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Show THEIR NEW DOCTOR Excitement in Mayville-When Old Physician Is Supplanted by Young Man. By MILDRED CAROLINE GOOD-RIDGE. GOOD-RIDGE. There was great excitement in the social circles of Mayville when the successor to thepractice of old Dr. Cyrus Dall arrived. For forty years the latter had been the chosen physician physi-cian of the town. When he had sold his practice to Dr. Brian Eversley, a young, handsome and wealthy member mem-ber of the profession, all Mayville was agog, and speculation and gossip held the various social coteries In a kind of pleasant thrall. The young doctor had purchased The Oaks, a beautiful estate near the edge of the village. A maiden sister was to be his housekeeper. When a new automobile and some wonderful house furnishings arrived, Miss Cyrllle Rushton, aged thirty, but passing for twenty-two, as the real leader of the real social set of Mayville, was said to brighten up at a chance to once more angle for a husband. When It was further announced that the young physician was philanthroplcally Inclined, In-clined, Miss Breda Dorman, president of the Ladles' Aid society,- was In transports' of anticipation and delight The young doctor arrived, and he was not a disappointment" He was something more than handsome earnest, affable and intellectual. He was pleased at the gracious attentions of Miss Rushton, and It seemed to interest him to listen to the ceaseless chatter of Miss Dorman. High society so-ciety shrugged Its shoulders at his "free dispensary" Ideas for the benefit bene-fit of the poorer classes living over on the flats. Still, an exhibition of his skill in their own service caused him to be received as a fit successor to the old practitioner, Doctor Dall. The Ladies' Aid society held weekly meetings in an old store, which had been neatly fitted up for them. A Mrs. Fulton lived in apartments be- a --JE C Eli!1 fcr rt4rrW - ijiy "Miss Lane!" He Exclaimed in Wonderment. Won-derment. hind, and kept watch and ward over the place. Miss Rushton had recently Joined the circle, and Miss Dorman had never been so active in her supervisory super-visory duties. The society clothed the ragged, fed the poor and had done some free nursing Miss Dorman very little, however. She acted as the ornament or-nament of the group. As to the haughty Miss Rushton, all she pretended pre-tended to do was to donate the raw material for the really Industrious ones of the club io sew into garments. One of these latter was Nettie Lane, who sat In a corner of the room now, engrossed in the task of making four tiny night robes. There8t of the group were chattering and gossiping. Whenever Doctor Eversley's name was mentioned. Nettle's eyes brightened bright-ened with interest. It was mentioned very frequently. "Tha way C'yrille Rushton has set her cap for the doctor is simply brazen," bra-zen," observed Sarah Bates, who had graduated Into old maidenhood several vears ago. "Not half as bold as Breda's sly puss way," broke In cynical, wasp-armed wasp-armed Selina Marton. "She pretended to have neuralgia, just to get the doctor's doc-tor's attention." Plain, quiet Nettle smiled to herself. her-self. She was happy in knowing that thn doctor had made quite a friend and confidant of her. Miss-Eversley Miss-Eversley had taken a decided fancy to her. Nettie was, in fact, very close to the doctor; something in their natures na-tures harmonized. Miss Eversley had seen through the feigned illness of several young ladies who had called for her brother's professional care. She had laughed over these plausible subterfuges with Nettie. If anybody had told Nettle that these ripening friendships indicated a chance to capture the handsome young physician, she would have been overwhelmed over-whelmed with confusion. Such an idea had never entered her sensible little head. For all that, she knew she had never met a man whose kindly, kind-ly, human spirit had so awakened i'espect and admiration in her pure, gentle soul. "And what do you say of all this babble, our little busy Dorcas," chaU Ienged Miss Bates, noticing the unobtrusive un-obtrusive Nettie. "I only know that Doctor Eversley Is a very splendid man," replied Nettie softly. "Why, I am making these little trifles for a child who belongs be-longs to a family that the doctor has-practicaily has-practicaily taken charge of at his own expense. He is a good, good man." Nettie grew so enthusiastic that she flushed consciously. Miss Bates gave ! gave her a keen look and whispered to Miss Morton. "It can't be possible that little nobody no-body has ideas " "About the doctor," said Miss Morton. Mor-ton. "Oh, ridiculous " Nettie finished her xork somewhat later and went heme. Miss Rushton came in, then the lady president, and then a messenger arrived. He brought a note from Doctor Eversley. It was addressed to the society. A contagious conta-gious sickness had broken out in a poor family without means or friends. Could the society appoint some one to give half a day for r week to day nursing for two little children in the family? There was dead silence at.the word "contagious." Miss Rushton had an urgent engagement Miss Dorman talked of "volunteers." The group gradually broke up and the doctor's note received no reply. That afternoon Doctor Eversley's automobile stopped in front of the poor home where his services were so sorely needed. He was a trifle disappointed disap-pointed at receiving no recognition of his message, and had decided to enlist the sympathies of his sister. His knock brought a neat figure wearing nurse cap and apron to the door. "Miss Lane!" he exclaimed in wonderment. won-derment. "Yes, It is I," Nettie smiled back. "A neighbor told me of this case, and I have so wished to see if I have the patience and skill to act the nurse." "You are an angel," 6aid Doctor Eversley with heightened color as he entered the sick room. Never had a poor family such royal donations as those received by the one now under the care of Doctor Eversley as physician and Nettie Lane as nurse. Miss Rushton sent delicacies delica-cies from her table every morning. The. Ladies' Aid society invested all its surplus funds In sheets, pillow cases, comforters, an invalid chair and clothing. That dread word "contagious" made greetings on the street quite few and far between for the doctor. His sister, sis-ter, however, was visited daily by the anxious young ladies, hoping the dear doctor was not overworking himself, that the dreadful disease would not spread, and eager to learn the real sentiments of the Eversleys as to "poor Miss Lane, who was just cut out for a nurse." When the truth got out that the contagious feature of the case did not extend beyond light measles, Miss Rushton bit her lip and Miss Dorman denounced Nettie as a schemer. "This Is one of the great pleasures of a physician's life," said Doctor Eversley, as he and Nettie walked away from the home where they had taken the part of true ministering angels. Nettie fully understood him. They had found the poor home filled with squalor, illness and suffering. They had left it supplied with the comforts of life and the inmates happy and hopeful. There came a day when Miss Rush-ton Rush-ton took a sudden journey to relatives, and Miss Dorman resigned from the Ladies' Aid society. Two lines In the weekly announced an Important engagement. en-gagement. "You see, my brdther Is a very practical prac-tical young man," was the way Miss Eversley explained the situation. "He thinks, ac I do, that a good nurse makes a good doctor's wife." (Copyright, by W. Q. Chapman.) |