The Republican journal., 1870-02-10
HOW THE DOCTOR GOT A WIFE.
BY A RETIRED LAWYER.

HOW THE DOCTOR GOT A WIFE.
BY A RETIRED LAWYER
Some years since professional engage
ments called me from the Atlantic States tc
California, my duties pertaining to a case Of
considerable importance. In the course o1
my business peregrinations passed a week
at Sacramento then town rapidly growing
into note, but not so largely or densely pop
ulated as it is now. Shortly after my arrival
there, met at my hotel an old college class
mate, whom had not seen for several years
and whom l should scarcely recognize, SC
greatly was he changed in personal appear
ance. He had seen my name on the hotel
register, and remembering it, waited upon
me and introduced himself
l was heartily glad to see him in the far
away country, and we sat down to pleasant
chat together over the events of our lives.
past and present.
remembered that my college mate had
not been overburdened with means in his ear
ler days; and though he was a man of supe-
rior talents, the competition in the business
too great to permit him to enjoy a fair begin
ming at home He had therefore relinquish-
ed his undertaking in the pretty town at the
east, where he had hoped to "live and flour
sh,' soon after graduating; and with a few
hundred dollars only, | knew he had started
''for San Francisco and q market as he
pleasantly termed his intended destination
for California.
now observed that he was expensively
attired, wore costly jewels in his bosom,
drove q handsome span before !, fine carriage,
and living in good style in suite of the best
apartments at the first hotel in Sacramento.
and so | continued:
You are practicing here-eh, doctor ?'
Eyes" he said and let me tell you how
and why it is that I am doing SO we'll as you
seem to have discovered.
"GO on, doctor Is it romance? ?'
'No 1t was the result an accidental
discovery, the merest trile of circumstance
which made my fortune, and singularly
enough, too. 1t will interest you, however,
\ II have no doubt of it. Proceed.'
4 "Well, / have fortunately solved very
simple but perplexing mystery that fell di
rectly in my way, professionally | arrived
in San Francisco with less than two hundred
dollars in my possession four years ago; an(
l made up my mind in a very brief space o
time subsequently that the vocation of a ply
sician there was precious poor means b,
which to amass money. Few people get sicl
in this blessed climate, in the first place ant
!, blistcrers already here who stood waiting tt
bleed both the patients and their pockets tt
the last drop. Still there was an occasiona
!, opportunity for practice. [ applied mysel
with assiduity, but soon tired of San Francis
co, and came to this city, where l hoped fo
E better success.
I published a startling card in the only pa
per then printed here, and took lodgings a
this same house, just then completed. Bu
patients were scarce, or shy of the new com
er. However, one day an old Spanish Mexi
can, who occupies an extensive ranch just ou
of the city, waiting upon me, and Informed
me that his daughter was i'll at his residence
''He had tried all physicians, far and near
Spanish, French and American. None 0
them did any good. He had seen my card
Would l enter his carriage and ride out to Sc
her?"
readily assented, of course. On arrivin!
at one Rabino's hacienda, I was agreeabl
surprised to find it a fine stone residence. an
cient in style, but massive in extent, and tn
! interior was elegantly furnished and decora
ted
Ihad acquired smattering ofSpanish year
previously; and having had occasion here t.
confer with the natives, readily understoo,
him, when Senor Rabino informed me tina
his only child, the daughter he spoke of, ha,
been latterly quite i'll, and had declined il
f health for year; while more recently sh
, had fainting fits, which alarmed both tn
f young lady and her opulent father, who ha
sought in vain for medical aid, and who wa
ready to pay roundly for any services, coul
p | relieve or restore her, And the old Span
q lard implored me patiently to examine tn
case, and save his darling Carlotta, if posi-
ble."
, ''And had you seen the young woman?"
f "Not yet; no. l made general enquire
as to the health Of the rest Of the family, an
y found there was in this case no apparent here
ditary difficulty. And finally l was show
into the young lady's private apartment. B
, Jove! my friend, she was beautiful. Yo
r shall see her, by the way, anon. l will intro
. duce you.''
= 'Thank you,' 1 said "Then she sti
y lives ?"
"You shall see. Don't anticipate me-" sail
the doctor, briskly.
II say, Immediately on entering her beau
tiful boudoir. l saw that she was splendi
creature, though she occupied an invalid
: chair and was pale and reduced in flesh
i There was, however, an ivory clearness j
3 her complexion, a ravishing fire in her ricl
\ dark eye, and a classic beauty in her hand
d some features, which, at sight, greatly inter
t estly try to save this poor creature from pre-
$ mature death.
Il And as l sat down beside her, really m
Q heart beat audibly. / confess it. took he
S small delicately rounded wrist in my hand
I and consulted her pulse with more than OF
G dinary interest, and some trepidation, as sh
looked languidly but pleasantly in my face
: and said, Doctor, do you think you can al
me?"