Page:Old ninety-nine's cave.djvu/152

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  • —at least he occasionally suffers from

febrile attacks—and now undoubtedly has taken cold. Your hot toddy will fix him, and if it does not, the doctor will do all necessary," and he dismissed the subject.

Massa John's will was law for Reuben, and though he could not rid his mind of a feeling of indefinable dread, after another peep into Hernando's room he went to assist Margaret in the kitchen.

Nine o'clock brought, not Dr. Brinton's assistant, but Dr. Herschel, a celebrated dermatologist who was stopping in town for the purpose of investigating the climatic conditions at Shushan and the medicinal properties of mineral springs there. He alighted deliberately and turned to survey the prospect. Little rivulets of melting snow danced musically down the mountain side, the fresh woody smell from dried leaves was wafted to his nostrils, unconsciously his head was thrown back to better fill the lungs with this exhilarating air, and he bared his head as if in deference to the Giver of such blessings.