The Price He Paid — page 197: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

188 A SICK-BED CONFESSION. cident, the doctor who was attending him called to pay his usual professional vis. He was a small spare man, with flaxen hair, mild-looking eyes, and a very gentle voice. On coming in, he met the master of the house, who was on the point of leav- ing for his office, and a short conference took place between the two gentlemen. “No, councilor, I have little, I may say no hope, of saving our patient. He isina bad way—a very bad way. We must hold ourselves prepared for the worst.” “You have not seen him to-day,” said the coun- cilor. “My daughter tells me he has passed a very quiet night.” ~ The little doctor shrugged his shoulders. “Ah, weakness—coma! There was great loss of blood, and after the violent traumatic fever, ex- treme exhaustion was sure to follow. I tell you, in my opinion, be will not rally.” “Tam sorry to hear it,” said the councilor. Be- fore the dread shadow of death his rancor yielded, and compassion gained the upper hand. “And my daughter will be sorry, too. She has taken all the nursing on herself, and has zealously kept watch by the sick-bed. 1 fear, indeed, that Agnes is over- taxing her strength, for I have never seen her look so pale. I had really to insist this morning—to compel her to go and take some rest after sitting up all night.” “Yes, Fraulein Moser is an admirable nurse. She has all the zeal and.devotion necessary for her future vocation, and Iam persuaded that her life will be fruitful of blessing to others. In this case, how- ever, her exertions will soon beatanend. I fear the poor fellow’s hours are numbered. He will hardly last through the day.” Meanwhile the physician had betaken himself to the sick-room. He entered with the cautious, noise. less step with which it seems natural to approach the dying. Frau Christine, who had relieved her young mistress for a short time, sat by the bedside. The doctor exchanged afew words with herina whisper, and then sent her to fetch fresh com- Eomicbooks (E()