +tell him he'll have to come down to Stetson's +after me. Or, you might wake one of the boys +and send him over.”</p> + +<p>“I'd rather try to wake Rip Van Winkle,” said +Mary, in a tone that settled it.</p> + +<p>In about an hour the doctor was back and +snuggling down under the covers.</p> + +<p>“They've got a fine boy over to Stetson's,” he +announced to his sleepy wife.</p> + +<p>“They have!” she exclaimed, almost getting +awake. Again they slept.</p> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. +Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>“That's Hanson,” exclaimed the doctor springing +up and groping his way to the 'phone.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Out where?”</p> + +<p>“Smith's on Parks avenue?.... <em>Not</em> Smith's?.... +I understand—a little house farther down +that street..... Yes, I'll come..... O, as soon +as I can dress and get there.”</p> + +<p>Mary heard, but when he had gone, was soon +in a deep sleep.</p> + +<p>By and by she found herself flinging off the +covers and hurrying guiltily toward the summoning +tyrant, her subconscious self telling her +that this was the third peal.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_74" title="74"> </a>“Hello.”</p> + +<p>“Is the doctor there, Mrs. Blank?”</p> + +<p>“No, he is over at Stetson's. He said if you +'phoned to tell you you would have to come there +as they have no 'phone.”</p> + +<p>“Wait a minute, Mrs. Blank,” said the voice +of central, <ins title="some">“some</ins> one is trying to speak—”</p> + +<p>“What have I said!” thought Mary suddenly, +thoroughly awake. “He got back from Stetson's +and went to another place. But I don't know +what place nor where it is.”</p> + +<p>The kindly voice of central went on:</p> + +<p>“It's the doctor who is talking, Mrs. Blank. +I understand now. He says if that message +comes you are to 'phone him at James Smith's +on Parks avenue.”</p> + +<p>Mary looked at the clock. “So he's been +there all this time. That stork is a little too +busy tonight,” she thought as she went shivering +back to bed.</p> + +<p>Toward daylight she was roused by the return +of her husband, who announced a new daughter +in the world and then they went to sleep. The +next morning she said, “John, I've just thought +of something. Why didn't you have central +'phone you at Smith's if Hanson called and save +me all that bother?”</p> + +<p>“I guess it's because I'm so used to bothering +you Mary, that I didn't think of it.”</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_75" title="75"> </a>Mary was upstairs cleaning house most vigorously +when the ring came. She stopped and +listened. It came again—three. She set the +dust pan down and went.</p> + +<p>“I'll have to be out for an hour or more, +Mary,” said the doctor.</p> + +<p>“I heard that sigh,” he laughed, “but it won't +be very hard to sort of keep an ear on the 'phone, +will it? Johnson may get in soon and then it +won't be necessary.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, then, John,” and she went upstairs, +leaving the doors open behind her.</p> + +<p>She had just reached the top when she had to +turn about and retrace her steps.</p> + +<p>“Hello.” No answer.</p> + +<p>“Is someone calling Dr. Blank's house or +office?”</p> + +<p>“I rang your 'phone by mistake,” said central. +Mary trudged up the stairs again. “This is +more tiresome than cleaning house,” she said to +herself as she went along.</p> + +<p>In twenty minutes the summons came. She +leaned her broom against the wall and went +down.</p> + +<p>“O, this is Mrs. Blank. I'm very sorry to +have put you to this trouble—I wanted the +doctor.”</p> + +<p>She recognized the voice of her old pastor for +whom she had a most kindly regard.</p> + +<p>“He is out, but will be back within half an +hour now, Mr. Rutledge.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_76" title="76"> </a>“Thank you, I'll call again, but I wonder that +you knew my voice.” Mary laughed.</p> + +<p>“I haven't heard it for awhile, but maybe I'll +be at church next Sunday, if minding the telephone +doesn't make me feel too wicked.”</p> + +<p>“It's the wicked that church is for—come by +all means.”</p> + +<p>“I didn't mean to detain you, Mr. Rutledge. +It is restful, though, after dragging one's weary +feet down to the 'phone to hear something beside +all the ills that flesh is heir to. Come to +see us soon—one day next week.”</p> + +<p>Once more she wended her way upstairs and +in about fifteen minutes came the ting-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling. +“I surrender!” she declared.</p> + +<p>When she had gone down and put the receiver +to her ear her husband's voice spoke kindly,</p> + +<p>“I'm back, Mary, you're released.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, John, you are very thoughtful,” +and she smiled as she took off her sun-bonnet +and sat herself down. “Not another time will +I climb those stairs this morning.”</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Mary sat one evening dreamily thinking about +them—these messages that came every day, every +day!</p> + +<p>Doctor, will it hurt Jennie to eat some tomatoes +this morning—she craves them so?</p> + +<p>Will is a great deal better. Can he have some +ice-cream for dinner?</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_77" title="77"> </a>I can hardly manage Henry any longer, Doctor, +he's determined he <em>will</em> have more to eat. +Can I begin giving him a little more today?</p> + +<p>Lemonade won't hurt Helen, will it? She +wants some.</p> + +<p>Doctor, I forget how many drops of that clear +medicine I am to give..... Ten, you say? Thank +you.</p> + +<p>Dr. Blank, is it after meals or before that the +dark medicine is to be given..... I thought so, +but I wanted to be sure.</p> + +<p>We are out of those powders you left. Do +you think we will need any more?.... Then I'll +send down for them.</p> + +<p>How long will you be in the office this morning, +Doctor?...... Very well, I'll be down in +about an hour. I want you to see my throat.</p> + +<p>You wanted me to let you know how Johnny +is this morning. I don't think he has any fever +now and he slept all night, so I guess you won't +need to come down today.</p> + +<p>Dr. Blank, I've got something coming on my +finger. Do you suppose it's a felon?.... You +can tell better when you see it?.... Well, I suppose +you can. I'll be down at the office pretty +soon and then I want you to tell me it's <em>not</em> a +felon.</p> + +<p>Mary seems a good deal better this morning, +but she still has that pain in her side.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_78" title="78"> </a>Doctor, I don't believe Joe is as well as he +was last night. I think you had better come +down.</p> + +<p>As these old, old stories came leisurely into +Mary's thoughts the telephone rang three times. +She rose from her chair before the fire and went +to answer it.</p> + +<p>“Is this Dr. Blank's office?”</p> + +<p>“No, his residence.”</p> + +<p>“Is the doctor there?”</p> + +<p>“No, but he will be down on the seven o'clock +train.”</p> + +<p>“And it's now not quite six. This is Mr. Andrews.”</p> + +<p>Mary knew the name and the man.</p> + +<p>“My wife is sick and I want to get a pint of +alcohol for her.”</p> + +<p>“An old subterfuge,” thought Mary, “I'm +afraid he wants it for himself.” She knew that +he was often under its influence.</p> + +<p>“I can't get it without a prescription from a +physician, you know. She needs it right away.”</p> + +<p>“The thirst is on him,” thought our listener, +pityingly.</p> + +<p>The voice went on, “Mrs. Blank, couldn't you +just speak to the druggist about it so I could +get it right away?”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Andrews,” she said hastily, “the druggist +would pay no attention to me. I'm not a +physician, you know. The doctor will be here +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_79" title="79"> </a> +in an hour—see him,” and she hurried the receiver +into its place, anxious to get away from +it. This was a story that was entirely new to +her. Never before had she been asked to procure +a prescription for alcohol or any of its attendant +spirits. She liked the old stories best.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>The doctor had been to the city and had got +home at four o'clock in the morning. He had +had to change cars in the night and consequently +had had little sleep. When the door-bell rang +his wife awakened instantly at the expected summons +and rose to admit him. In a little while +both were fast asleep. The wife, about a half +hour later, found herself struggling to speak to +somebody about something, she did not know +what. But when the second long peal came +from the 'phone she was fully awakened. How +she hated to rouse the slumberer at her side.</p> + +<p>“John,” she called softly. He did not move.</p> + +<p>“John!” a little louder. He stirred slightly, +but slept on.</p> + +<p>“John, <em>John</em>!”</p> + +<p>“Huh-h?”</p> + +<p>“The telephone.”</p> + +<p>He threw back the covers, and rising, stumbled +to the 'phone.</p> + +<p>“Hello.”</p> + +<p>The voice of a little boy came to his half-awakened +ear.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_80" title="80"> </a>“<em>Say</em>, Pa, <em>I</em> can't sell these papers an' git +through in time fer school.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, you <em>can</em>!” roared a voice. <ins title="You">“You</ins> jist want +to fool around.” The doctor went back to bed.</p> + +<p>“Wasn't the message for you?” inquired his +wife. “What a shame to rouse you from your +sleep for nothing.”</p> + +<p>The doctor told her what the message was and +was back in slumberland in an incredibly short +space of time. Not so his wife. She was too +thoroughly awake at last and dawn was beginning +to peep around the edges of the window +shades. She would not court slumber now but +would lie awake with her own thoughts which +were very pleasant thoughts this morning. By +and by she rose softly, dressed and went out onto +the veranda and looked long into the reddening +eastern sky. Ever since she could remember she +had felt this keen delight at the aspect of the +sky in the very early morning. She stood for +awhile, drinking in the beauty and the peacefulness +of it all. Then she went in to her awakening +household, glad that the little boy had +'phoned his “Pa” and by some means had got +her too.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>One midsummer night a tiny ringing came +faintly and pleasantly into Mary's dreams. Not +till it came the second or third time did she +awaken to what it was. Then she sat up in bed +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_81" title="81"> </a> +calling her husband, who had just awakened too +and sprung out of bed. Dazed, he stumbled +about and could not find his way. With Mary's +help he got his bearings and the next minute his +thunderous “Hello” greeted her ears.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Worse tonight? In what way?”</p> + +<p>An instant's silence. “Mrs. Brownson?” Silence. +“Mrs. Brownson!” Silence.</p> + +<p>“Damn that woman! She's rung off.”</p> + +<p>“Well, don't swear into the 'phone, John. It's +against the rules. Besides, she might hear you.”</p> + +<p>The doctor was growling his way to his +clothes.</p> + +<p>“I suppose I've got to go down there,” was +all the answer he made. When he was dressed +and the screen had banged behind him after the +manner of screens, Mary settled herself to sleep +which came very soon. But she was soon routed +out of it. She went to the 'phone, expecting +to hear a querulous woman's voice asking, “Has +the doctor started yet?” and her lips were framing +the old and satisfactory reply, “Yes, he must +be nearly there now,” when a man's voice asked, +“Is this Dr. Blank's residence?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Is the doctor there?”</p> + +<p>“No, but he will be back in about twenty minutes.”</p> + +<p>“Will you please tell him to come to J. H. +Twitchell's?”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_82" title="82"> </a>“Yes, I'll send him right down.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you.”</p> + +<p>She went back to her bed room then, turning, +retraced her steps. The doctor could come home +by way of Twitchell's as their home was not a +great distance from the Brownson's.</p> + +<p>She rang the Brownson's and after a little +while a voice answered.</p> + +<p>“Is this Mrs. Brownson?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“May I speak to Dr. Blank. I think he must +be there now.”</p> + +<p>“He's been here. He's gone home.”</p> + +<p>Mary knew by the voice that its owner had +not enjoyed getting out of bed. “I wonder how +she would like to be in my place,” she thought, +smiling. She dared not trust herself to her pillow. +She might fall asleep and not waken when her +husband came in. She wondered what time it +was. Up there on the wall the clock was ticking +serenely away—she had only to turn the +button beside her to find out. But she did not +turn it. In the sweet security of the dark she +felt safe. In one brief flash of light some prowling +burglar might discover her.</p> + +<p>She sat down by the open window and +looked up into the starlit sky. They were +out tonight in countless numbers. Over +there toward the northwest, lying along +the tops of the trees was the Great Dipper. +Wasn't it? Surely that particular curve +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_83" title="83"> </a> +in the handle was not to be found in any other +constellation. She tried to see the Dipper itself +but a cherry tree near her window blotted it out. +Bend and peer as she might the branches intervened. +It was tantalizing. She rose irresolute. +Should she step out doors where the cherry tree +would not be in the way? Not for a thousand +dippers! She walked to another window. That +view shut even the handle out. She looked for +the Pleiades. They were not in the section of +sky visible from the window where she stood. +She turned and listened. Did she hear footsteps +down the walk? She ought to be hearing +her husband's by this time. He could not be +walking at his usual gait. There he came! She +went to the door looked through the screen and +halted him as he drew near the steps.</p> + +<p>“John, you'll have to take another trip. Mr. +Twitchell has 'phoned for you.”</p> + +<p>He turned and was soon out of sight. “Now! +I can go to bed with a clear conscience,” and +Mary sought her pillow. But she had better +stay awake until he had time to get there lest Mr. +Twitchell should 'phone again. In five or ten +minutes the danger would be over. She waited. +At last she closed her eyes to sleep. But what +would be the use? In twenty minutes more her +husband would come in and rouse her out of it. +She had better just keep awake till he got back. +And the next thing Mary heard was a snore. She +opened her eyes to find it was broad daylight and +her husband was sleeping soundly beside her.</p> + +<h2><a class="pagenum" name="Page_84" title="84"> </a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<p>One afternoon in June Mary went into her +husband's office.</p> + +<p>“Has <cite>The Record</cite> come?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it's on the table in the next room.”</p> + +<p>She went into the adjoining room and seated +herself by the table. Taking up <cite>The Record</cite>, +she turned to the editorial page, but before she +could begin reading she heard a voice in the +office say, “How do you do, Doctor?”</p> + +<p>“How do you do, Mr. Jenkins. Take a seat.”</p> + +<p>“No, I guess I'll not sit down. I just wanted +to get—a prescription.”</p> + +<p>“The baby's better, isn't it?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, the baby's all right, but I want a prescription +for myself.”</p> + +<p>“What sort of prescription?”</p> + +<p>“I have to take a long ride in the morning, +driving cattle, and I want a prescription for a +pint of whiskey.”</p> + +<p>Mary listened for her husband's reply. It +came.</p> + +<p>“Jenkins, I have taken many a long ride +through dust and heat, through rain and snow +and storm, and I never yet have had to take any +whiskey along.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I have a little trouble with my heart +and—”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_85" title="85"> </a>“The trouble's in your head. If you'd throw +away that infernal pipe—”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it's no use to lecture me on that any +more.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, your tobacco may be worth more +to you than your heart.”</p> + +<p>“Well, will you give me that prescription?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly I won't. You don't need whiskey +and you'll not get it from me.”</p> + +<p>“Go to h-ll!”</p> + +<p>“All right, I'll meet <em>you</em> there.” At which +warm farewell between these two good friends, +Mary leaned back in her chair and laughed silently. +Then she mused: “People will not be +saved from themselves. If only they would be, +how much less of sin and sickness and sorrow +there would be in the world.”</p> + +<p>Presently the doctor came in.</p> + +<p>“I have a trip to make tonight, Mary. How +would you like a star-light drive?” Mary said +she would like it very much indeed.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, at sunset the doctor drove up and +soon they were out in the open country. Chatting +of many things they drove along and by and +by Mary's eyes were attracted to a beautiful +castle up in the clouds in the west, on a great +golden rock jutting out into the blue. Far below +was a grand woman's form in yellow floating +robes. She stood with face upturned and +arms extended in an attitude of sorrow as if +she had been banished from her father's house.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_86" title="86"> </a>There comes the father now. Slowly, majestically, +an old man with flowing beard of gold +moves toward the edge of the great rock. Now +he has reached it. He bends his head and looks +below. The attitude of the majestic woman has +changed to that of supplication. And now the +father stretches down forgiving arms and the +queenly daughter bows her head against the +mighty wall and weeps in gladness. Now castle +and rock, father and daughter slowly interchange +places and vanish from her sight. The gold +turns to crimson, then fades to gray. Just before +her up there in the clouds is a huge lion, couchant. +See! he is going to spring across the pale +blue chasm to the opposite bank. If he fails he +will come right down into the road—“Oh!”</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked the doctor, looking +around, and Mary told him with a rather foolish +smile.</p> + +<p>The twilight deepened into dusk and the notes +of a whippoorwill came to them from a distance. +“You and I must have nothing but sweet +thoughts right now, John, because then we'll get +to keep them for a year.” She quoted:</p> + +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">“'Tis said that whatever sweet feeling<br/></div> +<div class="line indent2">May be throbbing within the fond heart,<br/></div> +<div class="line indent2">When listening to a whippoorwill s-pieling,<br/></div> +<div class="line indent2">For a twelvemonth will never depart.”<br/></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>“Spieling doesn't seem specially in the whippoorwill's +line.”</p> + +<p><ins title="It's">“It's</ins> <em>exactly</em> in his line. Years ago when I was +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_87" title="87"> </a> +a little girl he proved it. One evening at dusk +I was sitting in an arbor when he, not suspecting +my presence, alighted within a few feet of me +and began his song. It was wonderfully interesting +to watch his little throat puff and puff with the +notes as they poured forth, but the thing that astounded +me was the length of time he sang without +ever pausing for breath. And so he is a +genuine spieler. I will add, however, that the +line is ‘When listening to a whippoorwill <em>singing</em>.’ +But my literary conscience will never let +me rhyme <em>singing</em> with <em>feeling</em>, hence the sudden +change.”</p> + +<p>“Now I'll speak <em>my</em> piece,” announced the +doctor:</p> + +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">“De frogs in de pon' am a singin' all de night;<br/></div> +<div class="line indent3">Wid de hallelujah campmeetin' tune;<br/></div> +<div class="line indent1">An' dey all seem to try wid deir heart, soul and might<br/></div> +<div class="line indent3">To tell us ob de comin' of de June.”<br/></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>“<em>Aren't</em> they having a hallelujah chorus over +in that meadow, though!”</p> + +<p>Darkness settled over the earth. The willow +trees, skirting the road for a little distance, lifted +themselves in ghostly tracery against the starlit +sky. A soft breeze stirred their branches like +the breath of a gentle spirit abiding there. They +passed a cozy farmhouse nestled down among +tall trees. Through the open door they could +see a little white-robed figure being carried to +bed in its father's arms, while the mother crooned +a lullaby over the cradle near.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_88" title="88"> </a>For a long time they drove in silence. Mary +knew that her husband was in deep thought. Of +what was he thinking? The pretty home scene +in the farm house had sent him into a reverie. +He went back five or six years to a bright spring +day. He was sitting alone in his office when an +old man, a much respected farmer, came in +slowly, closed the door behind him and sat down. +The doctor who knew him quite well saw that +he was troubled and asked if there was anything +he could do for him. The old man leaned his +head on his hand but did not reply. It seemed +that no words would come in which to tell his +errand.</p> + +<p>Puzzled and sympathetic the doctor sat silent +and waited. In a little while the farmer drew +his chair very near to that of the doctor's and +said in a low voice, “Doctor, I'm in deep trouble. +I come to you because you are one of my best +friends. You have a chance to prove it now +such as you never had before in all the years +you've been our doctor.”</p> + +<p>“Tell me your trouble and if I can help you, +I will certainly do so.”</p> + +<p>“It's Mary. She's gone wrong, and the disgrace +will kill her mother if she finds it out.”</p> + +<p>For an instant the doctor did not speak; then +he asked, “Are you sure that this is true?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. She came to me last night and nestled +down in my arms, just as she's done every night +since she was a baby. She cried like her heart +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_89" title="89"> </a> +would break and then she said, <ins title="“Father">‘Father</ins>, I <em>must</em> +tell you, but don't tell <ins title="mother">mother’</ins>; and then she told +me.”</p> + +<p>The old man, white and trembling, looked beseechingly +at the doctor.</p> + +<p>“Doctor, this must not be. You must stop it +before there is any breath of scandal. Oh, for a +minute last night I wanted to kill her.”</p> + +<p>The doctor's face was stern. “If you had +killed her your crime would have been far less +hellish than the one you ask me to commit.”</p> + +<p>The old man bowed his head upon his hands. +“You will not help me,” he groaned.</p> + +<p>The doctor rose and walked the floor. “No, +sir,” he said, “I will not stain my soul with murder +for you or any other man.” He went to the +window and stood looking out upon the street +below. Presently he said, “Mr. Stirling, will +you come here a minute?” The old man rose +and went. “Do you see that little boy skipping +along down there?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I see him.”</p> + +<p>“If I should go down these stairs, seize him +and dash his brains out against that building, +what would you think of me?”</p> + +<p>“I'd think you were a devil.”</p> + +<p>“Yet he would have a chance for his life. He +could cry out, or the passersby might see me and +interpose, while that you ask me to destroy is—”</p> + +<p>“There's one thing I'll do,” said the old man +fiercely. “I'll kill Ben Morely before this day +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_90" title="90"> </a> +is over!” He seized his hat and started toward +the door.</p> + +<p>“Wait a minute!” said the doctor quickly. +“It's Ben Morely is it? I know him. I would +not have thought him capable of this.”</p> + +<p>“He's been coming to see Mary steady for +more than a year and they were to have been +married three months ago but they quarreled +and Mary told me last night that he was going +away the last of this week. She is as good and +sweet a girl as ever lived. She never kept company +with anybody else and she thought the +world of him. The damned villain has got +around her with his honey words and now he +proposes to leave her to face it alone. But I'll +kill him as sure as the sun shines.”</p> + +<p>“Sit down,” said the doctor, laying a hand on +the excited man's arm and forcing him into a +chair.</p> + +<p>“Let me tell you what to do. Young Morely's +father is a good and sensible man and will take +the right view of it. Go straight to him and tell +him all about it and my word for it, he will see +that they are married right away. He is able to +help them along and will make it to his son's +advantage to stay here rather than go away. He +will advise him right. Have no fear.” The +old man wrung the doctor's hand in silence and +went out.</p> + +<p>Several days later the doctor was looking over +the papers published in the town and read in +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_91" title="91"> </a> +the list of marriage licenses the names, “Benjamin +Morely, aged twenty-four, Mary Stirling, +aged eighteen.”</p> + +<p>And that is why the scene in the farmhouse +this summer night had sent him back into the +past, for it was the home of Benjamin and Mary +Morely, and it was a happy home. These two +lives had come together and flowed on in such +harmony and helpfulness and rectitude before +the world that the stain had been wiped out. +For a merciless world can be merciful sometimes +if it will only stop to remember that long ago +a compassionate Voice said, Go and sin no more.</p> + +<p>The doctor's reverie came to an end for he had +reached his destination—a large white house +standing very close to the road.</p> + +<p>“Don't talk to me while you are hitching the +horse,” Mary whispered, “then they won't know +there is anyone with you. I don't want to go in—I +want to see the moon come up.”</p> + +<p>The doctor took his case and went inside. +Mary sat in the buggy and listened. The neighing +of a horse far down the road and the barking +of a dog in the distance were the only sounds +she heard. How still and cool it was after the +heat of the day. A wandering breeze brought +the sweet perfume of dewy clover fields. She +looked across the intervening knoll to the east. +The tree that crowned its summit stood outlined +against the brightening sky. She was sitting +very near the open kitchen window and now +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_92" title="92"> </a> +saw the family taking their places around the +supper table. She felt a little uncomfortable and +as if she were trespassing on their privacy. But +they did not know of her proximity and she +could only sit still in the friendly cover of the +darkness. How good the ham smelled and the +potatoes and the coffee.</p> + +<p>A pretty home-scene!</p> + +<p>The father at the head of the table, the mother +opposite with four sturdy boys between them, +two on each side. The father looked around the +board. Stillness settled down upon them, and +then he bowed his head. The mother, too, bowed +her head. The boys looked down.</p> + +<p>“Our heavenly Father, we thank Thee for +these evening blessings—” the boys looked up +and four forks started simultaneously for the +meat platter. Every fork impaled its slice. Mary +gasped. She crammed her handkerchief into her +mouth to shut off the laughter that almost +shouted itself before she could stop it.</p> + +<p>The oldest boy, a burly fellow of fifteen, looked +astonished and then sheepish. The other three +looked defiance at him. Each sat erect in perfect +silence and held his slice to the platter with +a firm hand. Mary, almost suffocating with +laughter which <em>must</em> be suppressed, watched +anxiously for the denouement. The blessing +went on. The boys evidently knew all its stages. +As it advanced there was a tightening of the +tension and at the welcome “amen” there was a +grand rake-off.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_93" title="93"> </a>At the commotion of the sudden swipe the +father and mother looked up in amazement.</p> + +<p>“Boys, boys! what do you mean!” exclaimed +the mother.</p> + +<p>“We got even with Mr. Jake that time.” It +was the second boy who spoke.</p> + +<p>“We got <em>ahead</em> of him,” said the third. “He +didn't get the biggest piece this time.”</p> + +<p>“No, <em>I</em> got it myself,” said the fourth.</p> + +<p>“Well, I'm scandalized,” said the mother, +looking across the table at her husband.</p> + +<p>“Well, Mother, I'll tell you how it was,” said +the second boy. “Last night I looked up before +Father was through with the blessing and I saw +Jake with his fork in the biggest piece of ham. +You and Father didn't notice and so he was <em>it</em>. +I'll bet he's been at it a good while, too.”</p> + +<p>“I've not, either,” said the accused.</p> + +<p>“I told Bob and Jim about it and we concluded +<em>we'd</em> take a hand in it tonight.”</p> + +<p>“Well, let this be the last of it,” said the father +with mild sternness. “We'll try to have ham +enough for all of you without sneaking it. If +not, Jacob can have his mother's share and +mine.”</p> + +<p>The trio of boys grinned triumphantly at the +discomfited Jake, then, the little flurry over, all +fell to eating with a will.</p> + +<p>The doctor's voice came to Mary from the +room of the patient.</p> + +<p>“You're worth a dozen dead women yet,” it +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_94" title="94"> </a> +said. Then a high pitched woman's voice, “I'll +tell you what Mary Ann says she thinks about +it.”</p> + +<p>“Has she been here today?” If Mary Ann had +been there the unfavorable condition of the patient +was explained.</p> + +<p>“Yes, she just went away. She says she believes +you're just keepin' Ellen down so you can +get a big bill out of her.”</p> + +<p><ins title="“The">The</ins> doctor was fixing up powders and went +placidly on till he got through, then he said +“Mary Ann has a better opinion of me than I +thought she had. It takes a mighty good doctor +to do that. That's a very old song but there are +a few people in the world that like to sing it +yet. They don't know that there isn't a doctor +in the world that knows enough to do a thing +like that even if he wanted to. Nature would +beat him every time if they gave her a chance.”</p> + +<p>Mary heard the doctor give his instructions +and then he came out. As they drove off she +asked, “You came pretty near catching a tartar, +didn't you?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, that one is all right. It's her sister +that's always raising the devil.”</p> + +<p>“Look! isn't she lovely, John?”</p> + +<p>“Isn't who lovely?” asked the doctor, looking +back at the house in some surprise.</p> + +<p>“The gentle Shepherdess of Night,” Mary answered, +her eyes on the moon just rising over +the distant treetops.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_95" title="95"> </a>“She's getting ready to ‘lead her flocks +through the fields of blue.’”</p> + +<p>“How very poetical we are.”</p> + +<p>“Only an echo from a little song I used to sing +when I was a little girl.”</p> + +<p>“Get up, my steeds,” urged the doctor, “we +must be getting back”; and they sped swiftly +homeward through the soft summer night.</p> + +<h2><a class="pagenum" name="Page_96" title="96"> </a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. +Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>“Hello.”</p> + +<p>“Is this the doctor's office?”</p> + +<p>“This is his residence.”</p> + +<p>“Pshaw! I wanted his <em>office</em>.”</p> + +<p>“The doctor 'phoned me about ten minutes ago +that he would be out for half an hour and asked +me to answer the 'phone in his absence,” Mary +explained, pleasantly.</p> + +<p>“Oh,” said the voice, somewhat mollified, <ins title="I'll">“I'll</ins> +just call him up when he gets back. You say +he'll be back in half an hour?”</p> + +<p>“In about that time.”</p> + +<p>She went back to her work, which happened +to be upstairs this morning, leaving the doors +ajar behind her that she might hear the 'phone. +In two minutes she was summoned down.</p> + +<p>“What is it?”</p> + +<p>“Is this the doctor's office?”</p> + +<p>“No, the residence.”</p> + +<p>“I rang for the office, sorry to have troubled +you, Mrs. Blank,” said a man's voice.</p> + +<p>“We are connected and when the doctor is +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_97" title="97"> </a> +out he expects me to be bell-boy,” said Mary, +recognizing the voice.</p> + +<p>“I see. Will you please tell the doctor +when he comes that my little boy is sick this +morning and I want him to come down. Will +he be back soon?”</p> + +<p>“In a few minutes, I think.”</p> + +<p>She sat down by the fire. No use to go back +upstairs till she had delivered the message. This +was a pleasing contrast to the other; Mr. Owen +had volunteered his message as if she really had +a right to know and deliver it.</p> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. +Mary felt reluctant to answer it—it sounded so +like the first. And it was not the house call this +time, but two rings which undeniably meant the +office. But she must be true to the trust reposed +in her. She went to the 'phone and softly taking +down the receiver, listened; perhaps the doctor +had got back and would answer it himself. Fervently +she hoped so. But there was only silence +at her ear, and the ever present far-off clack of +attenuated voices. The silence seemed to bristle. +But there was nothing for our listener to do but +thrust herself into it.</p> + +<p>“Hello,” she said, very gently.</p> + +<p>“O, I've got <em>you</em> again, have I! I <em>know</em> I +rung the office this time, for I looked in the book +to see. How does it happen I get the house?” +Ill temper was manifest in every word.</p> + +<p>“The office and residence are connected,” explained +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_98" title="98"> </a> +Mary, patiently, “and when the 'phone +rings while the doctor is out, he asks me to answer +it for him.”</p> + +<p>“I don't see what good <em>that</em> does.”</p> + +<p>“It doesn't do any good when people do not +care to leave a message,” said Mary quietly.</p> + +<p>“Well, I'd ruther deliver my message to <em>him</em>.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly. And I would much rather you +would. I can at least say about what time he expects +to return.”</p> + +<p>“You said awhile ago he'd be back in half an +hour and he's not back <em>yet</em>.”</p> + +<p>The doctor's wife knew that she was held responsible +for the delay. She smiled and glanced +at the clock.</p> + +<p>“It is just three minutes past the half hour,” +she said.</p> + +<p>“Well, we're in an awful hurry for him. I'll +ring agin d'reckly.”</p> + +<p>In five minutes a ring came again. Surely he +would be there now, thought his wife, but she +must go to the 'phone. She listened. Silence. +Then the bell pealed sharply forth again. She +decided to change her tactics and put the other +woman on the defensive:</p> + +<p>“Well!” she said impatiently, “I'm <em>very</em> sorry +to have to answer you again but—”</p> + +<p>“Is the doctor there?” asked a sweet, new +voice. “Pardon me for interrupting you, but I'm +very anxious.”</p> + +<p>“He will be at the office in just a few minutes,” +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_99" title="99"> </a> +Mary answered, very gently indeed. She realized +now that one cannot “monkey” with the +telephone.</p> + +<p>“Will you please tell him to come at once?” +and she gave the street and number.</p> + +<p>“I shall send him at once.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, good-bye.”</p> + +<p>Before Mary could seat herself, the expected +ring came in earnest. She answered it meekly.</p> + +<p>“O, good gracious! hain't he got there yet—?”</p> + +<p>“Not yet,” said Mary, offering nothing further.</p> + +<p>“Well, I've jist <em>got</em> to have a doctor. I'll git +some one else.” The threat in the tone made +our listener smile.</p> + +<p>“I think it would be a good thing to do,” she +said.</p> + +<p>A pause. Then a voice with softening accents.</p> + +<p>“But I'd lots ruther have Dr. Blank.” No +reply.</p> + +<p>“Are ye there yit, Mrs. Blank?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. I am here.”</p> + +<p>“He'll surely be back in a little bit now, won't +he?”</p> + +<p>“I think so.”</p> + +<p>“Won't <em>you</em> tell 'im to come down to Sairey +Tucker's? I'm her sister and she's bad sick.”</p> + +<p>“If you will tell me where you live I will send +him.”</p> + +<p>“He knows—he's been here.”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” and she rang off.</p> + +<p>With three messages hanging over her head +and her conscience, she could not go upstairs to +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_100" title="100"> </a> +her work. She must dawdle about at this or that +'till the doctor returned. After awhile she went +to the 'phone and called the office. No reply. +How she longed to deliver those messages. She +dreaded any more calls from the waiting ones. +She waited a few minutes then rang again. +Thank fortune! Her husband's response is in +her ear, the messages are delivered and she goes +singing up the stairs.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>It was the telephone on the Doctor's office table +and a tall young fellow was ringing it. When he +got the number and asked, “Is this you, Fanny?” +his face took on an expression good to see. It +was Fanny, and he settled back on one elbow and +asked, “What you doing, Fanny?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing, just now. What <em>you</em> doing?”</p> + +<p>“Something a good deal better than that.”</p> + +<p>“What is it?”</p> + +<p>“It's talking to <em>you</em>.”</p> + +<p>“Oh!”</p> + +<p>“Is that all you have to say about it?” his voice +was growing tender.</p> + +<p>“Now, Tom, don't go to making love to me +over the 'phone.”</p> + +<p>“How can I help it, sweetheart?”</p> + +<p>“Where are you, anyway?”</p> + +<p>“I'm in Dr. Blank's office.”</p> + +<p>“Good gracious! is <em>he</em> there? I'll ring off—good-bye.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_101" title="101"> </a>“Wait! Fanny—Fanny!”</p> + +<p>Fanny was waiting, but how could a mere +man know that. He rang the number again +with <ins title="vehemence.”">vehemence.</ins></p> + +<p>“Now, Tom Laurence, I want you to quit going +into people's offices and talking to me this +way.”</p> + +<p>“Don't you think my way is nicer than yours—huh?”</p> + +<p>The circumflexes were <ins title="irresistible.”">irresistible.</ins></p> + +<p>“Well, tell me, Tom, is Dr. Blank there?”</p> + +<p>“No, honey. He's away in the back room busy +with another patient. He can't hear.”</p> + +<p>“<em>Another</em> patient? Why, Tom, you're not <em>sick</em>, +are you—huh?”</p> + +<p>Fanny's circumflexes were quite as circumflexible +as Tom's and a thrill went down the young +giant's spine.</p> + +<p>“No, but I wish I was!”</p> + +<p>At this juncture the man who could not hear +came in with a face as grave and non-committal +as the Sphinx, and the young man asked through +the 'phone in brisk, cheery tones, “How are you +this morning?” then added in a whisper, “He's +here now.”</p> + +<p>“Is he? Don't talk foolish then. Why, I'm +not very well.”</p> + +<p>“What's the matter?”</p> + +<p>“I burned my eye.”</p> + +<p>“Burned your eye! Confound it! How did +you <em>do</em> it?”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_102" title="102"> </a>“With a curling iron.”</p> + +<p>“Throw the darned thing away.” He turned +from the telephone and said, “Doctor, a young +lady has burned her eye. I want you to go out +there right away.”</p> + +<p>“Where shall I go?” asked the grave doctor.</p> + +<p>“I guess you know,” and he grinned.</p> + +<p>“All right. I'll go pretty soon.”</p> + +<p>“Don't be too long. Charge it to me.”</p> + +<p>“Fanny,” he said, turning back to the 'phone, +but Fanny had gone.</p> + +<p>And soon with a smile that had memories in +it the doctor took his case and left the office, the +young man at his side.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>Mary, from the living room, heard her husband's +voice:</p> + +<p>“What is it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“They won't? O, I suppose so if nobody else +will. I'll be up there in a little bit.” He muttered +something, took his hat and went.</p> + +<p>When he came back, he said, “This time I had +to help the dead.”</p> + +<p>“To help the dead!” exclaimed Mary.</p> + +<p>“Yes. To help a dead woman into her coffin. +Everybody was afraid to touch her.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“The report got out that she died of smallpox. +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_103" title="103"> </a> +I only saw her once and could not be sure, but +to be on the safe side I insisted that every precaution +be taken—hence the scare.”</p> + +<p>“But how could you lift the body without +help?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I managed it somehow. Just the same +I'd rather minister to the living,” said John, to +which Mary gave vigorous assent.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>“Old Mr. Vintner has just been 'phoning for +you in a most imperious way,” announced Mary +as the doctor came in at the door.</p> + +<p>“Yes, old skinflint! The maid at his house is +very sick and he's so afraid they'll have to take +care of her that he's determined to send her +home when she can't go. She has pneumonia. +She lives miles out in the country—”</p> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Now see here, Vintner. Listen to me.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I know. But a man's got to be <em>human</em>. +I tell you you can't send her out in this cold. +It's outrageous to—”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I know all that, too. But it won't be +long—the crisis will come in a day or two now +and—”</p> + +<p>“Damn it! Listen. Now stop that and listen. +Don't you attempt it! That girl will be to drag +off if you do, I tell you—”</p> + +<p>“All right then. That sounds more like it,” +and he hung up the receiver.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_104" title="104"> </a>Mary looked up. “You are not very elegant in +your discourse at times, John, but I'm glad you +beat,” she said.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>One evening the doctor came in and walked +hurriedly into the dining-room. As he was +passing the telephone it rang sharply in his ear.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” he asked, hastily putting up the +receiver.</p> + +<p>An agitated voice said, “Oh, Doctor, I've just +given my little girl a teaspoonful of carbolic acid! +Quick! What must I do!”</p> + +<p>“Give her some whiskey at once; then a teaspoonful +of mustard in hot water. I'll be right +down,” and turning he went swiftly out. When +he came back an hour or two later he said: +“The mother got the wrong bottle. A very few +minutes would have done the work. The telephone +saved the child's life. This is a glorious +age in which we are living, Mary.”</p> + +<p>“And to think that some little children playing +with tin cans with a string stretched between +them, gave to the world its first telephone +message.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I've heard that. It may or may not be +true. Now let's have supper.”</p> + +<p>“Supper awaits Mr. Non-Committal-Here-As-Ever,” +said Mary as she laid her arm in her +husband's and they went toward the dining-room +together.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_105" title="105"> </a>One evening the doctor and Mary sat chatting +with a neighbor who had dropped in.</p> + +<p>“I want to use your 'phone a minute, please,” +said a voice.</p> + +<p>“Very well,” said Mary, and Mrs. X. stepped +in, nodded to the trio, walked to the telephone +as one quite accustomed, and rang.</p> + +<p>“I want Dr. Brown's office,” she said. In a +minute came the hello.</p> + +<p>“Is this Dr. Brown? My little boy is sick. +I want you to come out to see him this evening. +This is Mrs. X. Will you be right <ins title="out?">out?”</ins></p> + +<p>“All right. Good-bye.” And she departed.</p> + +<p>The eyes of the visitor twinkled. “Our +neighbor hath need of two great blessings,” she +said, “a telephone and a sense of humor.” Mary +laughed merrily, “O, we're so used to it we paid +no attention,” she said, “but I suppose it did +strike you as rather funny.”</p> + +<p>“It's a heap better than it used to be when we +didn't have telephones,” said the doctor, with +the hearty laugh that had helped many a downcast +man and woman to look on the bright side.</p> + +<p>“When I <ins title="yas">was</ins> a young fellow and first hung +up my shingle it was a surprising thing—the +number of people who could get along without +me. I used to long for some poor fellow to put +his head in at the door and say he needed me. +At last one dark, rainy night came the quick, +importunate knock of someone after a doctor. +No mistaking that knock. I opened the door and +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_106" title="106"> </a> +an elderly woman who lived near me, asked +breathlessly, ‘Mr. Blank, will you do me a great +favor?’</p> + +<p><ins title="“Certainly,”">‘Certainly,’</ins> I answered promptly.</p> + +<p><ins title="“My">‘My</ins> husband is very sick and I came to see if +you would go down and ask Dr. Smithson to +come and see <ins title="him.”">him.’</ins> I swallowed my astonishment +and wrath, put on my rubber coat and +went for the doctor.”</p> + +<p>“But she had the grace to come in next day,” +said Mary, “and tell me in much confusion that +she was greatly embarrassed and ashamed. It +had not entered her head until that morning +that my husband was a physician.”</p> + +<p>“You see,” put in the doctor, “she had not +taken me seriously; in fact had not taken me at +all.”</p> + +<p>“Tell us about the old man who had you +come in to see if he needed a doctor,” said Mary. +The doctor smiled, “<em>That</em> was when I didn't +count, too,” he said.</p> + +<p>“This old fellow got sick one day and wanted +to send for old Dr. Brown, but being of a +thrifty turn of mind he didn't want to unless he +had to. He knew me pretty well so he sent for +me to come and see if he <em>needed</em> a doctor. If I +thought he did he'd send for Brown. I chatted +with him awhile and he felt better. Next day +he sent word to me again that he wished I'd stop +as I went by and I did. This kept up several +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_107" title="107"> </a> +days and he got better and better, and finally +got well <em>without</em> any doctor, as he said.”</p> + +<p>The visitor laughed, “You doctors could unfold +many a tale—”</p> + +<p>“If the telephone would permit,” said Mary, +as the doctor answered the old summons, took his +hat and left.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>“John,” said Mary one day, “I wish you would +disconnect the house from the office.”</p> + +<p>“No! You're a lot of help to me,” protested +the doctor.</p> + +<p>“Well, I heard someone wrangling with central +today because the house answered when it +was the office that was wanted.” She laughed. +“I know there are people who fancy the doctor's +wife enjoying to the utmost her ‘sweet privilege’ +of answering the 'phone in her husband's +absence. Poor, innocent souls! If they could +only know the deadly weariness of it all—but +they can't.”</p> + +<p>“Why, I didn't know you felt quite that way +about it, Mary. I suppose I can disconnect it +but—”</p> + +<p>“But you don't see how you can? Never mind, +then. We'll go on, and some sweet day you'll +retire from <ins title="practise">practice</ins>. Then hully-gee! won't I +be free! You didn't choose the right sort of +helpmeet, John. You surely could have selected +one who would enjoy thrusting herself into the +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_108" title="108"> </a> +reluctant confidences of people far more than this +one.”</p> + +<p>“I'm resigned to my lot,” laughed John, as he +kissed his wife and departed.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>“Is this you, Doctor?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“What am I ever to do with Jane?”</p> + +<p>“Keep her in bed! That's what to do with +her.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I've got a mighty hard job. She's feeling +so much better, she just <em>will</em> get up.”</p> + +<p>“Keep her down for awhile yet.”</p> + +<p>“Well, maybe I can today, but I won't answer +for tomorrow. She says she feels like she can +jump over the house.”</p> + +<p>“She can't, though.”</p> + +<p>Laughter. “I'll do the best I can, Doctor, but +that won't be much. Keeping her in bed is easier +said than done,” and the doctor grinned a very +ready assent as he hung up the receiver.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>The doctor's family was seated at dinner. +Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. John rose, napkin in hand, +and went while the clatter of knives and forks +instantly ceased.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Why didn't you do as I told you, yesterday?”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_109" title="109"> </a>“I <em>told</em> you what to do.”</p> + +<p>“Well, did you put them in hot water?”</p> + +<p>“Then do it. Do it right away. Have the +water <em>hot</em>, <ins title="now.">now.”</ins></p> + +<p>He came back and went on with his dinner. +Mary admitted to herself a little curiosity as to +what was to be put into hot water. In a few +minutes the dinner was finished and the doctor +was gone.</p> + +<p>“I bet I know what that was,” spoke up the +small boy.</p> + +<p>“What?” asked his sister.</p> + +<p>“Diphtheria clothes. There's a family in town +that's got the diphtheria.”</p> + +<p>Mary was relieved—not that there should be +diphtheria in town, but that the answer for +which her mind was vaguely groping had probably +been found.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. When the doctor had +answered the summons he told Mary he would +have to go down to a little house at the edge of +town about a mile away. When he came back +an hour later he sat down before the fire with +his wife. “I remember a night nineteen years +ago when I was called to that house—a little +boy was born. I used to see the little fellow occasionally +as he grew up and pity him because he +had no show at all. Tonight I saw him, a great +strapping fellow with a good position and no +bad habits. He'll make it all right now.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_110" title="110"> </a>The doctor paused for a moment, then went +on. “They didn't pay me then. I remember that. +I mentioned it tonight in the young fellow's +presence.”</p> + +<p>“John, you surely didn't!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I did. His mother said she guessed +Jake could pay the bill himself.”</p> + +<p>Mary looked at this husband of hers with a +quizzical smile.</p> + +<p>“Doesn't it strike you that you are going +pretty far back for your bill?”</p> + +<p>“There's no good reason why this boy should +not pay the bill if he wants to.”</p> + +<p>“No, I suppose not. But I don't believe he +was so keen to get into the world as all that.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it wouldn't surprise me much if that +young fellow should come into my office one of +these days and offer to settle that old score now +that he knows about it.”</p> + +<p>“Don't you take it if he does!” and Mary left +the room quite unconscious that her pronoun was +without an antecedent.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>“Is this you, Doctor?”</p> + +<p>“It is.”</p> + +<p>“I expect you will have to come out to our +house.”</p> + +<p>“Who is it?”</p> + +<p>“This is Mary Milton.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_111" title="111"> </a>“What's the matter out there, Mrs. Milton?”</p> + +<p>“Polly's gone and hurt her shoulder. I guess +she run it into the ground.”</p> + +<p>“Was she thrown from a horse or a vehicle?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“Then how could she run it into the ground?”</p> + +<p>“Polly Milton can run <em>everything</em> into the +ground!” and the tone was exasperation itself. +“I come purty near havin' to send for you yesterday, +but I managed to get 'er out.”</p> + +<p>“Out of <em>what</em>?”</p> + +<p>“The clothes-wringer. She caught her stomach +fast between the rollers and nearly took a +piece out of it. Nobody wanted her to turn it +but she would do it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, what has she done <em>today</em>?” asked the +doctor, getting impatient.</p> + +<p>“I'm plum ashamed to tell ye. She was a-playin' +leap-frog.”</p> + +<p>“Good! I'd like to play it myself once more.”</p> + +<p>“I thought you'd be scandalized. Some of the +girls come over to see 'er and the first thing I +knowed they was out in the yard playin' leap-frog +like a passel o' boys.”</p> + +<p>“That's good for 'em,” announced the doctor.</p> + +<p>“It wasn't very good for Polly.”</p> + +<p>“The shoulder is probably dislocated. I'll be +out in a little while and we'll soon fix it.”</p> + +<p>“But a great big girl nearly fourteen years old +oughtn't—”</p> + +<p>“She's all right. Don't you scold her too +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_112" title="112"> </a> +much.” He laughed as he hung up the receiver, +then ordered his horse brought round and in a +few minutes was on his way to the luckless +maiden.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling—three rings.</p> + +<p>“Is this Dr. Blank?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Can you come down to James Curtis's right +away?”</p> + +<p>“Yes—I guess so. What's the matter?”</p> + +<p>James Curtis stated the matter and the doctor +put up the receiver, went to the door and looked +out.</p> + +<p>“Gee-mi-nee! It's as dark as a stack of black +cats,” he said.</p> + +<p>In a little while he was off. He had to go +horseback and as the horse he usually rode was +lame he took Billy who was little more than a +colt. Before Mary retired she went to the door +and opened it. It was fearfully dark but John +had said it was only a few miles. His faithful +steed could find the way if he could not. John +always got through somehow. With this comforting +assurance she went to bed. By and by +the 'phone was ringing and she was springing +up and hastening to answer it. To the hurried +inquiry she replied, “He is in the country.”</p> + +<p>“How soon will he be back?”</p> + +<p>She looked at the clock. Nearly three hours +since he left home.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_113" title="113"> </a>“I expected him before this; he will surely +be here soon.”</p> + +<p>A message was left for him to come at once +to a certain street and number, and Mary went +back to bed. But she could not sleep. Soon +she was at the 'phone again, asking central to +give her the residence of James Curtis.</p> + +<p>“Hello.”</p> + +<p>“Is this Mr. Curtis?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, ma'am.”</p> + +<p>“Is Dr. Blank there?”</p> + +<p>“He was, but he started home about an hour +ago. He ought to be there by this time.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you,” said Mary, reassured. He +would be home in a little bit then and she went +back to her pillow.</p> + +<p>It was well she could not know that +her husband was lost in the woods. The +young horse, not well broken to the roads, +had strayed from the beaten path. The doctor +had first become aware of it when his hat was +brushed off by low branches. He dismounted, +and holding the bridle on one arm, got down on +hands and knees and began feeling about with +both hands in the blackness. It seemed a fruitless +search, but at last he found it and put it securely +on his head. He did not remount, but tried to +find his way back into the path.</p> + +<p>After awhile the colt stopped suddenly. +He urged it on. Snap! A big something +was hurled through the bushes and +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_114" title="114"> </a> +landed at the doctor's feet with a heavy +thud. The pommel of the saddle had +caught on a grape vine and the girths had +snapped with the strain. John made a few remarks +while he was picking it up and a few +more while he was getting it on the back of the +shying colt. But he finally landed it and managed +to get it half-fastened. He stood still, not +knowing which way to turn. A dog was barking +somewhere—he would go in that direction. +Still keeping the bridle over his arm he spread +his hands before him and slowly moved on.</p> + +<p>At last he stopped. He seemed to be getting +no nearer to the dog. All at once, and not a +great way off, he saw a fine sight. It was a +lighted doorway with the figure of a man in it. +He shouted lustily,</p> + +<p>“Bring a lantern out here, my friend, if you +please. I guess I'm lost.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” the man shouted back and in a +few minutes the lantern was bobbing along +among the trees. “Why, Doctor!” exclaimed +James Curtis, “have you been floundering around +all this time in these woods so close to the house? +Why didn't you holler before?”</p> + +<p>“There didn't seem to be anything to ‘holler’ +at. Until that door opened I thought I was in +the middle of these woods.”</p> + +<p>“Your wife just telephoned to know if you +were at our house and I told her you started +home an hour ago.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_115" title="115"> </a>“She'll be uneasy. Put me into the main road, +will you, and we'll make tracks for home.”</p> + +<p>When he got there and had told Mary about +it, she vowed she would not let him go to the +country again when the night was so pitch dark, +realizing as she made it, the futility of her vow. +Then she told him of the message that had +come in his absence and straightway sent him +out again into the darkness.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>It was midnight. The doctor was snoring so +loudly that he had awakened Mary. Just in +time. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling-ling. By hard work +she got him awake. He floundered out and along +toward the little tyrant. He reached it.</p> + +<p>“Hello. What is it?”</p> + +<p>“O! I got the wrong number.”</p> + +<p>“Damnation!”</p> + +<p>Slumber again. After some time Mary was +awakened by her husband's voice asking, “What +is it?”</p> + +<p>“It's time for George to take his medicine. +We've been having a dispute about it. I said it +was the powder he was to take at two o'clock +and he said it was the medicine in the bottle. +Now he's mad and won't take either.”</p> + +<p>“It was the powder. Tell him I say for him +to take it now.”</p> + +<p>The answering voice sank to a whisper, but +the words came very distinctly, “I'm afraid he +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_116" title="116"> </a> +won't do it—he's so stubborn. I wish it was +the bottle medicine because I believe he would +take that.”</p> + +<p>The doctor chuckled. “Give him that,” he +said. “It won't make a great deal of difference +in this case, and thinking he was in the right will +do him more good than the powder. Good night +and report in the morning.”</p> + +<p>The report in the morning was that George +was better!</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>It was a lovely Sabbath in May. The doctor's +wife had been out on the veranda, looking about +her. Everywhere was bloom and beauty, fragrance +and song. Long she sat in silent contemplation +of the scene. At last a drowsiness +stole over her and she went in and settled herself +for a doze in the big easy chair.</p> + +<p>Soon a tinkling fell upon her drowsy ear.</p> + +<p>“Oh! that must have been the telephone. I +wonder if it was two rings or three—I'd better +listen,” she said with a sigh as she pulled herself +up.</p> + +<p>“Is this Dr. Blank?” The voice was faint and +indistinct.</p> + +<p>“Hello?” said Mary's husband's voice, with +the rising inflection.</p> + +<p>“Hello?” A more pronounced rise. No answer.</p> + +<p>“Hello!” falling inflection. Here Mary interposed.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_117" title="117"> </a>“It's some lady, Doctor, I heard her.”</p> + +<p>“Hello!” with a fiercely falling inflection.</p> + +<p>“Dr. Blank,” said the faint voice, “I forgot +how you said to take those red tablets.” Mary +caught all the sentence though only the last three +words came distinctly.</p> + +<p>“Yes?” Her husband's ‘yes’ was plainly an +interrogation waiting for what was to follow. +She understood. He had heard only the words +“those red tablets.” Again she must interpose.</p> + +<p>“Doctor, she says she forgot how you told +her to take those red tablets.”</p> + +<p>“O! Why, take one every—”</p> + +<p>Mary hung up the receiver and went back to +resume her interrupted nap. She settled back +on the cushions and by and by became oblivious +to all about her. Sweetly she slept for awhile +then started up rubbing her eyes. She went hurriedly +to the 'phone and put the receiver to her +ear. Silence.</p> + +<p>“Hello?” she said. No answer. Smiling a +little foolishly she went back to her chair. “It +isn't surprising that I dreamed it.” For a few +minutes she lay looking out into the snow flakes +of the cherry blooms. Then came the bell—three +rings.</p> + +<p>“I hope it's John asking me to drive to the +country,” she thought as she hurried to the +'phone. It was not. It was a woman's voice +asking,</p> + +<p>“How much of that gargle must I use at a +time?”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_118" title="118"> </a>“Oh dear,” thought Mary, “what questions +people do ask! When a gargler is a-gargling, +I should think she could <em>tell</em> how much to use.”</p> + +<p>The doctor evidently thought so too for he +answered with quick impatience, “Aw-enough +to <em>gargle</em> with.” Then he added, “If it's too +strong weaken it a little.”</p> + +<p>“How much water must I put in it?” Mary +sighed hopelessly and stayed to hear no more. +Again she sank back in her chair hoping fervently +that no more foolish questions were to +rouse her from it.</p> + +<p>When she was dozing off the bell rang so +sharply she was on her feet and at the 'phone almost +before she knew it.</p> + +<p>“Doctor, the whole outfit's drunk again down +here.”</p> + +<p>A woman's voice was making the announcement.</p> + +<p>“Is that so?” The doctor's voice was calm +and undisturbed.</p> + +<p>“Yes. The woman's out here in the street just +jumpin' up and down. I think <em>she's</em> about +crazy.”</p> + +<p>“She hasn't far to go.”</p> + +<p>“Her father's drunk too and so's her husband. +Will you come down?”</p> + +<p>“No, I don't think I'll come down this time.”</p> + +<p>“Well, then will you send an officer?”</p> + +<p>“No-o—I don't—”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_119" title="119"> </a>“I wish you <em>would</em>.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I'll try to send someone.”</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Mary was at last too wide awake to think of +dozing. This blot on the sweet May Sabbath +drove away all thought of day dreams. Poor, +miserable human creatures! Poor, long-suffering +neighbors, and poor John!</p> + +<p>“All sorts of people appeal to him in all sorts +of cases, and often in cases which do not come +within a doctor's province at all—he is guide, +counsellor and friend,” she thought as she put on +her hat and went out for a walk.</p> + +<h2><a class="pagenum" name="Page_120" title="120"> </a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<p>One Sunday morning at the beginning of August, +Mary stood in the church—as it chanced, +in the back row—and sang with her next neighbor +from the same hymn book, John Newton's +good old hymn,</p> + +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound<br/></div> +<div class="line indent1">That saved a wretch like me!”<br/></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>It was the opening hymn and they were in +the midst of the third verse.</p> + +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">“Thro' many dangers, toils and snares,<br/></div> +<div class="line indent1">I have already come”;<br/></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="no-indent">sang Mary.</p> + +<p>She did not dream that another danger, toil +and snare was approaching her at that instant +from the rear and so her clear soprano rang out +unfaltering on the next line—</p> + +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">“'Tis grace that brought me safe thus far—”<br/></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Then a hand was laid upon her shoulder. She +turned and started as she saw her husband's face +bending to her. What had happened at home?</p> + +<p>“Wouldn't you like to go to the country?” +whispered the doctor.</p> + +<p>“Why—I don't like to leave church to go,” +Mary whispered back.</p> + +<p>“The carriage is right here at the door.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_121" title="121"> </a>The next instant she had taken her parasol +from behind the hymn-books in front of her, +where she had propped it a few minutes before, +with some misgiving lest it fall to the floor during +prayer, and just as the congregation sang +the last line,</p> + +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">“And grace will lead me home,”<br/></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="no-indent">she glided from the church by the side of the +doctor, thankful that in the bustle of sitting down +the congregation would not notice her departure. +They descended the steps, entered the waiting +carriage and off they sped.</p> + +<p>“I feel guilty,” said Mary, a little dazed over +the swift transfer. The doctor did not reply. +In another minute she turned to him with energy.</p> + +<p>“John, what possessed you to come to <em>the +church</em>?”</p> + +<p>“Why, I couldn't get you at home. I drove +around there and Mollie said you had gone to +church so I just drove there.”</p> + +<p>“You ought to have gone without me.”</p> + +<p>The doctor smiled. “You didn't <em>have</em> to go. +But you are better off out here than sitting in the +church.” The horse switched his tail over the +reins and the doctor, failing in his effort to release +them, gave vent to a vigorous expletive.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I certainly do hear some things out here +that I wouldn't be apt to hear in there,” she said. +Then the reins being released and serenity restored, +they went on.</p> + +<p>“Isn't that a pretty sight?” The doctor nodded +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_122" title="122"> </a> +his head toward two little girls in fresh white +dresses who stood on the side-walk anxiously +watching his approach. There was earnest interest +in the blue eyes and the black. Near the +little girls stood a white-headed toddler of about +two years and by his side a boy seven or eight +years old.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Blank,” called the blue-eyed little girl—all +men with or without titles are <em>Mr.</em> to little +folks;—the doctor stopped his horse.</p> + +<p>“Well, what is it, Mamie?”</p> + +<p>“I want you to bring my mamma a baby.”</p> + +<p>“You do!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, a boy baby. Mamie and me wants +a little brother,” chimed in the little black-eyed +girl.</p> + +<p>The boy looked down at the toddler beside him +and then at the two little girls with weary contempt. +“You don't know what you're a-gittin' +into,” he said. “If this one hadn't never learned +to walk it wouldn't be so bad, but he jist learns +<em>everything</em> and he jist bothers me <em>all the time</em>.”</p> + +<p>The doctor and Mary laughed with great enjoyment. +“Now! what'd I tell you!” said the +boy, as he ran to pick up the toddler who at +that instant fell off the sidewalk. He gave him a +vigorous shake as he set him on his feet and a +roar went up. “Don't you <em>git</em> any baby at your +house,” he said, warningly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, bring us one, Mr. Blank, please do, a +little <em>bit</em> of a one,” said Mamie, and the black +eyes pleaded too.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_123" title="123"> </a>“Well, I'll tell you. If you'll be good and do +whatever your mamma tells you, maybe I <em>will</em> +find a baby one of these days and if I do I'll +bring it to your house.” He drove on.</p> + +<p><ins title="If">“If</ins> they knew what I know their little hearts +would almost burst for joy. Their father is just +as anxious for a boy as they are, too,” he added.</p> + +<p>They were soon out in the open country. It +was one of those lovely days which sometimes +come at this season of the year which seem to +belong to early autumn; neither too warm nor +too cool for comfort. A soft haze lay upon +the landscape and over all the Sunday calm. +They turned into a broad, dusty road. Mary's +eyes wandered across the meadow on the right +with its background of woods in the distance. +A solitary cow stood contentedly in the shade of +a solitary tree, while far above a vulture sailed +on slumbrous wings.</p> + +<p>The old rail fence and the blackberry +briars hugging it here and there in clumps; +small clusters of the golden-rod, even now +a pale yellow, which by and by would +glorify all the country lanes; the hazel bushes +laden with their delightful promise for the autumn—Mary +noted them all. They passed unchallenged +those wayside sentinels, the tall mullein-stalks. +The Venus Looking-Glass nodded its +blue head ever so gently as the brown eyes fell +upon it and then they went a little way ahead +to where the blossoms of the elderberry were +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_124" title="124"> </a> +turning into tiny globules of green. Mary asked +the doctor if he thought the corn in the field +would ever straighten up again. A wind storm +had passed over it and many of the large stalks +were almost flat upon the earth. The doctor answered +cheerfully that the sun would pull it up +again if Aesop wasn't a fraud.</p> + +<p>After a while they stopped at a big gate opening +into a field.</p> + +<p>“Hold the reins, please, till I see if I can get +the combination of that gate,” and the doctor +got out. Mary took a rein in each hand as he +opened the gate. She clucked to the horse and +he started.</p> + +<p>“Whoa! John, come and get my mite. It's +about to slip out of my glove.” The doctor +glanced at the coin Mary deposited in his palm.</p> + +<p>“They didn't lose much.”</p> + +<p>“The universal collection coin, my dear. Now +open the gate wider and I'll drive through.”</p> + +<p>“Don't hit the gate post!” She looked at +him with disdain. “I never drove through a +gate in my life that somebody didn't yell, ‘Don't +hit the gate post’ and yet I never <em>have</em> hit a gate +post.”</p> + +<p>At this retort the doctor had much ado to get +the gate fastened and pull himself into the buggy, +and his laughter had hardly subsided before they +drew up to the large farm house in the field. +Mary did not go in. In about twenty minutes +the doctor came out. The door-step turned, almost +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_125" title="125"> </a> +causing him to fall. “Here's a fine chance +for a broken bone and some of you will get it if +you don't fix this step,” he growled.</p> + +<p>“I'll fix that tomorrow,” said the farmer, “but +I should think you'd be the last one to complain +about it, Doctor.”</p> + +<p>“Some people seem to think that doctors and +their wives are filled with mercenary malice,” +said Mary laughing. “Yesterday I was walking +along with a lady when I stopped to remove a +banana skin from the sidewalk. She said she +would think a doctor's wife wouldn't take the +trouble to remove banana skins from the walk.”</p> + +<p>“I believe in preventive medicine,” said the +doctor, “and mending broken steps and removing +banana peeling belong to it.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think it will ever be an established +fact?” asked Mary as they drove away.</p> + +<p>“I do indeed. It will be the medicine of the +future.”</p> + +<p>“I'm glad I'm not a woman of the future, then, +for I really don't want to starve to death.”</p> + +<p>“I have to visit a patient a few miles +farther on,” said the doctor when they +came out on the highway. Soon they were +driving across a knoll and fields of tasseled +corn lay before them. A little farther +and they entered the woods. “Ah, Mary, +I would not worry about leaving church. The +groves were God's first temples.” After a little +he said, “I was trying to think what Beecher said +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_126" title="126"> </a> +about trees—it was something like this: ‘Without +doubt better trees there might be than even +the most noble and beautiful now. Perhaps God +has in his thoughts much better ones than he has +ever planted on this globe. They are reserved +for the glorious land.’”</p> + +<p>“See this, John!” and Mary pointed to a group +of trees they were passing, “a ring cut around +every one of them!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, the fool's idea of things is to go out +and kill a tree by the roadside—often standing +where it can't possibly do any harm. How often +in my drives I have seen this and it always makes +me mad.”</p> + +<p>They drove for a while in silence, then Mary +said, “Nature seems partial to gold.” She had +been noting the Spanish needles and Black-eyed +Susans which starred the dusty roadside and +filled the field on the left with purest yellow, +while golden-rod and wild sunflowers bloomed +profusely on all sides.</p> + +<p>“Yes, that seems to be the prevailing color in +the wild-flowers of this region.”</p> + +<p>“That reminds me of something. A few months +ago a little girl said to me, ‘Mrs. Blank, don't +you think red is God's favorite color?’ ‘Why, +dear, I don't think I ever thought about it,’ I +answered, quite surprised. ‘Well, I think he +likes <em>red</em> better than any color.’ ‘Why I don't +know, but when we look around and see the grass +and the trees and the vines growing everywhere, +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_127" title="127"> </a> +it seems to me that <em>green</em> might be his favorite +color. But what makes you think it is red?’ +‘Because he put <em>blood</em> into everybody in the +world.’ Quite staggered by this reasoning and +making an effort to keep from smiling, I said, +‘But we can't see that. If red is his favorite +color why should he put it where it can't be +seen?’ The child looked at me in amazement. +‘<em>God</em> can see it. He can see clear <em>through</em> anybody.’ +The little reasoner had vanquished me +and I fled the field.”</p> + +<p>A little way ahead lay a large snake stretched +out across the road.</p> + +<p>“The boy that put it there couldn't help it,” +said the doctor, “it's born in him. When I was +a lad every snake I killed was promptly brought +to the road and stretched across it to scare the +passers-by.”</p> + +<p>“And yet I don't suppose it ever did scare +anyone.”</p> + +<p>“Occasionally a girl or woman uttered a +shriek and I felt repaid. I remember one big +girl walking along barefooted; before she knew +it she had set her foot on the cold, slimy thing. +The way she yelled and made the dust fly filled +my soul with a frenzy of delight. I rolled over +and over in the weeds by the roadside and yelled +too.”</p> + +<p>A sudden turn in the road brought the doctor +and his wife face to face with a young man and +his sweetheart. Mary knew at a glance they +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_128" title="128"> </a> +were sweethearts. They were emerging into the +highway from a grassy woods-road which led +down to a little church. The young man was +leading two saddled horses.</p> + +<p>“Why do you suppose they walk instead of +riding?” asked the doctor.</p> + +<p>“Hush! they'll hear you. Isn't she pretty?”</p> + +<p>The young man assisted his companion to her +seat in the saddle. She started off in one direction, +while he sprang on his horse and galloped +away in the other. “Here! you rascal,” the doctor +called, as he passed, “why didn't you go all +the way with her?”</p> + +<p>“I'll go back tonight,” the young fellow called +back, dashing on at so mad a pace that the broad +rim of his hat stood straight up.</p> + +<p>“Do you know him?”</p> + +<p>“I know them both.”</p> + +<p>After another mile our travelers went down +one long hill and up another and stopped at a +house on the hilltop where lived the patient. +Here, too, Mary chose to remain in the buggy. +A wagon had stopped before a big gate opening +into the barnyard and an old man in it was evidently +waiting for someone. He looked at Mary +and she looked at him; but he did not speak and +just as she was about to say good morning, he +turned and looked in another direction. When +he finally looked around it seemed to Mary it +would be a little awkward to bid him good morning +now, so she tried to think what to say instead, +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_129" title="129"> </a> +by way of friendly greeting; it would be +a little embarrassing to sit facing a human being +for some time with not a word to break the constraint. +But the more she cudgeled her brain +the farther away flew every idea. She might ask +him if he thought we were going to have a good +corn crop, but it was so evident that we were, +since the crop was already made that that remark +seemed inane. The silence was beginning to be +oppressive. Her eye wandered over the yard +and she noticed some peach trees near the house +with some of the delicious fruit hanging from +the boughs. She remarked pleasantly, “I see +they have some peaches here.” Her companion +looked at her and said, “Hey?”</p> + +<p>“I said, ‘I see they have some peaches here,’” +she rejoined, raising her voice. He curved one +hand around his ear and said again, “Hey?”</p> + +<p>“O, good gracious,” thought Mary, “I wish I +had let him alone.”</p> + +<p>She shrieked this time, “I only said, ‘<em>I see they +have some peaches here.</em>’”</p> + +<p>When the old man said, “I didn't hear ye yet, +mum,” she leaned back in the carriage, fanning +herself vigorously, and gave it up. She had +screamed as loud as she intended to scream over +so trivial a matter. Looking toward the house +she saw a tall young girl coming down the walk +with something in her hand. She came timidly +through the little gate and handed a plate of +peaches up to the lady in the carriage, looking +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_130" title="130"> </a> +somewhat frightened as she did so. “I didn't +hear ye,” she explained, “but Jim came in and +said you was a-wantin' some peaches.”</p> + +<p>Mary's face was a study. Jim and his sister +had not seen the deaf old man in the wagon, as +a low-branched pine stood between the wagon +and the house. And this was the way her politeness +was interpreted!</p> + +<p>The comicality of the situation was too much. +She laughed merrily and explained things to the +tall girl who seemed much relieved.</p> + +<p>“I ought to 'a' brought a knife, but I was in +such a hurry I forgot it.” Eating peaches with +the fuzz on was quite too much for Mary so she +said, “Thank you, but we'll be starting home in +a moment, I'll not have time to eat them. But +I am very thirsty, might I have a glass of +water?” The girl went up the walk and disappeared +into the house. Mary did so want her +to come out and draw the water, dripping and +cool, from the old well yonder. She came out, +went to the well, stooped and filled the glass from +the bucket sitting inside the curb. Mary sighed. +The tall girl took a step. Then, to the watcher's +delight, she threw the water out, pulled the bucket +up and emptied it into the trough, and one end +of the creaking well-sweep started downward +while the other started upward. The bucket was +on its way to the cool depths and Mary grew +thirstier every second.</p> + +<p>The doctor appeared at the door and looked +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_131" title="131"> </a> +out. Then he came, case in hand, with swift +strides down the walk. The gate banged behind +him and he untied the horse in hot haste, looking +savagely at his wife as he did so.</p> + +<p>“I suppose you've asked that girl to bring you +a drink.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I did. I'm very thirsty.”</p> + +<p>“You ought to have more sense than to want +to drink where people have typhoid fever.”</p> + +<p>The girl started down the walk with the brimming +glass. The doctor climbed into the buggy +and turned around.</p> + +<p>“For pity's sake! what will she think?”</p> + +<p>A vigorous cut from the whip and the horse +dashed off down the road. Mary cast a longing, +lingering look behind. The girl stood looking +after them with open mouth.</p> + +<p>“That girl has had enough today to astonish +her out of a year's growth,” thought Mary as +the buggy bumped against a projecting plank and +tore over the bridge at the foot of the hill.</p> + +<p>“John, one of the rules of good driving is +never to drive fast down hill.” Her spouse answered +never a word.</p> + +<p>After a little he said, “I didn't mean to be +cross, Mary, but I didn't want you to drink +there.”</p> + +<p>“You should have warned me beforehand, +then,” she said chillingly.</p> + +<p>“I couldn't sit in the buggy and <em>divine</em> there +was typhoid fever there,” she continued. <ins title="“A">“‘A</ins> woman's +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_132" title="132"> </a> +intuitions are safe guides’ but she has to +have <em>something</em> to go on before she can <em>have</em> intuitions.”</p> + +<p>“Hadn't you better put your ulster on, dear?” +inquired the doctor in such meaning tones, that +Mary turned quickly and looked off across the +fields. A Black-eyed Susan by the roadside +caught the smile in her eyes and nodded its yellow +head and smiled mischievously back at her. +It was a feminine flower and they understood +each other.</p> + +<p>When they had driven three or four miles +Mary asked the doctor if there was any typhoid +fever in the house they were approaching.</p> + +<p>“How do I know?”</p> + +<p>“I thought you might be able to divine whether +there is or not.”</p> + +<p>“We'll suppose there isn't. We'll stop and get +a drink,” he answered indulgently. They stopped, +Mary took the reins and the doctor went to reconnoiter.</p> + +<p>“Nobody at home and not a vessel of any +kind in sight,” he announced coming back. Of +course her thirst was now raging.</p> + +<p>“Maybe there's a gourd hanging inside the +curb. If there is do break it loose and bring it +to me heaping full.”</p> + +<p>“I looked inside the curb—nothing there.”</p> + +<p>Here Mary's anxious eyes saw a glass fruit +jar turned upside down on a fence paling. Blessings +on the woman who put it there! The doctor +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_133" title="133"> </a> +filled and brought it to her. After a long +draught she uttered a sigh of rich content.</p> + +<p>“Now,” she said, “I'm ready to go home.”</p> + +<h2><a class="pagenum" name="Page_134" title="134"> </a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>“Hello.”</p> + +<p>“Is this the doctor?”</p> + +<p>“It's one of 'em,” said John, recognizing the +voice of a patient.</p> + +<p>“Well, doctor, the <em>other</em> side of my throat is +sore <em>now</em>!”</p> + +<p>“Is it? Well, I told your husband it might be.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“Why? Well, because I'm running short of +coffee and a few things like that.”</p> + +<p>A little laugh. “<em>I</em> don't want to keep you in +coffee and things like that.”</p> + +<p>“Nobody does. But the poor doctors have to +live and you must contribute your share.” +Laughter.</p> + +<p>“All right, Doctor, but I don't want to have to +contribute too much.”</p> + +<p>“Don't be alarmed about your throat, Mrs. +Channing. When I looked at it yesterday, I +saw indications that the other side might be affected, +but it will soon be well.”</p> + +<p>“That sounds better. Thank you, good-bye.” +When he came back to the table his <ins title="wife,">wife</ins> said, +“John, I shouldn't think you'd say things like +that to people.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_135" title="135"> </a>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“Well, they might believe 'em.” The doctor +laughed, swallowed his cup of tea and departed.</p> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Three times.</p> + +<p>“Hello.”</p> + +<p>“Is Dr. Blank at home?”</p> + +<p>“He has just this minute left for the office. +'Phone him there in two minutes and you will +get him.”</p> + +<p>Mary went back, took two bites and when +the third was suspended on her fork the 'phone +rang.</p> + +<p>“Somebody else,” she thought, laying the fork +down and rising.</p> + +<p>“Oh! I've got you again, Mrs. Blank. You +said to ring in two minutes and I'd get the +doctor.”</p> + +<p>“But you didn't wait <em>one</em> minute.”</p> + +<p>“It seemed lots longer. All right, I'll wait.”</p> + +<p>“People expect a doctor to get there in less +than no time,” thought Mary. “John walks so +fast I felt safe in telling her to 'phone him in +two minutes.”</p> + +<p><em>Buzz-z-z-z-z</em>, as if all the machinery of the universe +were let loose in her ear. She had held +the receiver till her husband could reach the office +so she might feel assured the anxious one +had found him. Yes, that was his voice.</p> + +<p>“Dr. Blank, you're president of the board of +health, ain't ye?”</p> + +<p>“Yes—guess so.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_136" title="136"> </a>“This is Jack Johnson's. There's a dead horse +down here by our house an' I want you to come +down here an' bury it.” Our listener heard the +woman's teeth snap together.</p> + +<p>“All right. I'll get a spade and come right +along.”</p> + +<p>“What do they take my husband for,” thought +Mary.</p> + +<p>Buzz-z-z-z at her ear again. Now it was her +husband's voice saying,</p> + +<p>“Give me number forty-five.”</p> + +<p>In a minute a gentlemanly voice said, “Hello.”</p> + +<p>“Is this you, Warner?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“There's a dead horse down by Jack Johnson's. +Go down there and bury it.”</p> + +<p>“All right, Doc. I'll be right along.”</p> + +<p>A burst of laughter from the doctor was +echoed by Warner. Mary knew that Warner +was the newly elected alderman and she smiled +as she pictured the new officer leaving his elegant +home and going down to perform the obsequies. +Nevertheless her heart leaned toward +Jack Johnson's wife, for it was plain to be seen +that neither the new president of the board of +health nor the new alderman had a realizing +sense of his duties.</p> + +<p>Half an hour later three rings sounded.</p> + +<p>“Is this Dr. Blank's office?”</p> + +<p>“No, his residence.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I see by the paper he's on the board of +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_137" title="137"> </a> +health and we want this manure-pile taken away +from here.”</p> + +<p>“Please 'phone your complaints to the doctor,” +said Mary, calmly replacing the receiver and +shutting off the flood.</p> + +<p>“John's existence will be made miserable by +this new honor thrust upon him,” she thought.</p> + +<p>When he came home that evening she asked +if the second complainant had found him.</p> + +<p>“Yes, she found me all right.”</p> + +<p>“They're going to make day hideous and night +lamented, aren't they?”</p> + +<p>“O, no. I'll just have a little fun and then +send someone to look after their complaints.”</p> + +<p>Just before bed-time the doctor was called to +the 'phone.</p> + +<p>“Doctor, this is the nurse at the hotel. What +had I better do with this Polish girl's hand?”</p> + +<p>“Doesn't it look all right?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it's doing fine.”</p> + +<p>“Just let it alone, then.”</p> + +<p>“She won't be satisfied. She thinks we ought +to be doing something to it. And I've got to +do something or she'll go off upstairs and wash +it in dirty water.”</p> + +<p>“Tell her not to do anything of the kind.”</p> + +<p>“She can't understand a word I say and I +don't know what to do with her. She's had the +bandage off once already.”</p> + +<p>“The devil she has! Well, then you'll have to +unwrap it, I guess, and pretend to do something. +But it would be better to let it alone.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_138" title="138"> </a>“I know that.”</p> + +<p>“How is the other patient tonight?”</p> + +<p>“Doing fine, Doctor.”</p> + +<p>“Good! Good-bye.”</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>There was a spacious, airy, upper chamber +opening out on a balcony at the doctor's house +which the doctor and Mary claimed for theirs. +Not now; O no! But in the beautiful golden +sometime when the telephone ceased from troubling +and the weary ones might rest. This meant +when the doctor should retire from night practice. +Until that happy time they occupied a +smaller room on the first floor as it was near the +telephone. Mary had steadfastly refused to have +the privacy of her upper rooms invaded by the +tyrant.</p> + +<p>One warm summer night when bed-time came +she made the announcement that she was going +upstairs to sleep in the big room.</p> + +<p>“But what if I should be called out in the +night?” asked her husband, with protest in his +voice.</p> + +<p>“Then I'd be safer up there than down here,” +said Mary, calmly.</p> + +<p>“But I mean you couldn't hear the 'phone.”</p> + +<p>“That is a consummation devoutly to be +wished.”</p> + +<p>“Now don't go off up there,” expostulated +John. “You always hear it and I sort of depend +on you to get me awake.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_139" title="139"> </a>“Exactly. But it's a good thing for a man to +depend on himself once in awhile. I was awake +so often last night that I'm too tired and sleepy +to argue. But I'm going. Good night.”</p> + +<p>“Thunder!”</p> + +<p>“It doesn't ring <em>every</em> night,” said Mary, comfortingly +from the landing. “Let us retire in the +fond belief that curfew will not ring tonight.”</p> + +<p>When she retired she fell at once into deep +sleep. For two hours she slept sweetly on. +Then she was instantly aroused. The figure of +a man stood by her side. In the moonlight she +saw him plainly, clad in black. Her heart was +coming up into her throat when a voice said,</p> + +<p>“Mary, I have to go two miles into the country.”</p> + +<p>“Why didn't you call me, John, instead of +standing there and scaring me to death?”</p> + +<p>“I did call you but I couldn't get you awake.”</p> + +<p>“Then you ought to have let me be. If a woman +hasn't a right to a night's sleep once in +awhile what <em>is</em> she entitled to?”</p> + +<p>This petulance was unusual with his wife. +“Well, come on down now, Mary,” he said, +kindly.</p> + +<p>“I'm not going down there this night.”</p> + +<p>“But you can't hear the 'phone up here and +I'm expecting a message any minute that must +be answered.”</p> + +<p>“I'll—hear—that—'phone,” said Mary. +“I'll sleep with one ear and one eye open.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_140" title="140"> </a>“Have it your own way,” said the doctor as +he started down the stairs.</p> + +<p>“I intend to. But when I tell you I'll watch +the 'phone, John, you know I'll do it.”</p> + +<p>He was gone and she lay wide awake. It +seemed very hard to be ruthlessly pulled from +a sleep so deep and delicious and so much +needed.</p> + +<p>By and by her eye-lids began to feel heavy and +her thoughts went wandering into queer places. +“This won't do,” she said aloud, sitting up in +bed. Then she rose and went out on to the balcony. +Seating herself in an arm chair, she +looked about her on the silvery loveliness. The +cricket's chirr and the occasional affirmations of +the katy-did were the only sounds she heard. “I +didn't say you didn't. Don't be so spiteful +about it.”</p> + +<p>The moon, shining through the branches of +the big oak tree made faintly-flickering shadows +at her feet. The white hammock, stirring +occasionally as a breeze touched it, invited her. +She went over to it and lay for many minutes +looking up, noting how fast the moon glided +from one branch of the tree to another. Now +it neared the trunk. Now a slice was cut off its +western rim. Now it was only a half moon—“a +bweak-moon on the sky,” as her little boy had +called it. Now there was a total eclipse. When +it began peeping out on the other side of the +trunk our watcher's dreamful eyes took no note +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_141" title="141"> </a> +of it. A dog barked. She sprang up and seated +herself in the chair again. She dare not trust +herself to the hammock. It was too seductive +and too delightful. So she sat erect and waited +for the ring which might not come but which +must be watched for just the same. Her promise +had gone forth. Far up the street she heard +horses' hoofs—it must be John returning. The +buggy-top shining in the moonlight came into +view. No, it was a white horse. Her vigil was +not yet ended. A quarter of an hour later she +discerned a figure far down the walk. She followed +it with her eyes. It moved swiftly on. +Would it turn at the corner and come up toward +their house? Yes, it was turning. Then it +turned into the yard. It was John. She went +forward and leaning over the railing called down +to him, “A good chance to play Romeo now, +John.” John only grunted—after the manner +of husbands.</p> + +<p>“Nobody rang. I'm going to bed again. +Good night—I mean good morning.”</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>The next night was hotter than ever and Mary +made up her mind she would sleep up in the hammock. +She had had a delicious taste of it which +made her wish for more. To avoid useless discussion +she would wait till John retired and was +asleep, then she would quietly steal away. But +when this was accomplished and she had settled +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_142" title="142"> </a> +herself comfortably to sleep she found herself +wide awake. She closed her eyes and gently +wooed slumber, but it came not. Ah, now she +knew! The night before she had shaken off all +responsibility for the 'phone. Therefore she +could sleep. Tonight her husband lay unconscious +of her absence and the burden of it was +upon her shoulders again. Well, she must try to +sleep anyway, this was too good a chance to lose. +She fell asleep. After awhile dinner was ready. +Mollie had rung the little bell for the boys. Now +she was ringing it again. Where can the boys +have got to? Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. +Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Mary sat up in +the hammock and rubbed her eyes.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” she sprang out and rushed to the stairs. +“Doctor!”</p> + +<p>“John!” The snores continued. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling-ling-ling!</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear!” gasped Mary, hurrying down as +fast as her feet could take her. Straight to the +'phone she went. It must be appeased first.</p> + +<p>“Hello?”</p> + +<p>“Hell-<em>o</em><ins title="!”">!</ins> Where's the doctor?”</p> + +<p>“He is very fast asleep.”</p> + +<p>“I've found that out. Can you get him +awake?” Sharp impatience was in the man's +voice.</p> + +<p>“Hold the 'phone a minute, please, and I'll +rouse him.”</p> + +<p>She went into the bedroom and calling, “John! +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_143" title="143"> </a> +John!” shook him soundly by the shoulders. He +sat up in bed with a wild look.</p> + +<p>“Go to the 'phone, quick!” commanded Mary.</p> + +<p>“Eh?”</p> + +<p>“Go to the <em>'phone</em>. It's been ringing like fury. +Hurry.”</p> + +<p>At last he was there and his wife knew by his +questions and answers that he would be out for +the rest of the night. She crept into bed. After +he was gone she would go upstairs. When he +was dressed he came to the door and peered in.</p> + +<p>“That's right, Mary,” he said, with such hearty +satisfaction in his tones that she answered cheerfully, +“All right—I'll stay this time.”</p> + +<p>And when he was gone she turned her face +from the moonlit window and slept till morning, +oblivious to the thieves and murderers that did +not come.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>“Is the doctor there?”</p> + +<p>“He was called out awhile ago; will be back in +perhaps twenty minutes.”</p> + +<p>“This is Mr. Cowan. I only wanted to ask if +my wife could have some lemonade this morning. +She is very thirsty and craves it—but I can +call again after awhile.”</p> + +<p>How discouraging to the feverish, thirsty wife +to have her husband come back and tell her he +would 'phone again after awhile. And if, after +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_144" title="144"> </a> +waiting, he still failed to find the doctor? Mary +knew the Cowans quite well so she made bold +to say, hastily, “I think the doctor would say +<em>yes</em>.”</p> + +<p>“You think he would?” asked Mr. Cowan, +hopefully.</p> + +<p>“I think he would, but don't let her have too +much, of course.”</p> + +<p>“All right. Thank you, Mrs. Blank.”</p> + +<p>An uneasy feeling came into Mary's mind and +would not depart as she went about her work. +Really, what right had she to prescribe for a +sick woman even so harmless a thing as lemonade. +How did she know that it was harmless. +Perhaps in this case there was some combination +of symptoms which would make that very thing +the thing the patient ought not to have.</p> + +<p>In about fifteen minutes there came a ring—three. +Mary started guiltily. It sounded like +the doctor's ring. Was he going to reprimand +her? But it was the voice of a friend and it +surprised Mary with this question:</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Blank, if you were me would you have +your daughter operated upon?”</p> + +<p>“Operated upon for what?”</p> + +<p>“For appendicitis.”</p> + +<p>“Nettie, let me tell you something: if I had +no more sense than to give you advice on such +a question as that, I certainly hope you would +have more sense than to take it. Advice about +a thing with no sort of knowledge of that thing +is as worthless as it is common.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_145" title="145"> </a>“Why—I thought since you are a doctor's +wife you would know about it.”</p> + +<p>“Can you draw up a legal will because you +happen to be the wife of a lawyer?”</p> + +<p>“No-o, but—”</p> + +<p>“But me no buts,” quoth Mary. “We're even +now.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I've heard it said a doctor's wife knows +even less than many others about ills and their +remedies because she is so used to depending on +her husband that she never has to think of them +herself. I guess I'd better talk to the doctor. +I just thought I'd see what you said first. Good-bye.”</p> + +<p>“My skirts are clear of any advice in that direction,” +thought Mary, her mind reverting again +to the lemonade.</p> + +<p>“Nettie couldn't have 'phoned me at a more +opportune minute to get the right answer. But +I wonder if John is back. I'll see.” She rang.</p> + +<p>“Hello.”</p> + +<p>“Say, John, Mr. Cowan 'phoned awhile ago, +and his wife was very thirsty and craved lemonade +and—don't scold—I took the liberty of +saying—it's awful for a thirsty person to have +to wait and wait you know—and so I said I +thought <em>you</em> would say she might have it.”</p> + +<p>“I hope you weren't this long about it,” laughed +her husband.</p> + +<p>“Then it was all right?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly.” Much relieved Mary hung up +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_146" title="146"> </a> +the receiver. “What needless apprehension assails +us sometimes,” she thought, as she went +singing to her broom.</p> + +<p>“Just the same, I won't prescribe very often.”</p> + +<h2><a class="pagenum" name="Page_147" title="147"> </a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<p>It was five o'clock in the morning when the +doctor heard the call and made his way to it. His +wife was roused too and was a passive listener.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Down where? I don't understand you.”</p> + +<p>“On what street?.... Down near Dyre's? I +don't know any such family.” Here Mary called +out, “Maybe they mean Dye's.”</p> + +<p>“Dye's? Yes, I know where that is..... Galliver—that's +the name is it? Very well, Mrs. +Galliver, I'll be down in a little while.... Yes, +just as soon as I can dress and get there.”</p> + +<p>He proceeded to clothe himself very deliberately, +but years of repression had taught Mary +resignation.</p> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Three rings.</p> + +<p>The doctor went with shoe in hand and again +his wife was a listener.</p> + +<p>“Yes..... Yes..... I'm just getting ready to +go to see a patient...... It's a hurry call, is it? +All right then, I'll come there first...... Yes, +right away.”</p> + +<p>As he put up the receiver he said to his wife, +“Somebody else was trying to get me then, too, +but couldn't make it.” Mary thought it well he +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_148" title="148"> </a> +couldn't since her husband was only one and indivisible.</p> + +<p>“But he will probably try again after a little,” +she thought, “and John will be gone and I won't +know just where to find him.”</p> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling-ling-ling. Collar in hand +the doctor went.</p> + +<p>“Yes..... Who is this?.... Come where?.... +Jackson street. Right next to Wilson's mill?.... +On which side? I say on which side of Wilson's +mill?.... West? All right, I'll be down there +after awhile...... No, not right away; I have to +make two other visits first, but as soon as I can +get there.”</p> + +<p>When at last he was dressed and his hand was +on the door-knob the 'phone called him back.</p> + +<p>“You say I needn't come..... Very well. I'll +come if you want me to though, Mrs. Galliver. +I'm just starting now. I have to see another +patient first.”—</p> + +<p>“Why John,” interposed Mary from the bedroom, +“She called you first.”</p> + +<p>“It will be about half an hour before I can +get there..... All right, I'll be there.”</p> + +<p>Then Mary remembered that No. 2 was the +hurry call and was silent. When the doctor was +gone she fell asleep but only for two minutes.</p> + +<p>She went to answer the call. “Has the doctor +started yet?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, he is on his way.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_149" title="149"> </a>“All right then,” and the relief in the tone was +a pleasant thing to hear.</p> + +<p>“Now, if I go to sleep again I can feel no security +from No. 1 or No. 3 or both.” Nevertheless +she did go to sleep and neither No. 1 nor +No. 3 called her out of it.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>“I must be going,” said Mary, rising from her +chair in a neighbor's house.</p> + +<p>“Have you something special on hand?” asked +her neighbor.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it's clock-winding day at our house, for +one thing.”</p> + +<p>“Why, how many clocks do you have to wind?” +inquired the little old lady with mild surprise.</p> + +<p>“Only one, thank heaven!” ejaculated Mary +as she departed.</p> + +<p>When she had sped across the yard and entered +her own door she threw off her shawl and +made ready to wind the clock. First, she turned +off the gas in the grate so that her skirts would +not catch fire. Second, she brought a chair and +set it on the hearth in front of the grate. Third, +she went into the next room and got the big unabridged +dictionary, brought it out and put it on +the chair. Fourth, she went back and got the +oldest and thickest Family Bible and the fat Bible +Dictionary, brought them out and deposited +them on the unabridged. Fifth, she mounted the +chair. Sixth, she mounted the volumes—which +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_150" title="150"> </a> +brought her up to the height she was seeking to +attain. Seventh, she wound the clock; that is, +she usually did. Today, when she had inserted +the key and turned it twice round—the 'phone +rang. Oh, dear! Thank goodness it stopped at +two rings. She would take it for granted the +doctor was in the office. She wound on. Then +she took the key out and inserted it on the opposite +side. A second peal. That settled it. If +it were a lawyer's or a merchant's or any other +man's 'phone she could wind the other side first—but +the doctor's is in the imperative mood and +the present tense. She must descend. Slowly +and cautiously she did so, went to the 'phone and +put the receiver to her ear.</p> + +<p>“Hello, is this Dr. Blank's office?”</p> + +<p>“This is his—”</p> + +<p>“Hello, what is it?” said her husband's voice. +“Now why couldn't he have come a minute +sooner,” thought Mary, provoked.</p> + +<p>“Doctor,” said an agitated voice, “my little +boy has swallowed a penny.”</p> + +<p>“Was it a good one?” inquired the doctor, +calmly.</p> + +<p>“Why—ye-es,” said the voice, broken with a +laugh, “guess it was.”</p> + +<p>“Just let him alone. It will be all right after +awhile.”</p> + +<p>“It was worth getting down to hear so comforting +an assurance,” said Mary as she ascended +again the chair and the volumes. She finished +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_151" title="151"> </a> +her weekly task, then slowly and cautiously descended, +carried the big books back to their +places, set the chair in its corner and lighted the +gas. She stood for a moment looking up at this +clock. The space over the mantel-piece was just +the place for it and it was only after it had been +firmly anchored to the wall that the thought had +arisen, “How can I ever get up there to wind it?”</p> + +<p>She smiled as she thought of a social gathering +a few days before, when a lady had called to +her across the room, “Mrs. Blank, tell us that +clock story again.” And she had answered:</p> + +<p>“It isn't much of a story, but it serves to show +the manner in which we computed the time. One +night the doctor woke me up. ‘Mary,’ he said +in a helpless sort of way, ‘It struck <em>seven</em>—what +<em>time</em> is it?’ ‘Well—let me see,’ I said. ‘If it +struck seven it meant to strike three, for it strikes +four ahead of time. And if it meant to strike +three it's just a quarter past two, for it's three +quarters of an hour too fast.’” Ting-a-ling-ling. +Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>Mary recognized her husband's ring. “Yes, +what is it John?”</p> + +<p>“I'm going out for twenty minutes, watch the +'phone, please.”</p> + +<p>She laughed in answer to this most superfluous +request, then sat her down near by.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>“John, Mrs. B. said a pretty good thing last +night.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_152" title="152"> </a>“That's good.”</p> + +<p>“I've a notion not to tell you, now that the +good thing was about you.”</p> + +<p>“That's better still. But are good things about +me so rare that you made a note of it?”</p> + +<p>“I don't know but what they are,” said Mary, +reflectively. “There was Mrs. C., you know, who +said she didn't see how in the world Doc Blank's +wife ever lived with him—he was so mean.”</p> + +<p>“I wonder about that myself, sometimes.”</p> + +<p>“The way I manage it is to assert myself when +it becomes necessary—and it does. You're a +physician to your patients but to me you're a +mere man.”</p> + +<p>“I feel myself shrivelling. But how about Mrs. +B.'s compliment?”</p> + +<p>“I was over at the church where a social program +of some sort was being given and ‘between +acts’ everybody was moving about chatting. An +elderly woman near me asked, ‘Mrs. Blank, do +you know who the Hammell's are?’ I told her +that I did not, and she went on, ‘I see by the +paper that a member of their family died today, +and I thought you, being a doctor's wife, might +know something about it.’</p> + +<p>“Mrs. B. spoke up promptly, ‘Why, Mrs. Blank +wouldn't know anything about the <em>dead</em> people—her +husband gets 'em <em>well</em>.’”</p> + +<p>The doctor laughed, “And she believes it too,” +he said.</p> + +<p>“No doubt of it. So a compliment like that +offsets one of Mrs. C.'s kind.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_153" title="153"> </a>“O, no. The C.'s have it by a big majority. +Don't you know I have the reputation of being +the meanest man in the county?”</p> + +<p>“No, I don't.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I have. Do you remember that drive +we took a week or two ago up north?”</p> + +<p>“That long drive?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. When I went in the man who was a +stranger to me, said, <ins title="“I'll">‘I'll</ins> tell you why I sent for +you. I've had two or three doctors out here, +recommended as <em>good</em> doctors, and they haven't +done me a darned bit of good. Yesterday I +heard you was the meanest doctor in this county +and I said to myself, “He's the man I <ins title="want.”">want.”’”</ins></p> + +<p>“I heard you laughing and wondered what it +was about. The man's wife came out to the +buggy and talked to me. She said they were +strangers and didn't know anything about the +doctors around here—they had thought of sending +down to this town for a doctor but she had +spoken to a woman—a neighbor—and she had +said there wasn't <em>any</em> of 'em any account down +there. But her husband kept getting worse so +they finally sent for Dr. Blank and she hoped +he'd cure 'im. Are you doing it? I hope so +for I assured her that the physicians of this town +are recognized throughout the State as being +men of exceptional ability, and she went in, +comforted.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, he got better as soon as he struck the +road to health,” laughed John. He took out his +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_154" title="154"> </a> +watch. “Jove! I haven't any time to spare if I +catch that train.” For several days he had been +taking the train to a little station some miles out +of town, where he would get off and walk a mile +to the home of his patient, make his visit and +walk back in time to catch the train for home.</p> + +<p>Just after the doctor left the house the telephone +rang twice. His wife answered it, knowing +he had not yet reached the office.</p> + +<p>“Is the doctor there?”</p> + +<p>“He left the house just a minute ago.”</p> + +<p>“Well, he's coming down today isn't he?”</p> + +<p>“Is this Mrs. Shortridge?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, he just said he must make that train.”</p> + +<p>“He'll go to the office first won't he?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, to get his case, I think.”</p> + +<p>“Will you please telephone him there to bring +a roast with him?”</p> + +<p>“To bring what?”</p> + +<p>“A roast.”</p> + +<p>Mary was nonplussed. Her husband had the +reputation of “roasting” his patients and their +attendants on occasion. Had an occasion arisen +now?</p> + +<p>“Why, ye-es,” she began, uncertainly, when the +voice spoke again.</p> + +<p>“I mean a roast of beef, Mrs. Blank. I +thought as the doctor was coming he wouldn't +mind stopping at the butcher's and bringing me +a roast—tell him a good-sized one.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_155" title="155"> </a>The receiver clicked. Mary still held hers. +Then she rang the office.</p> + +<p>“What <em>is</em> it?” Great haste spoke in the voice.</p> + +<p>“John, Mrs. Shortridge wants you to bring her +a roast of beef when you go down.”</p> + +<p>“The devil she does!”</p> + +<p>“The market is right on your way. Hurry. +Don't miss the train!” She put up the receiver, +then she snatched it and rang again violently.</p> + +<p>“<em>Now</em> what!” thundered John's voice.</p> + +<p>“She said to get a good-sized one.” Standing +with the receiver in her hand and shaking with +laughter she heard the office-door shut with a +bang and knew that he was off.</p> + +<p>She knew that if he had been going in the +buggy he would have been glad to do Mrs. S.'s +bidding. He often carried ice and other needful +things to homes where he visited. Mary pictured +her husband picking his way along a muddy +country road, his case in one hand and the +“roast” in the other, and thought within herself, +“He'll be in a better mood for a roast when he +arrives than when he started.”</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Mary was out in the kitchen making jelly. At +the critical moment when the beaded bubbles +were “winking at the brim” came the ring. She +lifted the kettle to one side, wiped her hands and +went.</p> + +<p>“Is this you, Mary?”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_156" title="156"> </a>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Watch the 'phone a little bit, please. I have +to be out about half an hour.”</p> + +<p>“I'm always watching the 'phone, John, always, +<em>always</em>!”</p> + +<p>She went back to her jelly. She put it back +on the fire, an inert mass with all the bubbles +died out of it. Scarcely had she done so when +the 'phone rang—two rings. Surely the doctor +had not got beyond hearing distance. He would +answer. But perhaps he had—he was a very +swift walker. The only way to be sure of it +was to go to the telephone and listen. She went +hastily back and as she put the receiver to her +ear there came a buzz against it which made +her jump.</p> + +<p>“Hello,” she said.</p> + +<p>“I wanted the doctor, Mrs. Blank, do you know +where he is?”</p> + +<p>“He just 'phoned me that he—” an unmistakable +sound arose from the kitchen stove. The +jelly was boiling over! Instinct is older than the +telephone. The receiver dangled in air while +Mary rushed madly to the rescue. “I might have +known it,” she said to herself, as she pushed the +kettle aside and rushed back to the 'phone.</p> + +<p>“I guess they cut us off,” said the voice.</p> + +<p>“I was just saying,” said Mary, “that the doctor +'phoned me a few minutes ago he would be +out for half an hour.”</p> + +<p>“Will you please tell him when he comes in +to call up 83?”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_157" title="157"> </a>The man goes on his way, relieved of further +responsibility in the matter. It will be a very +easy thing for the doctor's wife to call up her +husband and give him the message. Let us see.</p> + +<p>When the jelly was done, and Mary had begun +to fill the waiting glasses she thought, “I'd better +see if John is back. He may go out again before +I can deliver that message.” So she set the kettle +on the back of the stove and went to ascertain +if her husband had returned. No answer to her +ring. She had better ring again to be sure of it. +No answer. She went back to the kitchen. When +the glasses were all filled and she had held first +one and then another up to get the sunlight +through the clear beautiful redness of them, she +began setting them back to cool. The telephone! +She hurried in and rang again to see if John had +got back. Silence. She sighed and hung up the +receiver. “I'd like to get it off my mind.” As +she started toward the kitchen again the door-bell +rang. She went to open the door, and wonder +of wonders—an old friend she had not seen +for years!</p> + +<p>“I am passing through town, Mary, and have +just three quarters of an hour till my train goes. +Now sit down and <em>talk</em>.”</p> + +<p>And the pair of them did talk, oblivious to +everything about them. How the minutes did +fly and the questions too! The 'phone rang in +the next room—two rings. On Mary's accustomed +ear it fell unheeded. She talked on. Again +two rings. She did not notice.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_158" title="158"> </a>“Isn't that your 'phone?” asked the visitor.</p> + +<p>“O, <em>yes</em>! You knocked it clean out of my +head, Alice. Excuse me a minute,” and she vanished.</p> + +<p>“Did you give that message to the doctor?”</p> + +<p>“He is not back yet.”</p> + +<p>“I saw him go into the office not ten minutes +ago.”</p> + +<p>“I have 'phoned twice and failed to find him.”</p> + +<p>“I hoped when I saw him leave the office that +he had started down to see my little boy, but of +course he hasn't if he didn't get the message.”</p> + +<p>“I am sorry. An old friend I had not seen for +years came in and of course it went out of my +mind for a few minutes, though I 'phoned twice +before she came. I am sure he will be back in +a few minutes and I will send him right down, +Mr. Nelson.”</p> + +<p>“Why do you do that?” asked her friend, +pointedly as she came in. “Why take upon yourself +the responsibility of people's messages being +delivered.”</p> + +<p>“It <em>is</em> an awful responsibility. I don't know +why I do it—so many people seem to expect it +as a matter of course—”</p> + +<p>“It's a great deal easier for each person to deliver +his own message than for you to have a +half dozen on your mind at once. I wouldn't do +it. You'll be a raving lunatic by the next time +I see you.”</p> + +<p>“At least I'll have ample time in which to become +one,” laughed Mary.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_159" title="159"> </a>“I'm going,” announced her friend, suddenly +rising. “I could spare five or ten minutes more +but if I sit here you'll forget that 'phone again. +But take my advice, Mary, and institute a change +in the order of things.”</p> + +<p>When she had gone Mary sat for a few minutes +lost in thought. Then, remembering, she +sprang up and went to the 'phone. No answer +to her ring. “Dear me! Will I <em>never</em> get that +message delivered and off my mind.” Soon a +ring came.</p> + +<p>“Isn't he back <em>yet</em>?”</p> + +<p>“I 'phoned about three minutes ago and failed +to get him. By the way, Mr. Nelson, will you +just 'phone the doctor at the office, please? That +will be a more direct way to get him as I seem +to fail altogether this morning. I am sure that +he can't be gone much longer,” she said very +pleasantly and hung up the receiver. The responsibility +had been gracefully shifted and she +was free for a while. Other occasions would +arise when she could not be free, but in cases of +this kind her friend's clear insight had helped +her out.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>“Hello.”</p> + +<p>“Is this Dr. Blank?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“My husband has just started for your office. +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_160" title="160"> </a> +He says he's going to send you down. I don't +need a doctor. Will you tell him that?”</p> + +<p>“I'll tell him you <em>said</em> so.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I don't. So don't you come!”</p> + +<p>“All right. I haven't got time to be bothered +with you anyway. The sick people take my +time.”</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the 'phone rang again.</p> + +<p>“Dr. Blank, can you come over to the Woolson +Hotel?”</p> + +<p>“Right away?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, if you can. There's a case here I've +treated a little that I'm not satisfied about.”</p> + +<p>“All right, Doctor, I'll be there in a few minutes.”</p> + +<p>When he reached the hotel and had examined +the patient he said, “He has smallpox.”</p> + +<p>“I began to suspect that.”</p> + +<p>“Not a bit of doubt of it.”</p> + +<p>“The hotel is full of people—I'm afraid +there'll be a panic.”</p> + +<p>“We must get him out of here. We'll have +to improvise a pest-house at once. I'll go and +see about it.”</p> + +<p>That evening about an hour after supper the +doctor's daughter came hurriedly into the room +where her mother was sitting.</p> + +<p>“Mother,” she exclaimed, “there's an awful lot +of people in the office, a regular mob and they're +as mad as fury.”</p> + +<p>“What about?” exclaimed her mother, startled.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_161" title="161"> </a>“They're mad at father for putting the tent for +a smallpox patient down in their neighborhood.”</p> + +<p>“Is he in the office now?”</p> + +<p>“He was there when I first went in but he +isn't there just now. Father wasn't a bit disturbed, +but I am. I got out of there. The mayor +went into the office just as I came out.”</p> + +<p>Uneasy, in spite of herself, Mary waited her +husband's return. Ten o'clock, and he had not +come. She went to the 'phone and called the +office. The office man answered.</p> + +<p>“Where is the doctor?”</p> + +<p>“He was in here a few minutes ago, but +there's a big fuss down at the smallpox tent and +I think he's gone down there.”</p> + +<p>Mary rang off and with nervous haste called +the mayor's residence.</p> + +<p>“Is this Mr. Felton?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“This is Mrs. Blank. I am very uneasy about +the doctor, Mr. Felton. I hear he has just started +down to the smallpox tent. Won't you please +see that someone goes down at once?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Mrs. Blank. I came from there a little +while ago but they're mad at the doctor and I'll +go right back. I'm not going to bed until I +know everything's quieted down.”</p> + +<p>“And you'll take others with you?” she pleaded, +but the mayor was gone. Again she waited in +great anxiety. The tent was too far away for +her to go out into the night in search of him.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_162" title="162"> </a>Between eleven and twelve o'clock she heard +footsteps. She rose and went to the door. Almost +she expected to see her husband brought +home on a stretcher. But there he came, walking +with buoyant step. When he came in he kissed +his anxious wife and then broke into a laugh.</p> + +<p>“My! how good that sounds! I heard of the +mob and have been frightened out of my wits.”</p> + +<p>“They've quieted down now. There wasn't a +bit of sense in what they did.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I don't know that one can really blame +them for not wanting smallpox brought into the +neighborhood. Couldn't you have taken the tent +farther out?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, if we had had time. But we had a sick +man on our hands—he had to be got out of the +hotel and he had to be taken care of right away. +He had to have a nurse. There must be water +in the tent and the nurse can't be running out +of a pest-house to get it. Neither can anyone +carry it to such a place. So we couldn't put it +beyond the water- and gas-pipes—there must be +heat, too, you know. We have done the very +best we could without more time. The nearest +house is fifty yards away and there's absolutely +no danger if the people down there will just +get vaccinated and then keep away from the +tent.”</p> + +<p>“They surely will do that.”</p> + +<p>“Some of them may. One fool said to me +awhile ago when I told them that, ‘Oh, yes! we +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_163" title="163"> </a> +see your game. You want to get a lot of money +out of us.’”</p> + +<p>“What did you say to that ancient charge,” +asked Mary, smiling.</p> + +<p>“I said, ‘My man, I'll pay for the virus, and +I'll vaccinate everyone of you, and everyone in +that neighborhood and it won't cost you a cent’.”</p> + +<p>“Did he look ashamed?”</p> + +<p>“I didn't wait to see. I had urgent business +out just then.”</p> + +<p>“Is the patient in the tent now?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, all snug and comfortable with a nurse +to take care of him. That was my urgent business. +I went into the back room of the office in +the midst of their jabber, slipped out the door, +got into the buggy hitched back there, drove to +the hotel and with Dr. Collins' help, got the patient +down the ladder waiting for us, into the +buggy, then got the nurse down the ladder and +in, too, then away we drove lickety-cut for the +tent while the mob was away from there. Then +I went back to the office and attended the meeting,” +added the doctor, laughing heartily.</p> + +<p>His wife laughed too, but rather uneasily. +“Were they still there when you got back?”</p> + +<p>“Every mother's son of 'em. They didn't stay +long though. I advised them to go home, that +the patient was in the tent and would stay there. +They broke for the tent—vowed they'd set fire +to it with him in it and I think they intended to +hang <em>me</em>,” and the doctor laughed again.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_164" title="164"> </a>“John, don't <em>ever</em> get into such a scrape again. +I 'phoned Mr. Felton and begged him to go down +there and take someone with him.”</p> + +<p>“You did? Well, he came, and it happened +there was a member of the State Board of Health +in town who had got on to the racket. He came, +too, and you ought to have heard him read the +riot act to those fellows:</p> + +<p>“‘We've got a sick man here—a stranger, +far from his home. You are in no danger whatever. +Every doctor in town has told you so. +We're going to take care of this man <em>and don't +you forget it</em>. We have the whole State of Illinois +behind us, and if this damned foolishness +don't stop right here, I'll have the militia here in +a few hours' time and arrest every one of you.’ +That quieted them. They slunk off home and +won't bother us any more.”</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Three or four days after the above conversation +Mary stood at the window looking out at the +storm which was raging. The wind was blowing +fearfully and the rain coming down in torrents. +“I do hope John will not be called to the +country today,” she thought.</p> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling—three rings.</p> + +<p>“Is this Dr. Blank's office?” asked a feminine +voice.</p> + +<p>“No, his residence.”</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Blank, this is the nurse at the smallpox +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_165" title="165"> </a> +tent. Will you 'phone the office and tell the doctor +it's raining in down here terribly. I'm in a +hurry, must spread things over the patient.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, I'll 'phone him,” and she rang +twice. No reply. Again. No reply. “Too bad +he isn't in. I'll have to wait a few minutes.”</p> + +<p>In five minutes she rang again, but got no reply. +In another minute she was called to the +'phone.</p> + +<p>“Didn't you get word to the doctor, Mrs. +Blank?” asked a voice, full of anxiety. “I'm +afraid we'll drown before he gets here.”</p> + +<p>“I have been anxiously watching for him, but +he must be visiting a patient. Hold the 'phone +please till I ring again.” This time her husband +answered.</p> + +<p>“Doctor, here's the nurse at the tent to speak +to you.” She waited to hear what he would say.</p> + +<p>“Doctor, please come down here and help us. +The roof is leaking awfully and we are about to +drown.”</p> + +<p>“All right, I'll be down after a little.”</p> + +<p>“Don't wait too long.”</p> + +<p>Mary's practised ear caught something beginning +with a capital D as the receiver clicked.</p> + +<p>“Poor old John,” she murmured, “it's awful—the +things you have to do.”</p> + +<p>The doctor got into his rubber coat and set +out for his improvised pest-house.</p> + +<p>When he came home Mary asked, “Did you +stop the leak?”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_166" title="166"> </a>“I did. But I had a devil of a time doing it.”</p> + +<p>“I'm curious to know how you would go +about it.”</p> + +<p>“The roof was double and I had to straighten +out and stretch the upper canvas with the wind +blowing it out of my hands and nobody to help +me hold it.”</p> + +<p>“Was there nobody in sight?”</p> + +<p>“That infernal coward of a watchman, but I +couldn't get him near the tent—he's <em>had</em> smallpox, +too.”</p> + +<p>“I should think the nurse could have helped a +little, that is if she knew where to take hold of +it, and what to do with it when she got hold.”</p> + +<p>“O, she sputtered around some and imagined +she was helping.”</p> + +<p>“Poor thing,” said Mary, laughing, “I know +just how bewildered she was with you storming +commands at her which she couldn't understand—women +can't.”</p> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. +Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>The doctor helloed gruffly.</p> + +<p>“Is this you, Doc?”</p> + +<p>“Looks like it.”</p> + +<p>“We want ye to come down here an' diagnosis +these cases.”</p> + +<p>“<em>What</em> cases!”</p> + +<p>“There's two down here.”</p> + +<p>“Down <em>where</em>?”</p> + +<p>“Down here at my house.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_167" title="167"> </a>“Well, who the devil <em>are</em> you?”</p> + +<p>“Bill Masters. We're afraid maybe it's smallpox.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, <em>yes</em>!” snarled the doctor, “every <em>pimple</em> +around here for the next three months will be +smallpox.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we want ye to diagnosis it, Doc.”</p> + +<p>“All right. I'll ‘diagnosis’ it the first time I'm +down that way—maybe this evening or tomorrow,” +and he slammed the receiver up and went +to bed.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>One evening the doctor was waiting for the +stork at a farmhouse some miles from home. He +concluded to telephone his wife as it might be +several hours before he got in. He rang and +put the receiver to his ear:</p> + +<p>“Did you put your washin' out today?”</p> + +<p>“No, did you?”</p> + +<p>“No, I thought it looked too rainy.”</p> + +<p>“So did I. I hope it'll clear up by mornin'.”</p> + +<p>“Have you got your baby to sleep yet?”</p> + +<p>“Land! yes. He goes to sleep right after +supper.”</p> + +<p>“Mine's not that kind of a kid. He's wider +awake than any of us this minute.”</p> + +<p>“Got your dress cut out?”</p> + +<p>“No, maybe I'll git around to it tomorrow afternoon, +if I don't have forty other things to do.”</p> + +<p>“Did ye hear about—”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_168" title="168"> </a>Seeing no chance to get in the doctor retreated. +Half an hour later he rang again. A +giggle and a loud girlish voice in his ear asking, +“Is this you, Nettie?”</p> + +<p>“This is me.”</p> + +<p>“Do you know who this is?”</p> + +<p>“Course I do.”</p> + +<p>“Bet ye don't.”</p> + +<p>“Bet I do.”</p> + +<p>“Who?”</p> + +<p>“It's Mollie, of course.”</p> + +<p>“You've guessed it. I tried to change my voice +so you wouldn't know me.”</p> + +<p>“What fer?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, cat-fur to make kitten breeches.”</p> + +<p>Mild laughter.</p> + +<p>“I heard that you gave Jake the mitten last +night.”</p> + +<p>“Who told ye?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, a little bird.”</p> + +<p>“Say! Who <em>did</em> tell ye?”</p> + +<p>“You'll never, never tell if I do?”</p> + +<p>The clock near the patiently waiting doctor +struck nine quick short strokes.</p> + +<p>“Did you hear that?” asked the first voice, +startled.</p> + +<p>“Whose clock <em>is</em> that?”</p> + +<p>“Johnson's haven't got one like that.”</p> + +<p>“Miller's haven't neither.”</p> + +<p>“I'll tell you—it's Gray's—their clock strikes +quick like that.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_169" title="169"> </a>“Then there's somebody at their 'phone listenin'!”</p> + +<p>“Goodness! Maybe it's Jake, just like him!”</p> + +<p>“Jake Gray, if that's you, you're a mean eavesdroppin' +sneak an' that's what I think of <em>you</em>! +Good-bye, Nettie.” And as the receiver slammed +into its place the doctor shook with laughter.</p> + +<p>“This seems to be my opportunity,” he +thought, then rang and delivered the message to +his wife. Often these dialogues kept him from +hearing or delivering some important message +and then he fumed inwardly, but tonight he had +time to spare and to laugh.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>After a little the 'phone rang. “It's someone +wanting you, Doctor,” said the man of the house +who answered it. The doctor went.</p> + +<p>“Is this you, Doctor Blank?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“I want you—”</p> + +<p>The doctor heard no more. This was a party +line and every receiver on it came down. A +dozen people were listening to find out who +wanted the doctor and what for. All on the line +knew that Doctor Blank had been at the Gray +farmhouse for hours. The message being private, +there was silence. The doctor waited a +minute then his wrath burst forth.</p> + +<p>“Damn it! Hang up your receivers, all you +eavesdroppers, so I can get this message!”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_170" title="170"> </a>Click, click, click, click, and lots of people +mad, but the doctor got the message.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>“Is this Mrs. Blank?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“I telephoned the office and couldn't get the +doctor so I'll tell you what I wanted and you can +tell him. His patient down here in the country, +Mrs. Miller, is out of powders and she wants him +to send some down by Mrs. Richards, if he can +find her.”</p> + +<p>“Where is Mrs. Richards?”</p> + +<p>“She's up there in town somewhere.”</p> + +<p>“Does she know that the powders are to be +sent by her and will she call at the office?”</p> + +<p>“No, I don't think she knows anything about +it. Mrs. Miller didn't know she was out till after +she left. That's all,” and she was gone.</p> + +<p>“All!” echoed Mary.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes when she thought her husband +had had time to return she went to the +'phone and told him he must go out and hunt up +Mrs. Richards.</p> + +<p>“What for?”</p> + +<p>“Because Mrs. Miller wants you to find her +and send some powders down by her.”</p> + +<p>An explosion came and Mary retired laughing +and marvelling to what strange uses telephones—and +doctors—are put.</p> + +<h2><a class="pagenum" name="Page_171" title="171"> </a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<p>It was a lovely morning in late September. +The sun almost shone through the film of light +gray clouds which lay serenely over all the heavens. +There was a golden gleam in the atmosphere,</p> + +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">“And a tender touch upon everything<br/></div> +<div class="line indent1">As if Autumn remembered the days of Spring.”<br/></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>The doctor and his wife were keenly alive to +the beauty of the day. After they had driven +several miles they stopped before a little brown +house. The doctor said he would like Mary to +go in and she followed him into the low-ceiled +room.</p> + +<p>“Here, you youngsters, go out into the yard,” +said the mother of the children. “There ain't +room to turn around when you all get in.” They +went. A baby seven or eight months old sat on +the floor and stared up at Mary as she seated +herself near it. Two women of the neighborhood +sat solemnly near by. The doctor approached +the bed on which a young woman of +eighteen or twenty years was lying.</p> + +<p>“My heart hain't beat for five minutes,” she +said.</p> + +<p>“Is that so?” said the doctor, quite calm in the +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_172" title="172"> </a> +face of an announcement so startling. “Well, +we'll have to start it up again.”</p> + +<p>“That's the first time she has spoke since yesterday +morning,” said one of the solemn women +in a low tone to the doctor.</p> + +<p>“It didn't hurt her to keep still. She could +have spoken if she had wanted to.” The two +women looked at each other. “No, she couldn't +speak, Doctor,” said one of them.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes she could,” replied the doctor with +great nonchalance.</p> + +<p>“I <em>couldn't</em>!” said the patient with much vigor. +This was just what he wanted. He examined +her carefully but said not a word.</p> + +<p>“How long do you think I'll live?” she asked +after a little.</p> + +<p>“Well, that's a hard question to answer—but +you ought to be good for forty or fifty years yet.”</p> + +<p>The patient sniffed contemptuously. “Huh, I +guess you don't know it all if you <em>are</em> a doctor.”</p> + +<p>“I know enough to know there's mighty little +the matter with <em>you</em>.” He turned to one of the +women. “I would like to see her mother,” he +said. The mother had left the room on an errand; +the woman rose and went out. There was +a pause which Mary broke by asking the baby's +name.</p> + +<p>“We think we'll call her Orient.”</p> + +<p>“Why not Occident?” thought Mary, but she +kept still. Not so the doctor. “<em>That's</em> no name. +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_173" title="173"> </a> +Give her a good sensible <em>name</em>—one she won't +be ashamed of when she's a woman.”</p> + +<p>Here Mary caught sight of a red string around +the baby's neck, and asked if it was a charm of +some sort. The mother took hold of the string +and drew up the charm. “It's a blind hog's +tooth,” she said simply, “to make her cut her +teeth easy.”</p> + +<p>The mother of the patient came into the room. +“How do you think she is, Doctor?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, she's not so sick as you thought she was, +not near.”</p> + +<p>The mother looked relieved. “She had an awful +bad spell last night. Do you think she won't +have any more?”</p> + +<p>“No, she won't have any more.” The look on +the patient's face said plainly, “We'll see about +that.” It did not escape the doctor.</p> + +<p>“But in case you should see any signs of a +spell coming on, and if she gets so she can't +speak again, then you must—but come into the +next room,” he said in a low voice.</p> + +<p>They went into an adjoining room, the doctor +taking care to leave the door ajar. Then in a +voice ostensibly low enough that the patient +might not hear and yet so distinct that she +could hear every word, he delivered his instructions: +“Now, if she has any more spells she +must be blistered all the way from her neck down +to the end of her spine.” The mother looked +terrified. “And if she gets so she can't speak +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_174" title="174"> </a> +again, it will be necessary to put a seton through +the back of her neck.”</p> + +<p>“What <em>is</em> a seton?” faltered the woman.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it's nothing but a big needle six or eight +inches long, threaded with coarse cord. It must +be drawn through the flesh and left there for a +while.” Then in a tone so low that only the +mother could hear, he said, “Don't pay much attention +to her. She'll never have those spells unless +there is somebody around to see her.”</p> + +<p>He walked into the other room and took up +his hat and case.</p> + +<p>“I left some powders on the table,” he said to +the mother. “You may give her one just before +dinner and another tonight.”</p> + +<p>“Will it make any difference if she doesn't +take it till tonight?”</p> + +<p>“Not a bit.”</p> + +<p>“Pa's gone and I didn't 'low to git any dinner +today.”</p> + +<p>At this announcement Mary heard something +between a sigh and a groan and turning, saw a +rosy-cheeked boy in the doorway. There was a +look of resigned despair on his face and Mary +smiled sympathetically at him as she went out. +How many lads and lassies could have sympathized +with him too, having been victims to that +widespread feeling among housewives that when +“Pa” is gone no dinner need be got and sometimes +not much supper.</p> + +<p>As the doctor and his wife started down the +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_175" title="175"> </a> +walk they heard a voice say, “Ma, don't you ever +send for that smart-aleck doctor agin. I won't +<em>have</em> him.” The doctor shook with laughter +as he untied the horse.</p> + +<p>“They won't need to send for me ‘agin.’ I +like to get hold of a fine case of hysterics once +in a while—it makes things lively.”</p> + +<p>“The treatment you prescribed was certainly +heroic enough,” said Mary.</p> + +<p>They had driven about a mile, when, in passing +a house a young man signaled the doctor to +stop. “Mother has been bleeding at the nose a +good deal,” he said, coming down to the gate. +“I wish you would stop and see her. She'll be +glad to see you, too, Mrs. Blank.”</p> + +<p>They were met at the door by a little old woman +in a rather short dress and in rather large +ear-rings. Her husband, two grown daughters +and three children sat and stood in the room.</p> + +<p>“So you've been bleeding at the nose, Mrs. +Haig?” said the doctor, looking at his patient +who now sat down.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, and it's a-gittin' me down. I've +been in bed part of the day.”</p> + +<p>“It's been bleedin' off and on for two days +and nights,” said the husband.</p> + +<p>“Did you try pretty hard to stop it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, I tried everything I ever heerd tell +of, and everything the neighbors wanted me to +try, but it didn't do no good.”</p> + +<p>“Open the door and sit here where I can have +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_176" title="176"> </a> +a good light to examine your nose by,” the doctor +said to the patient. She brought her chair +and the young man opened the door. As he did +so there was a mad rush between the old man +and his two daughters for the door opposite.</p> + +<p>“Shet that door, quick!” the old man shouted, +and it was instantly done. Mary looked around +with frightened eyes. Had some wild beast escaped +from a passing menagerie and was it coming +in to devour the household? There was a +swirl of ashes and sparks from the big fireplace.</p> + +<p>“This is the blamedest house that ever was +built,” said Mr. Haig.</p> + +<p>“Who built it?” queried the doctor.</p> + +<p>“I built it myself and like a derned fool went +an' put the fireplace right between these two +outside doors, so if you open one an' the other +happens to be open the fire and ashes just flies.”</p> + +<p>The doctor took an instrument from his pocket +and proceeded with his examination.</p> + +<p>“But there's a house back here on the hill +about a mile that beats this,” said the old man.</p> + +<p>“That is a queer-looking house,” said Mary. +“It has no front door at all.”</p> + +<p>“No side door, neither. When a feller wants +to get in <em>that</em> house there's just one of three +ways: he has to go around and through the +kitchen, or through a winder, or down the +chimney.”</p> + +<p>“If he was little enough he might go through +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_177" title="177"> </a> +the cat-hole,” suggested the young man, at which +they all laughed.</p> + +<p>“And what may that be?” asked the mystified +Mary.</p> + +<p>“It's a square hole cut in the bottom of the +door for the cat to go in and out at. The man +that owns the place said he believed in having +things handy.”</p> + +<p>“Now, let me see your throat,” said the doctor. +The patient opened her mouth to such an +amazing extent that the doctor said, “No, I will +stand on the outside!” which made Mary +ashamed of him, but the old couple laughed heartily. +They had known this doctor a good many +years.</p> + +<p>“What have you been doing to stop the bleeding?” +he asked.</p> + +<p>“I've been a-tryin' charms and conjurin', +mostly.”</p> + +<p>Mary saw that there was no smile on her face +or on any other face in the room. She spoke in +a sincere and matter-of-fact way. “Old Uncle +Peter, down here a piece, has cured many a case +of nose-bleed but he hain't 'peared to help mine.”</p> + +<p>“How does he go about it?” asked Mary.</p> + +<p>“W'y, don't you know nothin' 'bout conjurin'?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing at all.”</p> + +<p>“I thought you bein' a doctor's wife would +know things like that.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_178" title="178"> </a>“I don't believe my husband practises conjuring +much.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Uncle Peter takes the Bible, and opens +it, and says some words over it, and pretty soon +the bleedin' stops.”</p> + +<p>“Which stops it, the Bible or the words?”</p> + +<p>“W'y—both I reckon, but the words does the +most of it. They're the charm and nobody +knows 'em but him.”</p> + +<p>“Where did he learn them?”</p> + +<p>“His father was a conjurer and when he died +he tol' the words to Uncle Peter an' give the +power to him.”</p> + +<p>“Did he come up here to conjure you?” asked +the doctor.</p> + +<p>“No, he says he can do it just as well at home.”</p> + +<p>“He can. But I think we can stop the bleeding +without bothering Uncle Peter any more. I'd +like a pair of scissors,” he said, meaning to cut +some papers for powders.</p> + +<p>“They won't do no good. I've tried 'em.”</p> + +<p>“What do you think I want with them?”</p> + +<p>“I 'lowed you wanted to put 'em under the +piller. That'll cure nose-bleed lots of times. +Maybe you don't believe it, but it's so.”</p> + +<p>“Can Uncle Peter cure other things?” asked +Mary.</p> + +<p>“He can <em>that</em>. My nephew had the chills last +year and shook and shook. At last he went to +Uncle Peter an' he cured <em>him</em>.”</p> + +<p>“He shot 'em,” said Mr. Haig.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_179" title="179"> </a>“Yes, he told him to take sixteen shot every +mornin' for sixteen days and by the time he got +through he didn't shake a bit.”</p> + +<p>“By jings! he was so heavy he couldn't,” said +Mr. Haig, and in the laugh that followed the doctor +and his wife rose to go. A neighboring woman +with a baby in her arms had come in and +seated herself near the door. As he passed out +the doctor stopped to inquire, “How's that sore +breast? You haven't been back again.”</p> + +<p>“It's about well. William found a mole at +last and when I put the skin of it on my breast +it cured it. I knowed it would, but when we +wanted a mole there wasn't none to be found, so +I had to go and see <em>you</em> about it.”</p> + +<p>“I thought it would soon be well. Good for +the mole-skin,” laughed the doctor, as they took +their leave.</p> + +<p>When they had started homeward they looked +at each other, the doctor with a smile in his eyes—he +had encountered this sort of thing so often +in his professional life that he was quite accustomed +to it. But Mary's brown eyes were serious. +“John,” she said, “when will the reign of +ignorance and superstition end?”</p> + +<p>“When Time shall be no more, my dear.”</p> + +<p>“So it seems. Those people, while lacking education, +seem to be fairly intelligent and yet their +lives are dominated by things like these.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and not only people of fair intelligence +but of fair education too. While they would +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_180" title="180"> </a> +laugh at what we saw and heard back there they +are holding fast to things equally senseless and +ridiculous. Then there are thoroughly educated +and cultured people holding fast to little superstitions +which had their birth in ignorance away +back in the past somewhere. How many people +do you know who want to see the new moon over +the left shoulder? And didn't I hear you commanding +Jack just the other day to take the +hoe right out of the house and to go out the +same door he came in?”</p> + +<p>“O, ye-es, but then <em>nobody</em> wants to have a <em>hoe</em> +carried through the house, John. It's such a +bad sign—”</p> + +<p>The doctor laughed. “This thing is so widespread +there seems to be no hope of eliminating +it entirely though I believe physicians are doing +more than anybody else toward crushing it out.”</p> + +<p>“Can they reason and argue people out of +these things?”</p> + +<p>“Not often. Good-natured ridicule is an effective +shaft and one I like to turn upon them +sometimes. They get so they don't want to say +those things to me, and so perhaps they get to +see after a while that it is just as well not to +say them too often to other people, too.”</p> + +<p>“Don't drive so fast, John, the day is too glorious.”</p> + +<p>Yellow butterflies flitted hither and thither +down the road; the corn in the fields was turning +brown and out from among it peeped here and +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_181" title="181"> </a> +there a pumpkin; the trees in apple orchards +were bending low with their rosy and golden +treasures. They passed a pool of water and saw +reflected there the purple asters blooming above +it. By and by the doctor turned down a grassy +road leading up to a farmhouse a short distance +away. “Are you to make another call today?” +asked his wife.</p> + +<p>“Yes, there is a very sick child here.”</p> + +<p>When he had gone inside three or four children +came out. A curly-headed little girl edged +close and looked up into Mary's face.</p> + +<p>“Miss' Blank, <em>you</em> know where Mr. Blank got +our baby, <em>don't</em> you?”</p> + +<p>Mary, smiling down at the little questioner, +said, “The doctor didn't tell me anything about +it.” The little faces looked surprised and disappointed.</p> + +<p>“We thought you'd know an' we come out to +ask you,” said another little girl. “You make +all the babies' dresses, don't you?”</p> + +<p>“Dear me, no indeed!” laughed the doctor's +wife.</p> + +<p>“Does he keep all the babies at your house?” +asked the little boy.</p> + +<p>“I think not. I never see them there.”</p> + +<p>“Didn't he ever bring any to your house?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, five of them.”</p> + +<p>“I'd watch and see where he <em>gets</em> 'em,” said +the little fellow stoutly. “Jimmie Brown said +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_182" title="182"> </a> +Mr. Blank found their baby down in the woods +in an old holler log.”</p> + +<p>The doctor came out, and the little boy looking +up at him asked, “Is they any more babies +down in the woods?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes, ‘the woods is full of 'em,’” laughed +the doctor as he drove off leaving the little group +quite unsatisfied.</p> + +<p>When they had gone some distance two wagons +appeared on the brow of the hill in front of +them. “Hold on, Doctor,” shouted the first +driver, as the doctor was driving rapidly by, “I +want to sell you a watermelon.”</p> + +<p>“Will you take your pay in pills?”</p> + +<p>“Don't b'lieve I have any use for pills.”</p> + +<p>“Don't want one then, I'm broke this morning,” +and he passed the second wagon and pulled +his horse into the road again.</p> + +<p>“Wait a minute! <em>I'll</em> trade you a melon for +some pills,” called the driver. He spread the +reins over the dashboard and clambered down; +the man in front looked back at him with a grin. +“I've got two kinds here, the Cyclone and the +Monarch, which would you rather have?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don't care,” said the doctor.</p> + +<p>“Let us have a Monarch, please,” said Mary. +Monarch was a prettier name than Cyclone, and +besides there was no sense in giving so violent +a name to so peaceful a thing as a watermelon. +So the Monarch was brought and deposited in +the back of the buggy.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_183" title="183"> </a>The doctor opened his case. “Take your +choice.”</p> + +<p>“What do you call this kind?”</p> + +<p>“I call that kind Little Devils.”</p> + +<p>“How many of 'em would a feller dare take +at once?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I wouldn't take more than three unless +you have a lawyer handy to make your will.”</p> + +<p>“Why, will they hurt me?”</p> + +<p>“They'll bring the answer if you take enough +of 'em.”</p> + +<p>The man eyed the pills dubiously,—“I believe +I'll let that kind alone. What kind is this?”</p> + +<p>“These are podophyllin pills.”</p> + +<p>“Gee, the <em>name's</em> enough to kill a feller.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Morning-Glories is a good name. If +you take too many you'll be wafted straight to +glory in the morning, and the road will be a +little rough in places.”</p> + +<p>“Confound it, Jake,” called the first driver, +“don't you take <em>none</em> of 'em. Don't monkey with +'em.” But Jake had agreed to trade a melon for +pills. He held out his big hand. “Pour me out +some of them Little Devils. I'll risk 'em.”</p> + +<p>The doctor emptied the small bottle into Jake's +hand, replaced it in the case and drove off.</p> + +<p>“John, why in the world didn't you give him +some instructions as to how to take them?” asked +Mary, energetically.</p> + +<p>“He didn't ask me to prescribe for him, my +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_184" title="184"> </a> +dear. He wanted to trade a watermelon for pills +and we traded.”</p> + +<p>“For pity's sake,” said Mary indignantly, “and +you're going to let that man kill himself while +you strain at a point of professional etiquette!” +She was gazing back at the unfortunate man.</p> + +<p>“Don't you worry, he'll be too much afraid +of them to hurt himself with them,” said the doctor, +laughing.</p> + +<p>“I sincerely hope he will.”</p> + +<p>As they came in sight of home the doctor, +who had been silent for some time, sighed heavily. +“I am thinking of that little child out there. +I tell you, Mary, a case of meningitis makes a +man feel his limitations.”</p> + +<h2><a class="pagenum" name="Page_185" title="185"> </a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<p>A long, importunate peal. The doctor rose +and went swiftly. Mary listened with interest +to what was to come:</p> + +<p>“?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>He rang off.</p> + +<p>“That was decided in the affirmative,” said +Mary.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>“Doctor, do you think the baby will cut any +more teeth this summer?”</p> + +<p>“You'd better ring up Solomon and ask that.”</p> + +<p>“Well—if he gets through teething—don't +you think he'll be all right?”</p> + +<p>“If he gets through with the way you <em>feed</em> him +he'll be all right.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_186" title="186"> </a>“Well, his teething has lots to do with it.”</p> + +<p>“No, it don't—not a darned bit. If you'll +take care of his stomach his teeth will take care +of themselves. It's what goes <em>between</em> the teeth +that does the mischief. I keep telling people that +every day, and once in a while I find someone +with sense enough to believe it. But a lot of 'em +know too much—then the baby has to pay +for it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I'll be awful careful, Doctor.”</p> + +<p>“All right then. And stick right to the baby +through the hot months. Let me hear from it. +Good-bye.”</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling—three times. Mary rose +and went. An agitated voice said, “Come and +see the baby!” and was gone. “She is terribly +frightened,” thought Mary, as she rang central.</p> + +<p>“Some one rang Dr. Blank. Can you find +out who it was?”</p> + +<p>“I'm afraid not.”</p> + +<p>“Will you please try?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but people ought to do their own talking +and not bother us so much.”</p> + +<p>“I know,” said Mary gently, “but this is a +mother badly frightened about her baby—she +did not think what she was doing and left the +'phone without giving me her name.”</p> + +<p>Central tried with such good result that Mary +was soon in possession of the name and number. +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_187" title="187"> </a> +She telephoned that she would send the doctor +down as soon as she could find him, which she +thought would be in a few minutes. Then she +telephoned a house where he had been for several +days making evening visits.</p> + +<p>“Is Dr. Blank there?”</p> + +<p>“He <em>was</em> here. He's just gone.”</p> + +<p>“Is he too far away for you to call him?”</p> + +<p>“Run and see, Tommy.”</p> + +<p>Silence. Then, “Yes, he's got too far to hear. +I'm sorry.”</p> + +<p>“Very <ins title="well">well.</ins> Thank you.”</p> + +<p>“Let me see,” she meditated, “yes, I think he +goes there.”</p> + +<p>She got the house. “Is Dr. Blank there?”</p> + +<p>“He's just coming through the gate.”</p> + +<p>“Please ask him to come to the 'phone.” After +a minute his voice asked what was wanted and +Mary delivered her message.</p> + +<p>When her husband came home that night, she +said, “John, there's one more place you're to go +and you're to be there at nine o'clock.”</p> + +<p>“The deuce!” he looked at his watch, “ten +minutes to nine now. Where is it?”</p> + +<p>“I don't know.”</p> + +<p>“Don't know?”</p> + +<p>“No. I haven't the slightest idea.”</p> + +<p>“Why didn't you find out,” he asked, sharply. +Mary arched her brows. “Suppose <em>you</em> find out.”</p> + +<p>John rang central. With twinkling eyes his +wife listened.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_188" title="188"> </a>“Hello, central. Who was calling Dr. Blank a +while ago?”</p> + +<p>“A good many people call, Dr. Blank. I really +cannot say.”</p> + +<p>The voice was icily regular, <ins title="spendidly">splendidly</ins> null. It +nettled the doctor.</p> + +<p>“Suppose you try to find out.”</p> + +<p>“People who need a doctor ought to be as +much interested as we are. I don't know who +it was.” And the receiver went up.</p> + +<p>“Damned impudence!” said the doctor, slamming +up his receiver and facing about.</p> + +<p>“Wait, John. That girl has had to run down +the woman with the sick baby. She didn't give +<em>her</em> name either. Central had lots of trouble in +finding her. It's small wonder she rebelled when +I came at her the second time. So all I could +do was to deliver the message just as it came, +‘Tell the doctor to come down to our house and +to be here at nine o'clock.’”</p> + +<p>“Consultation, I suppose. They'll ring again +pretty soon, I dare say, and want to know why +I don't hurry up.”</p> + +<p>But nothing further was heard from the message +or the messenger that night or ever after.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>Can we move Henry out into the yard? It's +so hot inside.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_189" title="189"> </a>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>Can we move Jennie into the house? It gets +pretty cold along toward morning.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>Doctor, you know those pink tablets you left? +I forget just how you said to take 'em.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>The baby's throwing up like everything.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>Johnny's swallowed a nickel!.... You say it +won't?.... And not give him anything at all? +Well, I needn't have been so scared, then.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>The baby pulled the cat's tail and she scratched +her in the face. I'm afraid she's put her eye +out..... No, the <em>baby's</em> eye. I'm afraid she +can't see..... No, she's not crying. She's going +to sleep..... Well, I guess she <em>can't</em> see very +well with her eyes shut..... Then you won't +come down?.... All right, Doctor, you know +best.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>“Is this the doctor?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“The baby has a cold and I rubbed her chest +with vaseline and greased her nose. Is that all +right?”</p> + +<p>“All right.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_190" title="190"> </a>“And I am going to make her some onion +syrup, if I can remember how it's made. How +do you make it?”</p> + +<p>“Why—O, <em>you</em> remember how to make it.”</p> + +<p>The truth is the doctor was not profoundly +learned in some of the “home remedies” and was +more helpless than the little mother herself, +which she did not suspect.</p> + +<p>“You slice the onions and put sugar on them, +don't you?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that'll be all right,” he said, hastily putting +up the receiver.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>“Doctor, when you come down, bring something +for my fever—”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I will!”</p> + +<p>“And for my nervousness—”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes.” The doctor turned quickly from +the 'phone, but it rang again.</p> + +<p>“And for my back, Doctor—”</p> + +<p>“Yes. <em>Yes!</em>” He put the receiver up with a +bang and seizing his hat rushed away before +there should be any more.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Three rings.</p> + +<p>“Is this Dr. Blank's?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Is he there?”</p> + +<p>“No, but I expect him very soon.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_191" title="191"> </a>“When he comes will you tell him to come +out to Frank Tiller's?”</p> + +<p>“Does he know where that is?”</p> + +<p>“He was here once.”</p> + +<p>“Lately?”</p> + +<p>“No, some time ago.”</p> + +<p>“Please tell me what street you live on, so the +doctor will know where to go.” Mary heard a +consultation of a minute.</p> + +<p>“It's on Oak street.”</p> + +<p>“East Oak or West?” Another consultation.</p> + +<p>“North.”</p> + +<p>“Very well. I'll tell the doctor as soon as he +comes.”</p> + +<p>“Tell him to come as quick as he possibly can.”</p> + +<p>Five minutes later the office ring came. Mary +went obediently lest her husband might not be +in. She heard the same voice ask, “Is this you, +Doctor?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“We want you to come out to Frank Tiller's +as quick as you possibly can.”</p> + +<p>“Where is that?”</p> + +<p>“<em>You've</em> been here.”</p> + +<p>“<em>Where do you <ins title="live!">live?</ins></em>”</p> + +<p>“We live on Oak street.”</p> + +<p>“East or West?”</p> + +<p>“North.”</p> + +<p>“That street runs east and west!”</p> + +<p>“Ma, he says the street runs east and west.”</p> + +<p>“<ins title="Well">Well,</ins> maybe it does. I've not got my directions +here yet—then it must be west.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_192" title="192"> </a>“It's on West Oak street, Doctor.”</p> + +<p>The doctor was not quite able to locate the +place yet.</p> + +<p>“Is it the house where the girl had the sore +throat?”</p> + +<p>“Ma, he says, is it the place where the girl had +the sore throat?”</p> + +<p>“It's just in front of that house.”</p> + +<p>“She says it's just in front of that house and +come just as quick as you possibly can.”</p> + +<p>“What does she mean by ‘in front of it’?”</p> + +<p>“Why, it's just across the street, and come +just as quick as you possibly—”</p> + +<p>“Yes. I'll <em>run</em>.”</p> + +<p>Mary smiled, but she was glad to hear her husband +add a little more pleasantly, “I'll be out +there after a little.”</p> + +<p>When he came home he said, laughing, “That +girl up there took the medicine I gave her and +pounded the bottle to flinders before my eyes.”</p> + +<p>“What for?”</p> + +<p>“O, she was mad.”</p> + +<p>“What did you do then?”</p> + +<p>“Reached down in my pocket and took out +another one just like it and told them to give +it according to directions.”</p> + +<p>“Nothing like being prepared.”</p> + +<p>“I knew pretty well what I was up against before +I went. The old complaint,” said John, +drawing on his slippers as he spoke.</p> + +<h2><a class="pagenum" name="Page_193" title="193"> </a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<p>Mary had been down the street, shopping. +“I'll drop in and visit with John a few minutes,” +she thought, as she drew near the office. When +she entered her husband was at the telephone +with his back toward her.</p> + +<p>“Hello. What is it?”</p> + +<p>“Shake up your 'phone, I can't hear a word +you're saying.”</p> + +<p>“Who?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, <em>I</em> know.” Exasperation was in every +letter of every word.</p> + +<p>“Take one every six months and let me hear +from you when they're all gone.” Slam! “There's +always <em>some</em> damned thing,” he muttered, and +turning faced his wife.</p> + +<p>“A surprising prescription, John. What does +it mean?”</p> + +<p>“It means that she's one of these everlasting +complainers and that I'm tired of hearing her. +She's been to Chicago and St. Louis and Cincinnati. +She's had three or four laparotomies and +every time she comes back to me with a longer +story and a worse one. They've got about +everything but her appendix and they'll get that +if she don't watch out.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_194" title="194"> </a>“Why, I thought they always got that the first +thing.”</p> + +<p>“You have no idea how it tires a man to have +people come to him and complain, complain, +<em>complain</em>. The story is ever new to them but it +gets mighty old to the doctor. Then they go +away to the city and some surgeon with a great +name does what may seem to him to be best. +Sometimes they come back improved, sometimes +not, and sometimes they come back worse +than when they went. In all probability the operator +never sees the patient again and so the +last chapters of the story must be told to the +home doctor over and over again.”</p> + +<p>Mary gave a little sigh. The doctor went on:</p> + +<p>“In many cases it isn't treatment of any kind +that is needed. It is occupation—occupation +for the mind and for the hands. Something that +will make people forget themselves in their work +or in their play.”</p> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>“Is this you, Doctor?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“I wanted to see if you were at the office. I'll +be over there right away.”</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the door opened and a gentleman +about thirty-five years of age entered. His +manner was greatly agitated and he did not notice +Mrs. Blank at the window near the corner +of the room.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_195" title="195"> </a>“Good morning, Mr. Blake,” said the doctor, +shaking hands with him, “back again, are you?”</p> + +<p>Mr. Blake had been to C—, his native city. +He had not been well for some time and had +evinced a desire to go back and consult his old +physician there, in which Dr. Blank had heartily +concurred.</p> + +<p>“How long do you think I can live?” Mr. +Blake asked now.</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” replied the doctor, regarding +him closely.</p> + +<p>“I want to know how much time I have. I +want to get my business fixed up before—”</p> + +<p>“Blake, you couldn't die if you wanted to. +You're not a sick enough man for that.”</p> + +<p>The patient took a letter from his pocket and +handed it in silence to the doctor. The latter +took it, looked carefully at the superscription, +read it slowly through, then folded it with cool +deliberation and put it back into the envelope.</p> + +<p>“I thought you were going to your old physician,” +he said.</p> + +<p>“Dr. Kenton was out of the city so I went to +the great specialist.”</p> + +<p>“Did he tell you what was in this letter he sent +to me?”</p> + +<p>“No, but the letter was not sealed and I read +it. I was so anxious to know his opinion that +I couldn't help it. Tuberculosis of the larynx—” +his voice faltered.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said the doctor, calmly, “that is a thing +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_196" title="196"> </a> +a man may well be frightened about. But listen +to me, Blake. You've not got tuberculosis of the +larynx.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think a great physician like Dr. Wentworth +doesn't know what he is talking about?”</p> + +<p>“Dr. Wentworth is a great physician; I know +him well. But he is only a man like the rest of +us and therefore liable to err in judgment sometimes. +He knew you half an hour, perhaps, before +he pronounced upon your case. I have +known you and watched you for fifteen years. I +say you have not got tuberculosis <em>and I know I +am right</em>.”</p> + +<p>Mary saw Mr. Blake grasp her husband's +hand with a look in his face that made her think +within herself, “Blessings on the country doctor +wherever he may be, who has experience and +knowledge and wisdom enough to draw just and +true conclusions of his own and bravely state +them when occasion demands.”</p> + +<p>When the patient had gone Mary said to her +husband, “One gets a kaleidoscopic view of life +in a doctor's office. What comes through the ear +at home comes before the eye here. The kaleidoscope +turned a bright-colored bit into the place +of a dark one this time, John. I am glad I +was here to see.”</p> + +<p>As she spoke footsteps were heard on the +stairs. Slow and feeble steps they were, but at +last they reached the landing and paused at the +open door. Looking out Mary saw a poorly clad +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_197" title="197"> </a> +woman perhaps forty years of age, carrying in +her hands a speckled hen. She was pale and +trembling violently, and sank down exhausted +into the chair the doctor set for her. He took +the hen from her hands and set it on the floor. +Its feet were securely tied and it made no effort +to escape. The doctor had never seen the woman +before but noting the emaciated form and the +hectic flush on the cheek he saw that consumption +was fast doing its work. Mary took the palm +leaf fan lying on the table and stood beside her, +fanning her gently.</p> + +<p>When the woman could speak she said, “I +oughtn't to 'a' tried to walk, Doctor, but there +didn't seem to be anyone passin' an' this cough +is killin' me. I want something for it.”</p> + +<p>“How far did you walk?” asked Mary, kindly.</p> + +<p>“Four mile.”</p> + +<p>“Four miles!” she looked down at the trembling +form with deep pity in her brown eyes.</p> + +<p>“I didn't have any money, Doctor, but will the +hen pay for the medicine?” her eyes were +raised anxiously to his face and Mary's eyes met +the look in the eyes of her husband.</p> + +<p>“I don't want the hen. We haven't any place +to keep her. Besides my wife, here, is afraid +of hens.” A little smile flitted across the wan +face.</p> + +<p>He told her how to take the medicine and then +said, “Whenever you need any more let me know +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_198" title="198"> </a> +and I'll send it to you. You needn't worry about +the pay.”</p> + +<p>“I'm very much obleeged to you, Doctor.”</p> + +<p>“Just take the hen back home with you.”</p> + +<p>“I wonder if I couldn't sell her at the store,” +she said, looking at the doctor with a bright, expectant +face.</p> + +<p>“Wait here and rest awhile and then we'll see +about it. I'll go down and perhaps I can find +some one in town from out your way that you +can ride home with. Where do you live?” She +told him and he went down the stairs. In a little +while he came back.</p> + +<p>“One of your neighbors is down here now +waiting for you. He's just starting home,” he +said. He took the hen and as they started down +the stairs Mary came out and joined them. At +the foot of the stairway he said to the grocer +standing in front of his establishment, “Here, +Keller, I want you to give me a dollar for this +hen.”</p> + +<p>“She ain't worth it.”</p> + +<p>“She <em>is</em> worth it,” said the doctor so emphatically +that Keller put his hand in his pocket and +handed out the dollar. The poor woman did not +see the half dollar that passed from the doctor's +hand to the grocer's, but Mary saw and was glad.</p> + +<p>The doctor laid the dollar in the trembling +palm, helped the feeble woman into the wagon +and they drove off.</p> + +<p>Mary turned to her husband and said with a +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_199" title="199"> </a> +little break in her voice, “I'm going home, John. +I want to get away from your kaleidoscope.”</p> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>“And I must go for another peep into it. Good-bye. +Come again.”</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>“Is this Dr. Blank?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“This is Jim Sampson, Doctor, out at Sampson's +mill. My boy fell out of a tree a while +ago and broke his leg, and I'm sort o' worried +about it.”</p> + +<p>“It don't have to <em>stay</em> broke, you know.”</p> + +<p>“That's just the point. I'm afraid it will—for +a while at least.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?”</p> + +<p>“Why, my wife says she won't have it set +unless the signs are right for setting a broken +bone. She's great on the almanac signs.”</p> + +<p>“The devil! You have that bone <em>set</em>—<em>today</em>! +Do you understand?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but Mary's awful set in her way.”</p> + +<p>“I'm a darned sight more set. That boy's not +going to lie there and suffer because of a fool +whim of his mother's. Where is she? Send her +to the 'phone and I'll talk to <em>her</em>.”</p> + +<p>“She couldn't find her almanac and ran across +to the neighbor's to get one.”</p> + +<p>“Call me when she gets back.”</p> + +<p>Ten minutes passed and the call came.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_200" title="200"> </a>“It's all right, Doctor, the signs says so.”</p> + +<p>A note of humor but of unmistakable relief +vibrated in the voice.</p> + +<p>“Come right out.”</p> + +<p>“All right, Jim, I'll be out as soon as I make +my round here in town. Tell your wife to have +that almanac handy. I may learn something +from it.”</p> + +<p>An hour or two later he was starting out to +get into the buggy, with splints and other needful +things when the 'phone called him back. Hastily +cramming them under the seat he went.</p> + +<p>“Hello.”</p> + +<p>“Is this Dr. Blank?”</p> + +<p>“This is Millie Hastings. Do you remember +me?”</p> + +<p>“No-o—I don't believe I do.”</p> + +<p>“You doctored me.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I've ‘doctored’ several people.”</p> + +<p>“I had typhoid fever two years ago up in the +country at my uncle's.”</p> + +<p>“What's your uncle's name?”</p> + +<p>“Henry Peters.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I remember now.”</p> + +<p>“I wanted to find out what my bill is.”</p> + +<p>“Wait here a moment till I look at the book.”</p> + +<p>In a minute he had found it: Millie Hastings—so +many visits at such and such a date, +amounting to thirty-six dollars. He went back +to the 'phone.</p> + +<p>“Do you make your money by working by the +week?”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_201" title="201"> </a>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Have you learned how to save it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, I had to. I have to help mother.”</p> + +<p>“Your bill is eighteen dollars.”</p> + +<p>He heard a little gasp, then a delighted voice +said: “I was afraid it would be a good deal +more. And now Dr. Blank, I want to ask a +favor of you.”</p> + +<p>“Ask away.”</p> + +<p>“I brought four dollars to town with me today +to pay on my bill, but I want a rocking chair <em>so</em> +bad—I'm over here at the furniture store now—and +there's such a nice one here that just costs +four dollars and I thought maybe you'd wait +a<span style="white-space: nowrap;">——</span>”</p> + +<p>“<em>Certainly</em> I will. Get the rocking chair by +all means,” and he laughed heartily as he went +out to the buggy. He climbed in and drove +away, the smile still lingering on his face. At +the outskirts of the town a tall girl hailed him +from the sidewalk. He stopped.</p> + +<p>“I was just going to your office to get my +medicine,” she said.</p> + +<p>“I left it with the man there. He'll give it +to you.”</p> + +<p>“Must I take it just like the other?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. Laugh some, though, just before you +take it.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“Because you won't feel like it afterward.”</p> + +<p>The girl looked after him as he drove on.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_202" title="202"> </a>“He's laughing,” she said to herself and a grin +overspread her face as she pursued her leisurely +way.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling-ling-ling-ling!!!</p> + +<p>“Must be something unusual,” thought Mary +as the doctor went to the 'phone.</p> + +<p>“Doctor, is this you?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Come out to John Lansing's quick!”</p> + +<p>“What's the matter?”</p> + +<p>“My wife swallowed poison. Hurry, Doctor, +for God's <ins title="sake!">sake!”</ins></p> + +<p>In a few minutes the doctor was on his horse +(the roads being too bad for a buggy) and was +off. We will follow him as he plunges along +through the darkness.</p> + +<p>Because of the mud the horse's progress was +so slow that the doctor pulled him to one side, +urged him on to the board walk, much against his +inclination, and went clattering on at such a pace +that the doors began to fly open on both sides of +the street and heads, turned wonderingly after +the fleeting horseman, were framed in rectangles +of light.</p> + +<p>“What <em>is</em> the matter out there?” The angle +of the heads said it so plainly that the doctor +laughed within himself as he thundered on. Now +it chanced that one of the heads belonged to a +Meddlesome Matty who, next day, stirred the +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_203" title="203"> </a> +matter up, and that evening two officers of the +law presented themselves at Dr. Blank's office +and arrested him.</p> + +<p>“I don't care anything about the fine. All I +wanted was to get there,” he said, handing out +the three dollars.</p> + +<p>After the horse left the board walk the road +became more solid and in about ten minutes the +doctor arrived at his destination. Before he +could knock the door was opened. The patient +sat reclining in a chair, motionless, rigid, her eyes +closed.</p> + +<p>“What has she taken?” asked the doctor of +the woman's husband.</p> + +<p>“Laudanum.”</p> + +<p>“How much?”</p> + +<p>“She told me she took this bottle full,” and +he held up a two ounce bottle.</p> + +<p>“I think she's lying,” thought the doctor as he +laid his fingers upon her pulse. Then he raised +the lids and looked carefully at the pupils of the +eyes. “Not much contraction here,” he thought. +Turning to the husband who stood pale and +trembling beside him, he said,</p> + +<p>“Don't be alarmed—she's in no more danger +than you are.” He watched the patient's face +as he spoke and saw what he expected—a +faint facial movement.</p> + +<p>“To be on the safe side we'll treat the case +as if she had taken two ounces.” He gave her +a hypodermic emetic then called for warm water.</p> + +<p>“How much?” asked the husband.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_204" title="204"> </a>“O, a half gallon will do.”</p> + +<p>A big fat woman came panting through the +doorway. “I got here as quick as I could,” she +gasped.</p> + +<p>“We don't need you at all,” said the doctor +quietly. “Better go back home to your children, +Mrs. Johnson.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Johnson, not liking to be cheated out of +a sensation which she dearly loved, stood still. +Mr. Lansing came back with the warm water. A +faint slit appeared under the eyelids of the patient. +The doctor took the big cup and said abruptly, +“Here! drink this!”</p> + +<p>No response. “Mrs. Lansing!” he said so +sharply that her eyes opened. “Drink this +water.”</p> + +<p>“I ca-an't,” she murmured feebly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, you can.”</p> + +<p>“I won't,” the voice was getting stronger.</p> + +<p>“You will.”</p> + +<p>“You'll see.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I'll see.”</p> + +<p>He held the big vessel to her mouth. When +the water began to pour down her neck she +sprang to her feet fighting it off. He held the +cup in his left hand while with his right he +reached around her neck and took her firmly by +the nose. Then he held the cup against her +mouth and when it opened for breath he poured +the life-saving fluid forcefully down. Great +gulps of it were swallowed while a wide sheet of +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_205" title="205"> </a> +water poured down her neck and over her night-dress +to the floor.</p> + +<p>“That was very well done. Better sit down +now.”</p> + +<p>The husband stood in awed silence. The fat +woman shook her fist at the doctor's back which +he beheld, nothing daunted, in the looking-glass +on the wall. The patient herself sat down in +absolute quiet. In a minute she began retching +and vomited some of the water. The doctor inspected +it carefully. Then he went to his overcoat +on a chair, felt in the pocket and drew out +a coil of something. It looked like red rubber +and was about half an inch in diameter. He +slowly unwound it. It was five or six feet in +length. A subdued voice asked,</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do now, Doctor?”</p> + +<p>“I am going to turn on the hose.”</p> + +<p>“Wha-a-t?”</p> + +<p>“I am going to put this tube down into your +stomach. You haven't thrown up much of that +laudanum yet.”</p> + +<p>She opened her mouth to speak and the doctor +inserted one end of the tube and began ramming +it down. “Unfasten a button or two here,” +he said to her husband and rammed some more. +She gagged and gurgled and tried to push his +hands away.</p> + +<p>“Hold on, we're not down yet—we're only +about to the third button.” He began ramming +the tube again when she looked up at her husband +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_206" title="206"> </a> +so imploringly that he said, “Hold on a +minute, Doctor, she wants to say something.” +The doctor withdrew the tube and waited.</p> + +<p>“I'm sure I threw it all up.”</p> + +<p>“Oh no,” he said beginning to lift it again.</p> + +<p>“I—only—took—two—or three drops.”</p> + +<p>“Why the devil didn't you say so at the start?”</p> + +<p>“I wish I had. I just told <em>Jim</em> that.”</p> + +<p>“To get even with him for something,” announced +the doctor quietly.</p> + +<p>“How can he know so much,” mused Jim's +wife.</p> + +<p>“Now I advise you not to try this game again,” +said the doctor as he wound up the stomach tube +and put it into his pocket. “You can't fool Jim +all the time, and you can't fool me any of the +time. Good night.” And he rode home and +found Mary asleep in her chair.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>“Is this you, Dr. Blank?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“I wanted to ask you about an electric vibrator.”</p> + +<p>“About what?”</p> + +<p>“An electric vibrator.”</p> + +<p>“An electric something—I didn't get the last +word.”</p> + +<p>A little laugh, then “v-i-b-r-a-t-o-r.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! vibrator.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_207" title="207"> </a>“Yes. Do you think it would help my aunt?”</p> + +<p>“Not a durned bit.”</p> + +<p>Another little laugh, “You don't think it +would?”</p> + +<p>“No!”</p> + +<p>“I had a letter today from my cousin and she +said she knew a lady who had had a stroke and +this vibrator helped her more than anything.”</p> + +<p>“It didn't. She imagined it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I didn't know anything about it and I +knew you would, so I thought I'd 'phone you before +going any further. Much obliged, Doctor.”</p> + +<p>It would save much time and money and disappointment +if all those who don't know would +pause to put a question or two to those who do. +But so it is <em>not</em>, and the maker of worthless devices +and the concocter of nostrums galore +cometh oft to fortune by leaps and bounds, while +the poor, conscientious physician who sticks to +the truth of things, arriveth betimes at starvation's +gate.</p> + +<p>(I was startled a few days ago to learn that +the average income of physicians in the United +States does not exceed six hundred dollars.)</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>“Tell papa he's wanted at the 'phone,” said +Mary.</p> + +<p>“Where is he?”</p> + +<p>“Isn't he there in the dining room?”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_208" title="208"> </a>“No, he isn't here.”</p> + +<p>“He must be in the kitchen then; go to the +door and call him.”</p> + +<p>The small boy obeyed. “He's not out here +either,” he announced from the door-way.</p> + +<p>“Why, where can he be!” cried Mary, springing +up and going swiftly to the 'phone. “Hello.”</p> + +<p>“Is the doctor there?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. Wait just a minute and I will call him.”</p> + +<p>She hurried through the dining room, then +through the kitchen and out into the yard. No +doctor to be seen. “He passed through the house +not three minutes ago,” she said to herself.</p> + +<p>“John!”</p> + +<p>“Doctor!”</p> + +<p>“Doc-<em>tor</em>!”</p> + +<p>“O, dear! I don't see how he could disappear +from the face of the earth in three minutes' +time!”</p> + +<p>She hurried around a projecting corner +through a little gate and called again.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked a placid voice as its owner +emerged from his new auto garage.</p> + +<p>“Hurry to the 'phone for pity's sake!” and he +hurried. Mary, following, all out of breath, +heard this:</p> + +<p>“Two teaspoonfuls.” Then the doctor hung +up the receiver. He turned to Mary and laughed +as he quoted Emerson on the mountain and the +mouse.</p> + +<p>“I chased you all over the place this afternoon, +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_209" title="209"> </a> +John, when the 'phone was calling you, and +couldn't find you at all. Some people have days +to ‘appear’ but this seems to be your day to disappear. +Where were you then?”</p> + +<p>“Out in the garage.”</p> + +<p>“Fascinating spot! I'll know where to look +next time. Now come to supper.”</p> + +<h2><a class="pagenum" name="Page_210" title="210"> </a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<p>It was October—the carnival time of the year,</p> + +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">When on the ground red apples lie<br/></div> +<div class="line indent2">In piles like jewels shining,<br/></div> +<div class="line">And redder still on old stone walls<br/></div> +<div class="line indent2">Are leaves of woodbine twining.<br/></div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">When comrades seek sweet country haunts,<br/></div> +<div class="line indent2">By twos and twos together,<br/></div> +<div class="line">And count like misers, hour by hour,<br/></div> +<div class="line indent2">October's bright blue weather.<br/></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>On a lovely afternoon our travelers were driving +leisurely along through partially cleared +woodland. The doctor had proposed that they +take this trip in the new automobile. But Mary +had declined with great firmness.</p> + +<p>“I will not be hurled along the road in October +of all months. What fools these mortals be,” +she went on. “Last year while driving slowly +through the glorious Austrian Tyrol fairly holding +my breath with delight, one machine after +another whizzed by, the occupants fancying they +were ‘doing’ the Tyrol, I dare say.”</p> + +<p>Mary looked about her, drinking in deep +draughts of the delicious air. The beautifully-tinted +leaves upon every tree and bush, the blue +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_211" title="211"> </a> +haze in the distance and the dreamful melancholy +over all, were delightful to her. The fragrance +of wild grapes came to them as they +emerged from the woods and Mary said, +“Couldn't you wait a minute, John, until I go +back and find them? I'll bring you some.”</p> + +<p>“If you were sick and had sent for a doctor +would you like to have him fool around gathering +grapes and everything else on his way?”</p> + +<p>“No, I wouldn't. I really wouldn't.”</p> + +<p>They laughed as they sped along the open +country road, skirted on either side by a rail +fence. From a fence corner here and there +arose tall sumac, like candelabra bearing aloft +their burning tapers. The poke-weed flung out +its royal purple banners while golden-rod and +asters were blooming everywhere. Suddenly +Mary exclaimed, “I'm going to get out of the +buggy this minute.”</p> + +<p>“What for?”</p> + +<p>“To gather those brown bunches of hazelnuts.”</p> + +<p>“Mary, I positively will not wait for you.”</p> + +<p>“John, I positively don't want you to wait for +me,” said Mary, putting her foot on the step, +“I'm going to stay here and gather nuts till you +come back. See how many there are?” and she +sprang lightly to the ground.</p> + +<p>“It will be an hour or more before I can get +back. I've got to take up that pesky artery.”</p> + +<p>“It won't seem long. You know I like to be +alone.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_212" title="212"> </a>“Good-bye, then,” and the doctor started off.</p> + +<p>“Wait! John,” his wife called after him. “I +haven't a thing to put the nuts in, please throw +me the laprobe.” The doctor crushed the robe +into a sort of bundle and threw it to her.</p> + +<p>She spread the robe upon the ground and began +plucking the bunches. Her fingers flew +nimbly over the bushes and soon she had a pile +of the brown treasures. Dear old times came +trooping back. She thought of far-off autumn +days when she had taken her little wagon and +gone out to the hazel bushes growing near her +father's house, and filled it to the top and +tramped it down and filled it yet again. Then +a gray October day came back when three or +four girls and boys, all busy in the bushes, talked +in awed tones of the great fire—Chicago was +burning up! Big, big Chicago, which they had +never seen or dreamed of seeing—all because +a cow kicked over a lamp.</p> + +<p>Mary moved to another clump of bushes. As +she worked she thought if she had never known +the joy of gathering nuts and wild grapes and +persimmons, of wandering through woods and +meadows, her childhood would have lost much +that is beautiful and best, and her womanhood +many of its dearest recollections.</p> + +<p>“You're the doctor's wife, ain't ye?”</p> + +<p>Mary looked around quite startled. A tall woman +in a blue calico dress and a brown gingham +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_213" title="213"> </a> +sunbonnet was standing there. “I didn't want +to scare ye, I guess you didn't see me comin'.”</p> + +<p>“I didn't know you were coming—yes, I am +the doctor's wife.”</p> + +<p>“We saw ye from the house and supposed he'd +gone on to see old man Benning and that you +had stopped to pick nuts.”</p> + +<p>“You guessed it exactly,” said Mary with a +smile.</p> + +<p>“We live about a quarter mile back from the +road so I didn't see the doctor in time to stop +him.”</p> + +<p>“Is some one sick at your house, then?”</p> + +<p>“Well, my man ain't a doin' right, somehow. +He's been ailin' for some time and his left foot +and leg is a turnin' blue. I come to see if you +could tell me somethin' I could do for it. I'm +afraid it's mortifyin'.”</p> + +<p>Mary's brown eyes opened wide. “Why, my +dear woman, I couldn't tell you anything to do. +I don't know anything at all about such things.”</p> + +<p>“I supposed bein' a doctor's wife you'd learnt +everything like that.”</p> + +<p>“I have learned many things by being a doctor's +wife, very many things, but what to do with a +leg and foot that are mortifying I really could +not tell you.” Mary turned her face away to +hide a laugh that was getting near the surface. +“I will have the doctor drive up to the house +when he gets back if you wish,” she said, turning +to her companion.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_214" title="214"> </a>“Maybe that would be best. Your husband +cured me once when I thought nothing would +ever get me well again. I think more of him +than any other man in the world.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you. So do I.”</p> + +<p>She started off and Mary went on gathering +nuts, her face breaking into smiles at the queer +errand and the restorative power imputed to +herself. “If it is as serious as she thinks, all +the doctors in the world can't do much for it, +much less one meek and humble doctor's wife. +But they could amputate, I suppose, and I'm sure +I couldn't, not in a scientific way.”</p> + +<p>Thus soliloquizing, she went from clump to +clump of the low bushes till they were bereft of +their fruitage. She looked down well-pleased at +the robe with the nuts piled upon it. She drew +the corners up and tied her bundle securely. This +done she looked down the road where the doctor +had disappeared. “I'll just walk on and meet +him,” she thought. She went leisurely along, +stopping now and then to pluck a spray of goldenrod. +When she had gathered quite a bunch +she looked at it closely. “You are like some people +in this world—you have a pretty name and +at a little distance <em>you</em> are pretty: but seen too +close you are a disappointment, and more than +that you are coarse. I don't want you,” and she +flung them away. She saw dust rising far down +the road and hoped it might be the doctor. Yes, +it was he, and Bucephalus seemed to know that +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_215" title="215"> </a> +he was traveling toward home. When her husband +came up and she was seated beside him, +she said, “You are wanted at that little house +over yonder,” and she told him what had taken +place in the hazel bushes. “You're second choice +though, they came for me first,” she said laughing.</p> + +<p>“I wish to thunder you'd gone. They owe me +a lot now they'll never pay.”</p> + +<p>“At any rate, they hold you in very high esteem, +John.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, but esteem butters no bread.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you'll go, won't you? I told the woman +you would.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I'll go.”</p> + +<p>He turned into a narrow lane and in a few +minutes they were at the gate. The doctor +handed the reins to Mary and went inside. A +girl fourteen or fifteen years old with a bald-headed +baby on her arm came out of the house +and down the path.</p> + +<p>“Won't you come in?”</p> + +<p>“No, thank you. We will be going home in +a minute.”</p> + +<p>The girl set the baby on the gate-post. “She's +the smartest baby I ever saw,” she said. “She's +got a whole mouthful of teeth already.”</p> + +<p>“And how old is she?”</p> + +<p>“She was ten months old three weeks ago last +Saturday.”</p> + +<p>As today was Thursday, Mary was on the point +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_216" title="216"> </a> +of saying, “She will be eleven months old in a +few days then,” but checked herself—she understood. +It would detract from the baby's +smartness to give her eleven months instead of +only ten in which to accomplish such wonders +in the way of teeth. The doctor came out and +they started. Just before they came out to the +main road they passed an old deserted house. No +signs of life were about it except the very luxuriant +life in the tall jimsons and ragweeds +growing about it and reaching almost to the top +of the low doorway, yawning blackly behind +them.</p> + +<p>“I think the longest night of my life was spent +in that house about sixteen years ago. It's the +only house I was ever in where there was nothing +at all to read. There wasn't even an almanac.”</p> + +<p>Mary laughed. “An almanac is a great deal +better than nothing, my dear. I found that out +once upon a time when I had to stay in a house +for several hours where there was just one almanac +and not another printed page. I read the +jokes two or three times till they began to pall +and then set to work on the signs. I'll always +have a regard for them because they gave me a +lift through those tedious hours.”</p> + +<p>They were not far from the western edge of +the piece of woodland they were traversing and +all about them was the soft red light of the setting +sun. They could see the sun himself away +off through the straight and solemn trunks of +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_217" title="217"> </a> +the trees. A mile farther on Mary uttered a +sudden exclamation of delight.</p> + +<p>“See that lovely bittersweet!”</p> + +<p>“I see, but don't ask me to stop and get you +some.”</p> + +<p>“I won't, but I'll ask you to stop and let <em>me</em> +get some.”</p> + +<p>“I wouldn't bother about it. You'll have to +scramble over that ditch and up the bank—”</p> + +<p>“I've scrambled over worse things in my life,” +she said, springing from the buggy and picking +her way down the intervening ditch. The bright +red berries in their flaring yellow hoods were +beautiful. She began breaking off the branches. +When she had gathered a large bunch and was +turning toward the buggy she saw a vehicle containing +two women approaching from the opposite +direction. There was a ditch on either side +of the road which, being narrow at this point, +made passing a delicate piece of work. The doctor +drew his horse to one side so that the wheels +of the buggy rested on the very brink and waited +for them to pass; he saw that there was room +with perhaps a foot or two to spare.</p> + +<p>On came the travelers and—the front +wheels of the two vehicles were locked +in a close embrace. For a minute the +doctor did some vigorous thinking and +then he climbed out of the buggy. It was a +trying position. He could not say all of the +things he wanted to—it would not be polite; +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_218" title="218"> </a> +neither did he want to act as if it were nothing +because Mary might not understand the extent +of the mischief she had caused and how much +out of humor he was with her. It would be +easier if she were only out of hearing instead of +looking at him across the ditch with apologetic +eyes.</p> + +<p>The doctor's horse began to move uneasily but +the other stood perfectly still.</p> + +<p>“He's used to this sort of thing, perhaps,” said +the doctor with as little sarcasm as possible.</p> + +<p>“Yes, we have run into a good many buggies +and things,” said one of the women, cheerfully.</p> + +<p>“Women beat the devil when it comes to driving,” +thought the doctor within himself. “They'll +drive right over you and never seem to think +they ought to give part of the road. And they +do it everywhere, not only where there are +ditches.” He restrained his speech, backed the +offending vehicle and started the travelers on. +While he was doing so his own steed started +on and he had a lively run to catch him.</p> + +<p>Mary had thought of turning back to break +off another spray of the bittersweet but John's +profanity was rising to heaven. Diplomacy required +her to get to the buggy and into it at once. +This she did and the doctor plunged in after +her.</p> + +<p>“Forgive me for keeping you waiting,” she +said gently. She held the bittersweet out before +her. “Isn't it lovely, John?”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_219" title="219"> </a>A soft observation turneth away wrath. The +doctor's was oozing away sooner than he wished.</p> + +<p>They drove on for a while in silence. The soft, +still landscape dotted here and there with farm +houses and with graceful elm and willow trees, +was lit up and glorified by the after-glow. The +evening sky arching serenely over a quiet world, +how beautiful it was! And as Mary's eyes +caught a glittering point of light in the blue vault +above them, she sang softly to herself:</p> + +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">“O, thou sublime, sweet evening star,<br/></div> +<div class="line indent1">Joyful I greet thee from afar.”<br/></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>For a while she watched the stars as one by +one they twinkled into view, then drawing her +wraps more closely about her, she leaned back in +the carriage and gave herself up to pleasant reflection, +and before she realized it the lights of +home were twinkling cheerily ahead.</p> + +<h2><a class="pagenum" name="Page_220" title="220"> </a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<p>“You are not going out tonight, John, no matter +how often the 'phone rings. I positively will +not let you.” Mary spoke with strong emphasis. +All the night before he had been up and today +had been a hard day for him. She had seldom +seen him so utterly weary as he was tonight. He +had come home earlier than usual and now sat +before the fire, his head sunk on his breast, half +asleep.</p> + +<p>“Go right to bed, dear, then you can really +rest.”</p> + +<p>The doctor, too tired to offer any resistance, +rose and went to the bedroom. In a few minutes +his wife heard regular sonorous sounds from the +bed. (When she spoke of these sounds to John, +Mary pronounced it without the first <i>o</i>.)</p> + +<p>Glad that he had so soon fallen into deep +sleep she settled back in her chair. “I'll protect +him tonight,” she thought, “though fiery darts +be hurled.”</p> + +<p>She thought of many things. The fire-light +gleamed red upon the hearth. All was still. The +sounds from the adjoining room had ceased. +Something stirred within her and she rose and +went softly to the bedside of her sleeping husband. +In the half-light she could see the strong, +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_221" title="221"> </a> +good face. Dear John so profane yet so patient, +so severe yet so tender, what would it be to face +life without him. She laid her hand very lightly +on the hand which lay on the counterpane, then +took it away lest it disturb the sleeper. She went +back to her chair and opening a little volume took +from it a folded sheet. Twice before today +had she read the words written within it. A +dear friend whose husband had recently died had +written her, inclosing them. She read them again +now:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="center">IN MEMORIAM,—A PRAYER.</p> + +<p>“O God! The Father of the spirits of all +flesh, in whatsoever world or condition they be,—I +beseech Thee for him whose name, and +dwelling place, and every need Thou knowest. +Lord, vouchsafe him peace and light, rest and refreshment, +joy and consolation in Paradise, in +the ample folds of Thy great love. Grant that +his life, so troubled here, may unfold itself in +Thy sight, and find employment in the spacious +fields of Eternity.—If he hath ever been hurt +or maimed by any unhappy word or deed of +mine, I pray Thee, of Thy great pity, to heal and +restore him, that he may serve Thee without +hindrance.</p> + +<p>“Tell him, O gracious Father, if it may be,—how +much I love him and miss him, and long to +see him again; and if there may be ways in which +he may come, vouchsafe him to me as guide and +guard, and grant me such sense of his nearness +as Thy laws permit. If in aught I can minister +to his peace, be pleased of Thy love to let this +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_222" title="222"> </a>be; and mercifully keep me from every act which +may deprive me of the sight of him, as soon as +our trial time is over, or mar the fullness of our +joy when the end of the days hath come.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Mary brushed away a tear from her cheek. +“This letter has awakened unusual thoughts. I +will—”</p> + +<p>A sharp peal from the telephone.</p> + +<p>“What is it?”</p> + +<p>“Is the doctor at home?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. He has gone to bed and is fast asleep.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! We wanted him to come down to see +my sister.”</p> + +<p>“He was up all last night and is not able to +come—”</p> + +<p>“Can I just talk to him about her?”</p> + +<p>Mary sighed. To rouse him from his sorely +needed sleep was too cruel. Then she spoke. “I +must not disturb him unless it is absolutely +necessary. I shall be sitting here awake—call +me again in a little while if you think it necessary.”</p> + +<p>“A—l—l r—i—g—h—t—” and a sob came +distinctly to the listener's ear.</p> + +<p>This was too much for Mary. “I'll call him,” +she said hurriedly and went to the bedroom.</p> + +<p>With much difficulty she roused him. He threw +back the covers, got up and stumbled to the +'phone.</p> + +<p>“Hello..... Yes..... They didn't? Is she suffering +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_223" title="223"> </a> +much?.... All right, I'll be down in a +little bit.”</p> + +<p>Mary groaned aloud. She had vowed to protect +him though fiery darts be hurled. But the +sob in the voice of a frightened young girl was +more potent than any fiery dart could have been +and had melted her at once. Slowly but surely +the doctor got himself into his clothes.</p> + +<p>“I don't think there's any use of my going +down there again, but I suppose I'll have it to +do.” When he returned an hour later, he said, +“Just as I thought—they were badly scared +over nothing. I shouldn't wonder if they'd rout +me out again before morning.”</p> + +<p>“No, they won't,” said Mary to herself, and +when her husband was safe in bed again, she +walked quietly to the telephone, took down the +receiver and <em>left</em> it down. “Extreme cases require +extreme measures,” she thought as she, +too, prepared for her night's rest. But there +was a haunting feeling in her mind about the +receiver hanging there. Suppose some one who +really did need the doctor should call and call +in vain. She would not think of it. She turned +over and fell asleep and they both slept till morning +and rose refreshed for another day.</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>A few weeks later circumstances much like +those narrated above arose, and the doctor's wife +for the second and last time left the receiver +down. About two o'clock there came a tragic +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_224" title="224"> </a> +pounding at the door and when the doctor went +to open it a voice asked, “What's the matter +down here?”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“Central's been ringing you to beat the band +and couldn't get you awake.”</p> + +<p>“Strange we didn't hear. What's wanted?” +He had recognized the messenger as the night +clerk at the hotel not far from his home.</p> + +<p>“A man hurt at the railroad—they're afraid +he'll bleed to death. Central called me and asked +me to run over here and rouse you.”</p> + +<p>When the doctor was gone Mary rose tremblingly +and hung up the receiver. She would not +tell John what she had done. He would be angry. +She had felt that the end justified the +means—that he was tired out and half sick and +sorely needed a night's unbroken rest—but if +the end should be the bleeding to death of this +poor man—</p> + +<p>She dared not think of it. She went back to +bed but not to sleep. She lay wide awake keenly +anxious for her husband's return. And when at +last he came her lips could hardly frame the +question, “How is he, John?”</p> + +<p>“Pretty badly hurt, but not fatally.”</p> + +<p>“Thank heaven!” Mary whispered, and formed +a quick resolve which she never broke. This belonged +to her husband's life—it must remain a +part of it to the end.</p> + +<h2><a class="pagenum" name="Page_225" title="225"> </a>CHAPTER <ins title="XVI">XVII</ins>.</h2> + +<p>One lovely morning in April, Mary was called +to the telephone.</p> + +<p>“I want you to drive to the country with me +this morning,” said her husband.</p> + +<p>“I'll be delighted. I have a little errand down +town and I'll come to the office—we can start +from there.” Accordingly half an hour later she +walked into the office and seated herself in a +big chair to wait till John was ready. The door +opened and a small freckle-faced boy entered.</p> + +<p>“Good morning, Governor,” said the doctor. +The governor grinned.</p> + +<p>“What can I do for you today?”</p> + +<p>“How much will ye charge to pull a tooth?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I'll pull the tooth and if it don't hurt +I won't charge anything. Sit down.”</p> + +<p>The boy sat down and the doctor got out his +forceps. The tooth came hard but he got it. The +boy clapped his hand over his mouth but not a +sound escaped him.</p> + +<p>“There it is,” said the doctor, holding out the +offending member. “Do you want it?” A boy's +tooth is a treasure to be exhibited to all one's +friends. He took it and put it securely in his +pocket.</p> + +<p>“How much do I have to pay?”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_226" title="226"> </a>“Did it hurt?”</p> + +<p>“Nope.”</p> + +<p>“Nothing at all.”</p> + +<p>The boy slid from the chair and out of the +door, ecstasy overspreading all the freckles.</p> + +<p>“That boy has a future,” said Mary looking +after him with a smile.</p> + +<p>“I see they have brought the horse. We must +be starting.”</p> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>“They want ye down at Pete Jansen's agin.”</p> + +<p>“What's the matter there now?”</p> + +<p>“O, that youngun's been <em>drinkin'</em> somethin' +agin.”</p> + +<p>“Into the lye this time, too?”</p> + +<p>“No, it's coal oil and bluin' this time and I +don't know what else.”</p> + +<p>“I'll be down right away,” said the doctor, +taking up his <ins title="hat.”">hat.</ins></p> + +<p>“Get into the buggy and drive down with me, +Mary, it's just at the edge of town and then we +can drive on into the country.”</p> + +<p>When they stopped at the house, an unpainted +little frame structure, Mary held the horse while +her husband went in.</p> + +<p>“Where's the boy?” he asked, looking around.</p> + +<p>“He's out in the back yard a-playin' now, I +guess,” his mother replied from the bed.</p> + +<p>“Then what in thunder did you send for me +for?”</p> + +<p>“Why, I was scared for fear it would kill him.” +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_227" title="227"> </a> +The doctor turned to go then paused to ask, +“How's the baby?”</p> + +<p>“She's doin' fine.”</p> + +<p>“She's just about a week old now, isn't she?”</p> + +<p>“A week yesterday. Don't you want to see +how much she's growed?”</p> + +<p>The doctor went to the bed and looked down +at the wee little maiden.</p> + +<p>“Great God!” he exclaimed, so fiercely that the +woman was frightened. “Why haven't you let +me know about this baby's <ins title="eyes.">eyes?</ins>”</p> + +<p>“W'y, we didn't think it'd 'mount to anything. +We thought they'd git well in a day or two.”</p> + +<p>“She'll be blind in less than a week if something +isn't done for them.”</p> + +<p>“Grandmother's been a doctorin' 'em some.”</p> + +<p>“Well, there's going to be a change of doctors +right straight. I'm going to treat this baby's +eyes myself.”</p> + +<p>“We don't want any strong medicine put in +a baby's eyes.”</p> + +<p>“It don't make a bit of difference what you +want. I'm going to the drug store now to get +what I need and I want you to have warm water +and clean cloths ready by the time I get back. +Is there anyone here to do it?”</p> + +<p>“There's a piece of a girl out there in the +kitchen. She ain't much 'count.” The doctor +went to the kitchen door and gave his orders.</p> + +<p>“I'd ruther you'd let the baby's eyes alone. +I'm afraid to have strong medicine put in 'em.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_228" title="228"> </a>For answer he went out, got into the +buggy and drove rapidly back to town where he +procured what he needed and in a few minutes +was back.</p> + +<p>“You'd better come in this time, Mary, you'll +get tired of waiting and besides I want you to +see this baby. I want you to know something +about what every father and mother ought to +understand.”</p> + +<p>They went in and the doctor took the baby up +and seated himself by the chair on which stood +a basin of water. The mother, with very ungracious +demeanor, looked on. Mary, shocked and +filled with pity, looked down into the baby's face. +The inflammation in the eyes was terrible. The +secretion constantly exuded and hung in great +globules to the tiny lids. Never in her life had +she seen anything like it. “Let me hold it for +you,” she said, sitting down and taking the baby +in her lap.</p> + +<p>The doctor turned the little head toward him +and held it gently between his knees. He took +a pair of goggles from his pocket and put them +over his eyes to protect them from the poison, +then tenderly as any mother could have done, +he bathed and cleansed the poor little eyes opening +so inauspiciously upon the world. He thought +as he worked of this <ins title="terribe">terrible</ins> scourge of infancy, +producing one-third of all the blindness in the +world. He thought too, that almost all of this +blindness was preventable by prompt and proper +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_229" title="229"> </a> +treatment. Statistics had proven these two +things beyond all doubt. He thought of the +earnest physicians who had labored long to have +some laws enacted in regard to this stupendous +evil but with little result.<a name="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">[1]</a> +1. Ophthalmia Neonatorum +</p> +<p> +2. There has been legislation for the prevention of blindness +in the States of New York, Maine, Rhode Island and +Illinois. +</p> +</div> + +<p>When they were in the buggy again Mary said, +“But what if the baby goes blind after all? Of +course they would say that you did it with your +‘strong medicine.’”</p> + +<p>“Of course they would, but that would not disturb +me in the least. But it will not go blind +now. I'll see to that.”</p> + +<p>Soon they had left the town behind them and +were fairly on their way. The soft, yet bracing, +air of the April morning was delightful. The +sun shone warm. Birds carolled everywhere. +The buds on the oak trees were swelling, while +those on the maples were bursting into red and +furzy bloom. Far off to the left a tall sycamore +held out white arms in welcome to the Springtime +and perfect stillness lay upon the landscape.</p> + +<p>“I am so glad the long reign of winter and +bad roads is ended, John, so I can get out with +you again into the blessed country.”</p> + +<p>“And I am glad to have good company.”</p> + +<p>“Thanks for that gallant little speech. Ask +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_230" title="230"> </a> +me often, but I won't go every time because you +might get tired of me and I'd be sure to get tired +of you.”</p> + +<p>“Thanks for that gracious little <ins title="speech.">speech.”</ins></p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>That evening when the doctor and Mary were +sitting alone, she said, “John, that baby's eyes +have haunted me all day long. And you say one-third +of the blindness of the world is due to this +disease.”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“That seems to me a terrific accusation against +you doctors. What have you been doing to prevent +it?”</p> + +<p>“Everything that has been done—not very +much, I'm afraid. Speaking for myself, I can +say that I have long been deeply interested. I +have written several papers on the subject—one +for our State Medical Society.”</p> + +<p>“So far so good. But I'd like to know more +about it.”</p> + +<p>“Write to the secretary of the State Board of +Health for all the information that he can give +you.”</p> + +<p>The next day Mary wrote. Three days later +she received the following letter:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="right small-caps">Springfield, Nov. 16, 1909.</p> + +<p class="no-indent">My dear Mrs. Blank:</p> + +<p>Several states of the Union have laws in relation +to the prevention of blindness, some good, +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_231" title="231"> </a>some bad, and some indifferent, and I fear that +the last applies to the manner in which the laws +are enforced in the majority of the States. In the +December, 1908, <cite>Bulletin</cite> of this Board, a copy +of which I send you under separate cover, you +will find the Illinois law, which, as you can readily +see, is very difficult of enforcement.</p> + +<p>But, as I said, much can be done in its enforcement +if the State Board of Health can secure +the co-operation of the physicians of the +State. However, in this connection you will note +that I have made an appeal to physicians, on +page 757. Yet, to the best of my knowledge, the +Board has not received one inquiry in regard to +the enforcement of this law, except from the +Committee on the Prevention of Ophthalmia Neonatorum.</p> + +<p>In regard to the other States, it will take me +some time to look up the laws, but I will advise +you in a few days.</p> + +<p class="center">Sincerely yours,</p> + +<p class="right small-caps">J. A. Egan.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>After reading it carefully through, Mary's +eye went back to the sentence, “Much can be +done if the State Board of Health can secure the +co-operation of the physicians of the State.”</p> + +<p>She rose and walked the floor. “If I were a +Voice—a persuasive voice,” she thought, “I +would fly to the office of every physician in our +great State and then to every physician in the +land and would whisper in his ear, ‘It is your +glorious privilege to give light to sightless eyes. +It is more: it is your sacred duty. O, be up and +doing!’”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_232" title="232"> </a>“To think, John,” she said, turning impetuously +toward her husband, “that I, all these years +the wife of a man who knows this terrible truth, +should just be finding it out. Then think of the +thousands of men and women who know nothing +about it. How are they to know? Who is to +tell them? Who is to blame for the blindness in +the first place? Who can—”</p> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. +Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>“Is this Dr. Blank?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“This is Mr. Ardmore. Can you come up to +my house right away?”</p> + +<p>“Right away.”</p> + +<p>When he arrived at his destination he was met +at the door by a well-dressed, handsome young +man. “Just come into this room for a few minutes, +Doctor. My wife says they are not quite +ready for you in there.”</p> + +<p>“Who is the patient?” asked the doctor as he +walked into the room indicated.</p> + +<p>“The baby boy.”</p> + +<p>“The baby boy!” exclaimed the doctor. “I +didn't know the little rascal had got here.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, you were out of town. My wife and I +thought that ended the matter but he got here +just the same.”</p> + +<p>“Mighty glad to hear it. How old is he?”</p> + +<p>“Just ten days.”</p> + +<p>“Pretty fine, isn't he?”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_233" title="233"> </a>“You bet! I wouldn't take all the farms in +these United States for him.”</p> + +<p>“To be sure. To be sure,” laughed the doctor. +He picked up a little volume lying open on the +table. “Do you like Omar?” he asked, aimlessly +turning the pages.</p> + +<p>“Very much. I don't always get the old Persian's +meaning exactly. Take this verse,” he +reached for the book and turning back a few +pages read:</p> + +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">“The moving finger writes; and having writ,<br/></div> +<div class="line indent3">Moves on; nor all your piety nor wit<br/></div> +<div class="line indent1">Shall lure it back to cancel half a line,<br/></div> +<div class="line indent3">Nor all your tears wash out a word of it.<br/></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="no-indent">That sounds pretty but it has something in it +that almost scares a fellow—he doesn't know +why.”</p> + +<p>The nurse appeared in the doorway and announced +that the doctor might come in now. +Both men rose and went across the hall into the +bedroom. The doctor shook hands with the +baby's mother. “Where did you get this?” he +asked, laying his hand on the downy little head.</p> + +<p>“He came out of the everywhere into the +here,” she quoted, smiling.</p> + +<p>“Nurse, turn the baby's face up so the doctor +can see his eyes. They're greatly inflamed, Doctor,” +she said.</p> + +<p>The doctor started. “Bring a light closer,” he +said sharply.</p> + +<p>While the light was being brought he asked, +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_234" title="234"> </a> +“Did this inflammation begin when the baby was +about three days old?”</p> + +<p>“He was exactly three days old.”</p> + +<p>“And been growing worse ever since?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. Dr. Brown was with me when he was +born. He came in the next day and everything +was all right. Then he was called to Chicago +and I didn't know enough about babies to know +that this might be serious.”</p> + +<p>“<em>You</em> ought to have known,” said the doctor +sternly, turning to the nurse.</p> + +<p>“I am not a professional nurse. I have never +seen anything like this before.”</p> + +<p>The light was brought and the nurse took the +baby in her arms. The doctor, bending over it, +lifted the swollen little lids and earnestly scrutinized +the eyes. <em>The cornea was entirely destroyed!</em></p> + +<p>“O God!” The words came near escaping +him. Sick at heart he turned his face away that +the mother might not see. She must not know +the awful truth until she was stronger. He gave +some instructions to the nurse, then left the room +followed by the baby's father.</p> + +<p>“Stop for a few minutes, Doctor, if you please. +I'd like to ask you something about this,” and +both resumed their seats, after Mr. Ardmore had +closed the door.</p> + +<p>“Do you think the baby's eyes have been hurt +by too much light?”</p> + +<p>“No by darkness—Egyptian darkness.”</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_235" title="235"> </a>The young man looked at him in wonder.</p> + +<p>“What is the disease?”</p> + +<p>“It is Ophthalmia Neonatorum, or infantile +sore eyes.”</p> + +<p>“What is the nature of it?”</p> + +<p>“It is always an infection.”</p> + +<p>“How can that be? There has been nobody +at all in the room except Dr. Brown and the +nurse.”</p> + +<p>The doctor did not speak. There came into his +mind the image of Mary as she had asked so +earnestly, “How are they to know? Who is to +tell them?”</p> + +<p>Leaning slightly forward and looking the +young man in the face he said, “I do not know +absolutely, but <em>you</em> know!”</p> + +<p>“Know what?”</p> + +<p>“Whether or not your child's eyes have had a +chance to be infected by certain germs.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean, Doctor?” asked the +young father in vague alarm.</p> + +<p>Slowly, deliberately, and with keen eyes +searching the other's face the doctor made reply:</p> + +<p>“I mean that the sins of the fathers are visited +upon the children.”</p> + +<p>There was bewildered silence for an instant +then a wave of crimson surged over neck, cheek +and brow. It was impossible to meet the doctor's +eyes. The young man looked down and +made no attempt to speak. By and by he said in +a low voice, “It's no use for me to deny to you, +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_236" title="236"> </a> +Doctor, that I have been a fool and have let my +base passions master me. But if I had dreamed +of any such result as this they wouldn't have +mastered me—I know that.”</p> + +<p>“The man that scorns these vile things because +of the eternal wrong in them will never have +any fearful results rising up to confront him.”</p> + +<p>“All that has been put behind me forever, +Doctor; I feel the truth and wisdom of what you +say. Just get my boy's eyes well and he shall +never be ashamed of his father.”</p> + +<p>The doctor looked away from the handsome, +intelligent face so full at that moment of love +and tenderness for this new son which had been +given into his care and keeping, and a wave of +pity surged over him. But he must go on to the +bitter end.</p> + +<p>“You have not understood this old Persian's +verse,” he said, taking up the little book again. +“Tonight his meaning is to be made plain to +you.”</p> + +<p>Slowly he read:</p> + +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="line">“The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,<br/></div> +<div class="line indent3">Moves on; nor all your Piety nor Wit<br/></div> +<div class="line indent1">Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,<br/></div> +<div class="line indent3">Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of <ins title="it.">it.”</ins><br/></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>He laid the volume gently down and turning, +faced the younger man.</p> + +<p>“Listen: In those licentious days the Moving +Finger was writing a word for the future to reveal. +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_237" title="237"> </a> +It wrote BLIND in the eyes of your helpless +child.”</p> + +<p>“My God! You don't mean it!”</p> + +<p>“It is true. The cornea is destroyed.”</p> + +<p>A deathly pallor overspread the young man's +face. He bowed his head in his hands and great +sobs shook his frame. “My God! My God!” he +gasped over and over again. Accustomed as the +doctor was to suffering and sorrow this man's +anguish was too much for him. The tears rolled +down his cheeks and he made no effort to restrain +them.</p> + +<p>After a long time the younger man raised +his head and spoke in broken words, “Doctor, I +must not keep you here. You are needed elsewhere. +Leave me to Remorse. I am young and +you are growing old, Doctor, but will you take +this word from me? You and all in your profession +should long ago have told us these +things. The world should not lie in ignorance of +this tremendous evil. If men will not be saved +from themselves they will save their unborn +children, if they only know. God help them.”</p> + +<p>The doctor went slowly homeward, his mind +filled with the awful calamity in the household +he had left. “It is time the world is waking,” +he thought. “We must arouse it.”</p> + +<hr class="thought-break"/> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. +Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_238" title="238"> </a>“Is this Mrs. Blank?”</p> + +<p>It was a manly voice vibrating with youth and +joy.</p> + +<p>“I want to tell you that your husband has just +left a sweet little daughter at our house.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, has he! I'm very glad, Mr. Farwell. +Thank you for telephoning. Father, mother and +baby all doing well?”</p> + +<p>“Fine as silk. I had to tell <em>somebody</em> right +away. Now I'm off to send some telegrams to +the folks at home. Goodbye.”</p> + +<p>Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. +Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<p>“This is Mrs. Blank is it not?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Will you please tell the doctor that father is +dead. He died twenty minutes ago.”</p> + +<p>“The doctor was expecting the message, Mr. +Jameson,” said Mary gently. This, too, was the +voice of a young man, but quiet, subdued, +bringing tidings of death instead of life. And +Mary, going back to her seat in the twilight, +thought of the words of one—Life is a narrow +vale between the cold and barren peaks of two +eternities. The eternity before the baby came, +the eternity after the old man went, were solemnly +in her thoughts. But they were not cold +and barren peaks to her. They were crowned +with light and warmth and love.</p> + +<p>And into her thoughts came, too, the never-ending +story of the 'phone as it was unfolding +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_239" title="239"> </a> +itself to her throughout the years. Humor and +pathos, folly and wisdom, tragedy and comedy, +pain, anguish, love, joy, sorrow—all had spoken +and had poured their brief story into the listening +ear of the helper. And when he was not +there, into the ear of one who must help in her +own poor way.</p> + +<p>O countless, countless messages stored in her +memory to await his coming! Only she could +know how faithfully she had guarded and delivered +them. Only she could—</p> + +<p>Ting-a-ling. Ting-a-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.</p> + +<div id="tnote-bottom"> +<p class="center"><a name="tn-bottom"><b>Transcriber's Note:</b></a></p> +<p>The following is a list of corrections made to the original. The +first passage is the original passage, the second the corrected one.</p> + +<ul id="corrections"> +<li><a href="#Page_17">Page 17</a>:<br/> +“That's about five miles out, isn't it. <span class="correction">Whose</span><br/> +“That's about five miles out, isn't it. <span class="correction">Who's</span> +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_19">Page 19</a>:<br/> +<span class="correction">Well</span>, where is the <em>doctor</em>?”<br/> +<span class="correction">“Well</span>, where is the <em>doctor</em>?” +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_28">Page 28</a>:<br/> +'phone. “Please give me John Small's at <span class="correction">Drayton.</span><br/> +'phone. “Please give me John Small's at <span class="correction">Drayton.”</span> +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_30">Page 30</a>:<br/> +<span class="correction">“Mary</span> heard the 'phoner say in an aside, “He<br/> +<span class="correction">Mary</span> heard the 'phoner say in an aside, “He +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_30">Page 30</a>:<br/> +give her Drayton, Mr. Walton's <span class="correction">house.”</span><br/> +give her Drayton, Mr. Walton's <span class="correction">house.</span> +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_35">Page 35</a>:<br/> +She flew to the Farmers' <span class="correction">phone</span>.<br/> +She flew to the Farmers' <span class="correction">'phone</span>. +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_35">Page 35</a>:<br/> +the pages,—<span class="correction">yes</span>, here it is.”<br/> +the pages,—<span class="correction">“yes</span>, here it is.” +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_35">Page 35</a>:<br/> +“Thought you was a-goin' to hold <span class="correction">the' phone</span>.<br/> +“Thought you was a-goin' to hold <span class="correction">the 'phone</span>. +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_44">Page 44</a>:<br/> +“Shake up your 'phone. I can't hear <span class="correction">you.</span><br/> +“Shake up your 'phone. I can't hear <span class="correction">you.”</span> +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_59">Page 59</a>:<br/> +the <span class="correction">phone</span>. Going, one morning, to speak to a<br/> +the <span class="correction">'phone</span>. Going, one morning, to speak to a +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_61">Page 61</a>:<br/> +every <span class="correction">morning?”</span> I've been doing that but<br/> +every <span class="correction">morning?</span> I've been doing that but +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_61">Page 61</a>:<br/> +“Likes to see <span class="correction">it's</span> mamma?”<br/> +“Likes to see <span class="correction">its</span> mamma?” +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_62">Page 62</a>:<br/> +<span class="correction">My</span> land! I've been here three or four times.<br/> +<span class="correction">“My</span> land! I've been here three or four times. +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_63">Page 63</a>:<br/> +sometime was <span class="correction">mightly</span> emphatic.”<br/> +sometime was <span class="correction">mightily</span> emphatic.” +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_71">Page 71</a>:<br/> + <span class="correction">That</span> sounds good, Doctor. I was awfully<br/> + <span class="correction">“That</span> sounds good, Doctor. I was awfully +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_74">Page 74</a>:<br/> +of central, <span class="correction">some</span> one is trying to speak—”<br/> +of central, <span class="correction">“some</span> one is trying to speak—” +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_80">Page 80</a>:<br/> +“Yes, you <em>can</em>!” roared a voice. <span class="correction">You</span> jist want<br/> +“Yes, you <em>can</em>!” roared a voice. <span class="correction">“You</span> jist want +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_86">Page 86</a>:<br/> +<span class="correction">It's</span> <em>exactly</em> in his line. Years ago when I was<br/> +<span class="correction">“It's</span> <em>exactly</em> in his line. Years ago when I was +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_89">Page 89</a>:<br/> +would break and then she said, <span class="correction">“Father</span>, I <em>must</em><br/> +would break and then she said, <span class="correction">‘Father</span>, I <em>must</em> +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_89">Page 89</a>:<br/> +tell you, but don't tell <span class="correction">mother</span>; and then she told<br/> +tell you, but don't tell <span class="correction">mother’</span>; and then she told +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_94">Page 94</a>:<br/> +<span class="correction">“The</span> doctor was fixing up powders and went<br/> +<span class="correction">The</span> doctor was fixing up powders and went +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_96">Page 96</a>:<br/> +“Oh,” said the voice, somewhat mollified, <span class="correction">I'll</span><br/> +“Oh,” said the voice, somewhat mollified, <span class="correction">“I'll</span> +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_101">Page 101</a>:<br/> +with <span class="correction">vehemence.”</span><br/> +with <span class="correction">vehemence.</span> +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_101">Page 101</a>:<br/> +The circumflexes were <span class="correction">irresistible.”</span><br/> +The circumflexes were <span class="correction">irresistible.</span> +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_105">Page 105</a>:<br/> +This is Mrs. X. Will you be right <span class="correction">out?</span><br/> +This is Mrs. X. Will you be right <span class="correction">out?”</span> +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_105">Page 105</a>:<br/> +“When I <span class="correction">yas</span> a young fellow and first hung<br/> +“When I <span class="correction">was</span> a young fellow and first hung +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_106">Page 106</a>:<br/> +<span class="correction">“Certainly,”</span> I answered promptly.<br/> +<span class="correction">‘Certainly,’</span> I answered promptly. +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_106">Page 106</a>:<br/> +<span class="correction">“My</span> husband is very sick and I came to see if<br/> +<span class="correction">‘My</span> husband is very sick and I came to see if +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_106">Page 106</a>:<br/> +come and see <span class="correction">him.”</span> I swallowed my astonishment<br/> +come and see <span class="correction">him.’</span> I swallowed my astonishment +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_107">Page 107</a>:<br/> +retire from <span class="correction">practise</span>. Then hully-gee! won't I<br/> +retire from <span class="correction">practice</span>. Then hully-gee! won't I +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_109">Page 109</a>:<br/> +water <em>hot</em>, <span class="correction">now.</span><br/> +water <em>hot</em>, <span class="correction">now.”</span> +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_123">Page 123</a>:<br/> +<span class="correction">If</span> they knew what I know their little hearts<br/> +<span class="correction">“If</span> they knew what I know their little hearts +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_131">Page 131</a>:<br/> +was typhoid fever there,” she continued. <span class="correction">“A</span> woman's<br/> +was typhoid fever there,” she continued. <span class="correction">“‘A</span> woman's +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_134">Page 134</a>:<br/> +When he came back to the table his <span class="correction">wife,</span> said,<br/> +When he came back to the table his <span class="correction">wife</span> said, +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_142">Page 142</a>:<br/> +“Hell-<em>o</em><span class="correction">!”</span> Where's the doctor?”<br/> +“Hell-<em>o</em><span class="correction">!</span> Where's the doctor?” +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_153">Page 153</a>:<br/> +stranger to me, said, <span class="correction">“I'll</span> tell you why I sent for<br/> +stranger to me, said, <span class="correction">‘I'll</span> tell you why I sent for +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_153">Page 153</a>:<br/> +and I said to myself, “He's the man I <span class="correction">want.”</span><br/> +and I said to myself, “He's the man I <span class="correction">want.”’”</span> +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_187">Page 187</a>:<br/> +“Very <span class="correction">well</span> Thank you.”<br/> +“Very <span class="correction">well.</span> Thank you.” +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_188">Page 188</a>:<br/> +The voice was icily regular, <span class="correction">spendidly</span> null. It<br/> +The voice was icily regular, <span class="correction">splendidly</span> null. It +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_191">Page 191</a>:<br/> +“<em>Where do you <span class="correction">live!</span></em>”<br/> +“<em>Where do you <span class="correction">live?</span></em>” +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_191">Page 191</a>:<br/> +“<span class="correction">Well</span> maybe it does. I've not got my directions<br/> +“<span class="correction">Well,</span> maybe it does. I've not got my directions +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_202">Page 202</a>:<br/> +for God's <span class="correction">sake!</span><br/> +for God's <span class="correction">sake!”</span> +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_225">Page 225</a>:<br/> +CHAPTER <span class="correction">XVI</span>.<br/> +CHAPTER <span class="correction">XVII</span>. +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_226">Page 226</a>:<br/> +taking up his <span class="correction">hat.”</span><br/> +taking up his <span class="correction">hat.</span> +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_227">Page 227</a>:<br/> +me know about this baby's <span class="correction">eyes.</span>”<br/> +me know about this baby's <span class="correction">eyes?</span>” +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_228">Page 228</a>:<br/> +as he worked of this <span class="correction">terribe</span> scourge of infancy,<br/> +as he worked of this <span class="correction">terrible</span> scourge of infancy, +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_230">Page 230</a>:<br/> +“Thanks for that gracious little <span class="correction">speech.</span><br/> +“Thanks for that gracious little <span class="correction">speech.”</span> +</li> +<li><a href="#Page_236">Page 236</a>:<br/> +Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of <span class="correction">it.</span><br/> +Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of <span class="correction">it.”</span> +</li> +</ul> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of a Doctor's +Telephone--Told by His , by Ellen M. 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