THE RIVAL DOCTORS.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1521, 5 March 1886, Page 4

THE RIVAL DOCTORS.

Bravely did Jussie retrench, and still Mr trench her domestic expenditure—the balance on the wronj; side still grew larger, bravely did she hid* ftom htt molfilTliStr surely her vouag;heart wm breaking beneath her too r betpjr burden, fltillone hope had remained .to her—the assured salary from "the hospital j and now the had heard that the post almost

promised herhad been given to the rich man, Clive Northcote.

"He competed on purpose to bring about my failure," she cried, with burning cheeks; "he will not rest till lam ruined. He is no doctor at all—not a bit, I am ten thousand timea his superior in medical skill." In due time this remark was conveyed to the ears of Ncrthcote himself, through some ladies acquainted with Miss Greßham. But, when that worthy spinster had left the apartment, and Mr Grcsham was left alone with Keziah, he went and took her hand, as her own father might hare done. " Mr girl," said he, cheerfully, " you are a good hand at hiding jour troubles; but you ore very young, and your shoulders are not so broad as you would wish, I know. For worlds I would not pry into your concerns, but I want you in any and every hour of trouble to say to yourself, ' Johu Gresham—old John Gresham, the lawyer, who is hoarding up useless money for nobody—is my friend!' Will jou remember these words, Kiesy? Thoy arc very true " Kiasie nodded her head, as a sign that', she wonld remember, and passed silently from the houso—her heart was ovorwhelm-d with* in her. Her mother was in bed with the severe headache that usually preceded a fit. " You forgot to send to town for a fresh case of quinine essence," said she, pettishly, "I do wish ycu would remember things, Kissie ; I feel very weak."

Mrs Laud was accustomed to use essence of quinine of the greatest strength and purity, it was a most expensive remedy, and Kitsie's heart-weariness n.creased as she heard that a fresh case was now required. She felt that this case must be paid for at the time of purchase, and Bigheri as she drew freshly from her fast diminishing store in reserve. " Coachman from Castle Kavenne," announced Martha, putting her head into Mrs Laud's bedroom. " Lady Bavenne is in bed with paralysis of the right side; Bhe won't have nobody—only Miss Kis*ie."

Castle Kavenne had bee i almost the first of Kissie's strongholds to surrender to the enemy ; Ni rthcote had met Lord Ravenne at Danvers Manor, that gentleman had conceived such a liking for the well built, handsome young doctor that, when liis son «nd heir had climbed the turret and broke his collarbone, a messenger wng at once despatched to Havensbridge ifouse. Lady Ravenne made no great objection to this, having more faith in women as physicians than as surgeons, but her indignation grew hot as Horthcote's Tints to her nursery brood became frequent, and she perceived tlmt her young favourite. Doctor Laud, was banislied from the Castle.

This morning she had scarcely risen from her bed when the paralysis seized her right side and stretched her helples«, but conscious —a rta.e betokening danger —once more upon her couch.

Dis lordship sent for Iforthco'e, who was absent at the Manor when the summons arrived. Her Ladyship's first messenger to Kissie was detained by Lord Kavenne, whose tender anxiety would have no female doctoring at such a crisis, but she secretly despatched another through her attached waitingmaid, and the cro?s maneeuvres resulted in tbe arrival of Horthcote in her ladyship's room about five wiuutes before Kissie came up in her well-worn black clothes, her girlish face grave with professional solemnity. " Some mistake, Doctor Laud," said Lord Kavenne, colouring. " Am I going to die, Doctor Laud?" moaned her ladyship, feebly. Doctor Northcote, trying in vain to <eel Lady Ravenne's pulse or obtain any notice from her, stared silent'y and hiughtily at the intruder. Kissie glanced quickly at the invalid's face, and, passing her hand beneath the bed-clothefe, felt the warmth of her feet.

" Head giddj P" she asked, touching the wrist 60 readily extended to her. " Doctor Laud," commenced Northcote, white with rage at the indignity. " Oh, yes, my head is swimming !'* said her ladyship, in a feeble voioe. "I canuot bear this noise!"

" You understand" said Kissie, c Idly looking up at Northcote, '* sufficient of paralysis, ot which this is an incipient form, to know how essential is perfect quiet. One or the other of us must undertake this case ; I am perfectly willing to resign it." " Doctor Laud, stay here!" cried Lady Ravenne, in un excited manner.

" Pray consult her ladyship's wishes," said the agitated husband to Kissie. " Northcote, kindly follow me below j we can arrange a consultation presently." " I beg your pardon," said Northcote, decidedly, speaking, however in so low a tone that the patient could not hear him 5 " I will take my leave, wishing restored health to her ladyship. I beg to decline the honour of any consultation with Doctor Laud "

The proud blood flew to Kissie's indignant face, but Bhe bent over Lady Ravenne, speaking soothingly and encouragingly to her.

" We shall have you as active as ever in three or four weeks, dear Lady Ravenne. 1 warned you not to worry your mind so much about your little girl's blindness—you must take my advice to heart when you are well again. Ford," said she to the maid, ' I will send in a regular trained nurse to day, who will apply a blister for about twelve hours to the back of the neck j meanwhile use poultices —equal parts of fljur and mustard, to that part and the calves, bathe the head with eau-de-Cologne, give no meat, but milk, beef-tea, whiskey, and the camphor minure my boy shall bring. Never leave her ladyship alone,' ahe added, in a lower voice j quiet and cheerfulness will do wonders." Thio would have been a great triumph for the woman doctor, had not her mind been too depressed to enjoy it; moreover, the story 0 f her recall to Castle Ravenne got wind. B u t her satisfaction at the gradual recovery of her noble pati»nt was mora than surpassed by her inward sufferings through the increased malignity of her rival. Nothing less than her ruin would satisfy Northcote j she became insensibly mingled *ith his daiiy thoughts, till her image ® Ten «mbittered his intercourse with the beautiful Rose Dan vers ii Lategt from Ravensbridge I exclaimed the latter, plajMlj. him one day., "My ma d vouchsafed me the .news this morning that your clever little medical riral, Doctor Laud will not stand in your way long. M r Graham tlie lawy« 18 «>P° r fed to be deeply smitten— says village goes,p. He is a nice, gentlemanly man, though elderly, and she has lovely eyes, really, doctor Northcote, though her dress is so dowdy, and she will wear her hair without padding." Northcote smoothed the ears of Rose's Italian greyhound, and stared in blank astonishment at the fair speaker. To associate Kesiah Laud wtth any idea of love or marriage was thoroughly new to him. Fshcy the woman doctor a wife ! Hdw was the notion, once broached, seemed to qpe* mch a world of mental vision P - Doctor Laud old John Gretnam! Absurd 1 She a mere child herself—she was not of tl»e ©srrying sort. Olive Iforthcote pictured the bonny, wistful fiico shrinod for eve* at the GrangO j he rose impatiently, jetneither asked nor told himself why he #9" ! i ' „ ,1, iw «' I don't care to discuss servants' gossip," spfd aWuptly ( an'4'thefe he'crossed over to Rose, andbeg*nto sort hef delicti* wools for her.

It wirt unlucltjr for those of Worthcote's tenants whose rent was far in arrear that his a bard, shrewd Scotchman, met him whilst walking home from the Manor, and re* peated a request he bad often lately made, that be might send sheriff's officers into the houses of the obstinate ones

" You've been merciful enongh, sir," said tie; " it's no satisfaction to tne, as your agent, to place such rent accounts before you. Just Hive it your sanction, *ir, and I'll frighten them so that every farthing due will be found before a stick has been removed. You know, sir, that when you bought this freehold from General Lonsdale, he placed the rents due at your credit. Some hare been in default since Michaelmas, and this is Lady-day sir— Lady-day," " It is very tiresome," returned Northcote, favngcly. '• Don't bother me now with business details; take your own way of getting the money."

Four or five days afterwards, in the morning, Keziah Laud, ill from sleeplessness and nnxiely, came to the office door at the Grange and desired to speak with MrGresham. She had been threatened with the presence of bailiffs at Woodbine cottage if her debt to her tew landlord Doctor Northcote were not dis<charged immediately and in full; she had crushed her pride at last, and come to her faithful fiiend.

" John left last night for Paris, my dear," said Miss Gresham, who had heard her voice and came out to her—" he had an important business telegram from his client General Lousdale j but he will certainly be back before Sunday." Kissie looked into her face, murmured something about " no consequence," and wondered for one brief, terrible moment if one frail, burdened, broken-down life could not well be spared that day from the busy, heedless world.

CliveNorthcote was in his comfortable surgery, examining* or affecting to examine, certain entries in his book of prescriptions. It was nine o'clock on a wild, tempestuous March evening, and nature seemed m precisely the same mood as the young doetbr himself. How excellently he had prospered in professional matters during the few brief months that had elapsed since his arrival! The whole practice of the place seemed in his hands, and society courted him in every qilarter.

Why, then, the impatient frown, the worried biting of the pen, the hurried pacing of the surgery, and expression of inward dig* quiet ? Miss Danvers had been more than usually sweet to Northcote that afternoon, for Sir Harold Ffolliott, whom ahfe decidedly affected, had been visiting her simultaneously, and in her opinion be needed a bite from the* green-eyed monster. In days gone by such, gracious treatment from the capricious beauty would have transported Northcote to the eevonth leaven of lover*' raptures (bat of late a change had come oyer hid ideas and aspirations.

His thoughts were not with blue-eyed Rose amid the raging of the cruel storm; one face alone was present to his mental vision—a lace set in a frame of short) wavy, chestnut hair—a face with earnest, steady eyes of dark brown, and n tender, wistful mouth, all sweet and womanly ; he saw hands tiny and most shapely, that knew how to labour at the dictates of filial lore—weary little feet that had dragged a girlish form through rough, intricate paths, and seemed well nigh stumbling of a sudden. How he strove to drive them all from his memory, and found the ta»k impossible! Kiesie had never changed towards himself ;' if ever a quiet face, a drawn-up figure, ex* pressed contempt and haughty dislike, it was the face and figure of Doctor Laud when brought into involuntary contact with her powerlul neighbour. Northcote felt she despised him } he had tried by every means in his power to subdue or shake that proud stolidity, and it galled him that efforts extended even to bitter cruelty had been all in vain. If Ketiah Laud suffered through him, she suffered in silence j if his revenge hud Uikeu effect, the knowledge had not oome to him through herself. But was such revenge I s * eet to him P Truly in the mental battle of this Light, the sweetness was altogether lacking. Over and over again he told him* 1 self that he hated his rival at Woodbine Cottage, yet, above all his inward assertion*, there swelled a surging tide of feeling that j might well have passed for other than, hatred.

A sudden swing of the surgery door set the little summoning bell ringing, Korihcot# hud not fastened the swing door yet, and he glanced carelessly at the threshold of the door, wondering who ha?, sent for him in such inclement weather. " Doctor JSorthcoto!" "Doctor Laud! Oh, good etening! What can I do for you P" Amid all his astonishment, he was the cool, supercilious ioe he had e?er been to Kissie's wearv eyes. She little thought how his heart was throbbing with passionate warmth as he so unexpectedly beheld her beneath his own roof, her well-worn sailor hat pushed back amid her damp waving hair, her only protection from the pitiless storm being the old thiu watf r-proof 10 familiar to his sight. He saw, or fancied he saw, a troubled quivering of the mobile lipsj but her eyes were steadfastly bent upon the ground, and she spoke out with quiet, dignified composure. I " Doctor Northcote, I hate sought you On a matter of business. 1 have tried hard to get your rent ready by Lady-day, but th have not prospered with me lately, and, while the rent due to you for six months, at forty pounds a year, is twenty pounds, I have only twelve on hand." bhe was twisting a purse I in her uetvous hands and now she laid it before him. " I have asked your bailiff to allow me a little time, but he will hear of nothing but payment. I know it is but just to exact your uues, Doctor North cote { but the presence of tnose men will kiU mam—my mother, and indeed i can pay all within a few weeks. 1 am expecting payment daily for some medical publications——" " You want me to wait for my money iuteirogated Xorihcote, roughly. " Make your meaning clear, Doctor Laud. You have brought twelve pounds." '• It is all 1 tan spare," faid she simply—she might too truly have told him " It is all I have."

'• I am strict in enforcing punctuality thiough iu)' bailiff," he obierved j •* i caunot blame him for pressing dilatory tgnanU." •' I only ask you." she went on, "to remore the meu you hare put in possession—for a few d ®y® ut Ae#Bt » ioit it I must come straight to you tomtit, for mamma had another of her dangerous fits yesterday, aud we ehull not be able (jo keep the tjutb from her long—and—it would break., her htort" ! „ • , "When did the mea appear," Mkeo KorthooW,» fieroe ij(ght to dawn in his d>.rk grey eyes. ;. n •' Yesterday morning » but 1 was not able to come <fo« before. Pray.iJoctor Northcote, oonsider the matter in a business light j you hafe thin hand, MjJI tou a reliable security for the re#t Wtthin »u weeks —t koofr' I ban.'* • i - WhatttameP" asked tforthoote, his fury against his steward: ataostlorfotfcp ut itw curiosity •»« 'O her helper. , . , «» jir tfrreehaAi would bo my, surety," said i Keiiah. (|V Wtft/twdt)