Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-03-24
The Leisure H0ur.


Doctor Mctcalf made room for the young
man at his desk, saying:
"Just sign you name there, sir, If you
please, sir, payable in six months"
ats heavy bill, Doctor" said Harry
Lane, hestating moment with the pen
between his fingers ere he added his sigma
| ture to the note.
"Heavy bill? Well, now don't know"
said Franklin Metcalf NJ. D., as he tapped
his foot rather impatiently on his Office
floor, and gazed absently from the window.
"a hundred dollars are earned more ca
silly by you than by me, DOCTOR" said the
young man, still hesitating. "I've had an
unlucky year of it, and l haven't made
that amount in the last twelve months.
Couldn't you make it Il little less?"
"What, the billf"
ayes"
"Not a cent, Lane. Medicines cost, and
my time is valuable. You would have
my services, and you couldn't expect the
President of medical institution to prac-
tice for nothing"
Certainly NOT replied Harry Lane,
making an energetic dash upon the paper,
and.writinxhis name in bold. heavy char
acters.
"There Doctor Metcalf, 1 only hope III
be able to keep my word and make it good
in the course of six months"
Doctor Metcalf folded the paper and
placed it with others of like character in
his desk. Harry Lane arose, buttoned his
overcoat, and put on his mittens. The sur
geon paced the floor rapidly few mo-
ments, and then advancing to where Har-
ry Lane stood by the stove, he asked in
low tone,
"Are you in haste, Lane?"
"None in particular"
"Then sit down moment-I want
word more with you"
Every well, sir" replied the young far
mer resuming his seat and tapping his fur
overshoes with his riding whip.
DR.. Metcalf drew his Office chair close to
where the young man sat and began:
"That account is one hundred dollars"
"Yes, understand that"
"Let us enter into little calculation,
corn is one dollar and fifty cents per bush
el-it will take sixty-six and two thirds
bushels to pay this bill"
Harry Lanes countenance looked quite
desponding.
"I shan't raise half that amount of corn
in all this year. This season being unfa-
vorable, the late rains did a great deal of
damage, and the early frost blasted Il con-
siderable part of the late planted"
"Look here, Lane" said the surgeon in
a low and confidential manner-"that bill
must be paidv r.
II shall try and pay sir,''
"You're an honest man, l know Lame
but it will be tough work, paying hun
| dred dollars in cash, or out of your short
allowance of grain. I'll make it easy for
you"
"Thank you sir" said Harry Lane,
gratefully.
81 said I'll make it easy for you-you
can pay that debt in one night. Listen to
me. Pm in need OF subject"
Had bomb shell exploded at the young
farmers feet, he could not have started up
in greater surprise.
81 am no grave robber, Doctor Metcalf,"
he said, Indignantly.
Look here, Lane, you are very unrea-
sonable. Science demands this. l have a
class of students who, in order to acquaint
themselves with the human frame perfect
ly, must have a subject for dissection.
There is nothing wrong in this; on tho
| contrary"
"Well, well, don't want to talk about
it," said Harry Lane, uneasily.
HNo uon don't ,uant 10 foIly about ~ lu.
do. This forenoon a stranger was buried
in the graveyard; he was accidentally
killed. He would make good subject"
$50 to someone else If you want grave
robber, said Harry Lane, Indignantly, rls-
ing to go.
perhaps you'll think better of my offer,
Lane, after you think the matter over.
Bring me body tonight and I'll give you
up your note. Should you bring one come
to the back door of my office, as 1 sleep
here tonight"
"Good day, sir" said Harry Lane, bow
ing himself out, and closing the door.
| Doctor Metcalf threw himself into a chair
and took up note that lay on the table.
1t was written in delicate female hand,
and there were traces of tears upon II. The
note ran as follows;
DEAR FRANK: Amy has propped me
up in bed so can just write a word to you.
! am i'll and wish you would come to me /;
it is long ride to be sure, but must see
you once more before | go. | shall send
this by Harry Lane, who has just stopped
to see how do. DO come Frank, to your
miserable sister. CATHARINE.
Doctor Metcalf bowed his head upon the
table with his fingers over his eyes, and
when he Withdrew his hands there were
| fears unon thpm-tears roal oanuina laars