The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-02-18
THIRD NARRATIvE
Contributed 6y frankiia Blake.
CHAPTER TX,

Contributes 6y Ffdnkftn bidke'
CHAPTER TX.
The Doctors pretty hoase-maid stood waiting
for me, with the street door open In her hand.
Pouring brightly into the hall, the morning light
Tell fall on the face Of Mr.. Candy's assistant
when turne,l and looked at him.
II was impossible to dispute Bettercdge's as
scrtioa that the appearance Of Ezra Jennings,
speaking from the popular point OF view, was
against him. His gipsy-compleKion, his flesh
less checks, his guant facial bones, his dreamy
eyes, his extraordinary parti-coored hair, the
pulling contradiction between his face and hg-
are which made him look old and young both to-
gether-were all more or less calculated TO pro-
duce an unfayorable impression Of him ON q
strangers mind. And yet-feeling this as
certainly did-it is not 10 be denied that Ezra
Jennings made some inscrutable appeal to my
sympsthics, which found Il impossible 10 rcsist
While my knowledge Of the world wsrnei me TO
answer the question which he had put, by nc
knouledging that did indeed find Mr.. Candy
sally changed, and then 10 proceed on my way
GU, Of the house-my interest In Ezra Jennings
held me rooted to the place, and gave him the
opportunity Of speaking to me In private about
his employer, for which he had been evidently on
the watch.
Are lou walking my way, Mr. Jennings"
said, Observing that he held his hat in his hand.
Il am going TO call oa my aunt, Mrs Ablewhite.'
Ezra Jennings replied that he had a patient to
see, and that he was walking my way.
We LEFT the house together. observed that
the pretty servant girl-who was all smiles and
amiability when wished her good-morning ON
ny way out-receiyed modest little message
from Ezra Jennings, relating to the time at
which he might be expected to return, with
pursed-up lips and with eyes which ostentatious-
iy looked any where rather than look in his face.
The poor wretch was evidently no fayorite In the
house. Out Of tho house, had Betterclge's
word for Il that he was unpopular every where.
what life = thought to myselfa We descend
ci the Doctors door-steps.
Hsviag already referred to Mr.. Candy's illness
on his side, Ezra Jennings now appeared deter
mined to leave Il TO me to resume the subject.
His silence said significantly, IT'S your turn
now I, too, had my reasons for referring TO
the Doctors illness, and readily accepted the
responsibility Of speaking frst.
Judging by the change I sec In him. began,
Mr.. Candy's illness must have been far more
serious than had supposedr
1T is almost miracle said Ezra Jennings,
that he lived throughit'
Is his memory never any better than l have
found il to-dayl lie has been trying to speak to
me-
.Of something which happened before he was
taken illr asked the assistant, observing that
hesitated.
yes
Ills memory Of events at that past time Is
hopelessly enfeebled,' said Ezra Jennings. 1T
Is almost TO be jeplored, poor fellow, that even
the wreck Of Il remains. While he remembers
dimly plans that he formei-things, here and
there. that he hal 10 say or do before his illness
he Is perfectly incapable Of recalling what the
plans were, or what the thing was that he had
10 say or do. lie Is painfully conscious Of his
own deficiency, and painfully anxious, rs you
must have seen. 10 hide II from observation. IL
he eosld only have recovered in acomplete state
of oblivion as to the past, he would have been
happier man. Perhaps we should all be hap
,ier,' he added. with sal smile, III we could
but completely forgct'
There are some events surely In al mems
lives I rvplicd' The memory OF which they
would be unwilling entirely to lose!'
That Il, hope, to be said Of most men Mr..
Blake am afraid Il can not truly be said OF
aR. Have you any reason 10 suppose that the
coyer-while you were speaking to him just now
u
NO. that he .hould recaflr
Il believe have q strong interest, said, sin
tracing the lost remembrance which Mr.. Candy
MAS unable 10 recall. Nay ask whether you
can suggest To me any method by which might
assist his memoryr
Era Jennings lookel ut me, with sudden
fash Of interest In his dreamy brown eyes.
You have heard. dare say, Of the original
cause Of Mr.. Candy's illnessi 'rhe night Of Lady
ycrinder's dinner party was q night OF heavy
rain. Nv employer drove home through II la
his gig. and reached the house wetted 10 the
skin. lie found an urgent message from pa
tient waiting for him. AMI he most unfortunate
ly went at once TO visit the sick person without
s,oppinr 10 change his clothes. Twas myself
professionally detained that night by q case at
some distance from PriIinghall, When 1 got
back the next morning found Mr.. Candys
groom waiting in great alarm TO take me 10 bis
masters room. by that time the mischief was
done the illness hal set in. From first to last
the fever assumed no specific form. sent at
once to two Of Mr.. Candy's medical friends in
the town, both physicians. to come and give
me their opinion Of the case. They agreed with
me that Il looked serious but they both strongly
disssntei from the view took of the treatment
We differed entirely in the conclusions which we
drew from the PATENTS pulse. The two doctors,
arguing from the rapidity Of the beat. declared
that q lowering treatment wasthe only treatment
to he adopted. On my side, admitted the mp
ility Of the pulse, but also pointct to its alarm
ing fccbleness as indicating an exhausted cou-
dition OF the system, AMI as showing plain
necessity Cor the administration Of stimulants.
The two doctors were for keeping him on cruel.
lemonade, bariey-watcr, and 50 on. WAS Tor
giving him Champagne or brandy, ammonia,
and asinine. The tvo doctors took ofcnse at
my obstinacy. They said, MIR. Jennings, either
we manage this case, or you manage IT. which
Il IL TO bcr l s,id, Gentlemen, give me h'e
minutes 10 consider. AMI that plain question
shall have plain reply When the time had
cxpircl was really with my answer. said,
You positively refuse TO try the stimulsnt treat
menti' They refused in many words. Il
mean 10 try Il nj once, gentlemen. Try IL,
Mr.. Jennings. and We withdraw from the case
7 sent down TO the cellar for bottle Of Cham
n.rnc AMI administered half . tumblerfal Of
h 10 the patient with my own hand. The two
physicians took up their hats in silence, and len
the house.
y never hesitated in pursuing the treatment
ON which I had stakcd every thing. When wine
f,ilel tried brandy. when the other stimu-
lants Lost their influence doubled the dose. Az
ter an interval Of suspense-the like OF which
hope to God shall never feel again-thcre came
. day when the rapidity Of the pulse slightly.
but appreciAbly, diminished and, better still,
there came also q change In the beat-an I'M
mistakablc change 30 steadincss anil strength
Then knew that had saved him and then
own broke down.
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