The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-02-17


YOU"
Not likely"
"No; put it is just possible. Don't
muffie the bell"
need hardly tell the married reader
that the doctor got growing into bed,
with the bell.clapper free to arouse him
out again. In an hours liberty the
proving bit of iron availed itself OF that
liberty, but for some minutes Mr.. Rad
ford declined to stir. Consideration
for his wife's rest, however, at length
induced him to turn out once more, and
again 60 through the process of refrig-
Grafton.
Sir Timothy's messenger again,
aupposeY" he cried.
mo-" replied we'll known voice !;
a" / am here myself"
Z" For what purpose, Sir Timothy
Graham, do you come and disturb me !;
when you know very well never in
tend to enter your house again p
Gay, ay," replied the voice from be-
low but this is not time to bear
malice. tell you that my wife is dan
gerously ill-dying, l believe and if she
dies for want of medical assistance, you
| VIII DE Responsible.
"No, sir the responsibility will lie
on your own shoulders. | am poor
man working hard for living, but no
one ever knew me to neglect a patient
because he could not pay me. Two
thirds of my work is done for nothing,
or next to nothing, and those who can
afford it ought to take some share of
the burden, more especially you, the
lord of the manor, under whose protec-
ton the whole poor are placed by Pro
violence. Instead Of which, you refuse
| to pay me for actual attendance upon
yourself and your family for upward of
a year."
Stay, stay y cried Sir Timothy :;
"you mistake | never refused to pay
you | only omitted to do so. You are
really wrong to look upon it as a per-
sonal matter, because never pay unless
l am actually obliged. But come, let us
see if we cannot do business together.
Save my wife, and I'll give you a hun
dred pounds. There"
"Eh p said Mr.. Radford, staggered.
I" But you know there is no taking your
word for anything
"Come down and let me in, and | will
put that promise down in black and
white" said Sir Timothy.
"That sounds like business" replied
the Doctor, not altogether sorry for an
excuse for going to aid a dying woman.
So he shut the window, put on some
clothes, and admitted Sir Timothy Gra-
ham, taking him into his consulting
rooms and lighting the gas.
Now, how am | to word it?' in
CURED the Baronet, taking up a pen
and arranging sheet of foolscap before
him. Il promise to pay the sum Of GlOO
10 Mr.. John Radford, surgeon, if he cures"
No, no." interrupted the Doctor, sit
is only quacks who make such bargains
as that; must have my fee, whether
am successful or not"
Very good surgeon, for attend
ance on my wife, kill or cure Will
that do?''
Yes, that will do but sign it,
"Oh, oh | forgot. How stupid"
And Sir Timothy appended his name to
the document, which Mr.. Radford
locked up in his desk and then putting
on his great coat and hat, he left the
house with his successful visitor.
He found Lady Graham very i'll in.
deed, quite past human aid in fact ; and
though he was quite indeiatigable in his
attendance, and performed the feat
which is popularity called eXhausting
the resources of the art" she sank on
the third day. The widower was not
inconsolable. The undertaken took
some timber which had lately been
felled, in part payment of expenses, and
! h. Il e 4 h.
Timothy let farm, the lease of which
had expired, at an increased rent, with
out having to do as much in the way of
repairs as he had anticipated so that he
was enabled to bear his domestic mis-
fortune like Spartan.
After decent lapse Of time, Mr..
Radford sent in a note referring to the
promise which Sir Timothy Graham had
made him, and requesting a check for a
hundred pounds and no answer being
vouchsafed to his communication, he
presently wrote again in more urgent
language; but the second was ignored
as quietly as the first. Then the good
Doctor got angry. and meeting his pas
tor one day in the course of his rounds,
he upbraided him with his conduct, and
threatened to take legal proceedings.
"Quite right, Doctor-quite right"
said Sir Timothy. Force me to pay
you, and / will do it; but never part
with farthing, except under compul-
sion and | am sorry cannot make an
exception in your favor"
So Mr.. Radford put the matter in the
hands of lawyer; and in due time the
case came on. 1t was a gay day in the
little country town, for the case excited
a great deal of curiosity and amuse-
ment; the doctor, who was a general
favorite, had been pitilessly chaffed,
though everybody hoped for and an
ticipated his success and the court was
crowded with country magnates. 1t
added to the attraction of the affair that
Sir Timothy Graham, with all his faults,
had the merit of being consistent; he
would not employ a lawyer, but con-
Quoted his own case. Of course the
Doctors solicitor was .jubilant, and quot
ed the proverb which AYERS that a man
who so acts has a fool for his client.
:" Not but what the case is clear
enough" he added all the lawyers