South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-06-09
VOLUME I.
The MAGNIFICENT.

dUOuI lne end OF the last century, while Il
still retained much of the fashion anC
celebrity it had reached in the days O
Beau Nash, the frequenters of the pump
room and the balls were divided into two
rival factions, and long and fierce WerC
their quarrels over the topic of dissension
This was neither more nor less than the
not inappropriate one of the merits of two
rival doctors, who divided between them
the smiles and guineas of the elite of Bath
DR.. Heathcote, the senior of the two, long
ruled over the internal economy of the
upper class of patients with undisputed
sway. He was a handsome, dapper, dig.
nihed, we'll dressed and well-spoken little
gentleman, with undeniable manners, silk
stockings and shirt frill. Among the dow
ayers his word was law. At whist or
plquet he was an oracle, and not unfre-
quently the younger ladies would confide
to his safe ear and kindly counsels mala-
dies of the heart If he did bow little
low to baronet, and still lower to a coro-
net, it was his only foible; and as this was
part of his professional manner, II was
pardonable and not unpopular.
The reign of this Ksculapian potentate
was at last rudely disturbed by the ar
rival of pretender to the throne. Where
DR.. Lenoir came from, who he was, or
where he had previously practiced, no one
knew, or, TO tell the truth, had ever ven
tured to ask. He was a man of immense
frame, over six feet in height, with large
head, black eyes, and a good-tempered,
Sanguine complexion. He had commenced
his Bath career by becoming the tenant of
a large house on the outskirts of the town,
which rumOr said was used as a lunatic
asylum. But he made his appearance in
the pump-room and the evening recrea-
tons, and, as he proved TO be a man of
wit and Information, soon became favor
Ite with the lounging society of the place.
Even in his most familiar moods, how
ever, he had something formidable about
him. No coxcomb ventured to ask him
questions, and he assumed a quiet supe-
riority which was only not CALLING be-
cause it was so thoroughly good-tempered.
With his patients he was exactly the re-
verse of the reigning sovereign. He was
gruff to the great, kindly to the poor, to
children gentle as a woman Rules OF
| practice he set entirely at defiance, and
was said by his enemies to toss up for each
case whether he could kill or cure. Cure, |
however, he did many cases apparently |
hopeless, and by devoting much care, and |
soothing the suffering he could not cure,
and making the approaches of death less |
agonizing, he earned the gratitude of sur
viving relatives. Such were the rivals, |
for whom the card tables of Bath waged |
war.
The rivals themselves were sworn
brothers. DR.. Heathcote at first was
scornful, and then was testy; but he could
not resist the spell which DR.. Lenoir
seemed to WELD; and although at consul
tation and on professional visits he wore
his dignifed sneer with due propriety,
many hand at piquet did he hold with
brother physician, and when none was by
to see or hear, would make his old consult
ing-roOm ring with laughter at the exuber-
ant humor of his companion. LenOir, on
the other hand, bowed in public, with the
modesty of younger man, to the more
mature practitioner, and assumed his place
with so much kind-hearted Difference that
the other was entirely disarmed. But
kind of underlined pomp followed his foot
steps. In the pump room and at the balls
he had chosen place which no one ever
usurped; and he went by the name of
" Doctor Magnifcus, which, contracted
by the unieerned into Tie Magnificent, was
his ordinary title.
DR.. Lenoir had been about three years at
Bath, when the events happened of which
| am about to speak. Little more was
known of him then than when he first ar
rived. 1t was known he was unmarried !
but he was plainly not a marrying man
He flirted in his good -humored way with :
all the pretty girls, but it was evidently :
Irritation of society, not of the heart. 1t l
was also certain, by his style of living, q
that he was in easy circumstances, and that
he had resources other than his profession. :
The only instance when he ever unbent 7
from his superb demeanor was when in !
company with Mrs. DeGrey, an exceeding :
ly beautiful and attractive woman, who,
with her husband and two young children, =
had lived for more than year at Bath =,
Dr.. Lenoir plainly admired her very much
Colonel DeGrey was a good looking 4
nan, with a military air, and manners q
which bespoke knowledge of the world
lie was not favorite, for his demeanor f
vas reserved to the crowd, although, when V
It his ease, he could converse with anima-
ion, and was well read and well travelled. 4
But his wife was all that was charming. n
lively, spirited, kindly and thoroughly :,
rue, without a dash of self conceit, or h
thought of evil ready in repartee, m
parking in small talk, but with an ever
pen heart and hand for real sorrow, she nj
vas the Joy of all who knew her; and =
cry honestly distressed were the pump h,
Dom gossips when they heard that Mrs =
)eGrey was seriously i'll.
Col. DeGrey affected Lenoir's society
luch, for his powers of conversation 81
7ere remarkable, and they had many 1
lstes in common. But when his wife was VI
ken i'll, he sent for Dr. Heathcote, to the =.
of Bath scandal-mongers, who "
It it down to slight infusion of ieal- :
usy. Now and then, as Lenoir stood A'
aning like a Hercules against his &C. -
lstomed pillar, some wag, who thought q a. !.
mself privileged, launched shaft at him
ith this barb to it; but Lenoir, without y:
lie slightest discomposure, or even allud- Ii
g to the gibe, shot back some sarcastic
mark on his assailant, which made him de
ngle to the tips of his fingers. But he pr
quired with real solicitude of DR. Heath vi
,te as to his patients health. III
"To tell you the truth, my dear fellow" ac
id Heathcote one day, 81 wish they 6,
ould call you in. OF course, you know. ~ ~
cannot ask for a consultation with a ju at M
or but wish they would pay me off an an
ID take you am fairly puzzled and all ~ ~
e medicines l have given her seem to i'''
axe her worse"
No wonder" said Lenoir; but, doc tn
r, it would be pity that harm should 4
me to that poor creature because we
axe up our pills differently. If you make pl
excuse to let me attend for day or tn
70, will tell you, to the best of my judg- ha
ent, what l think of the case"
So DR.. Heathcote made his excuse, and
r. Lenoir was called. in. And the pump M
ON scandal-mongers talked more than po
er.
Col. DeGrey lived in handsome villa me
1se to the town; and thither DR.. Lenoir is
oceeded. The Colonel received him at an
e door, and shook him warmly by the pc
nd. yo
a My poor wife is very i'll, L fear, and 1 to
! sure you will do your best to bring ao'
T through" --.--...
Lenoir answered this appeal with no
unit, and walked straight into the dining
ON, and looked out at the window. ant
g suppose DIR. Heathcote has told you Wo
e symptoms-that she never can take
T food ~ dot
" BE has told me nothing. If he had 1
ould not have believed him. l don't ma
MT to know anything about symptoms. the
N see herr" to-l
Certainly. She is rather better to dav.
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