The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1878-09-07
a DOCTORS STORY.
BRO. H. sHAnBRooK.


and the rain had begun 20 fall ir
heavy drops.
I was sitting in my office writ
ting when some one wrapped at
my door. It was ten o'clock; who
could be coming SO late at night;
someone sick,I suppose. Not SO; il
was young doctor-Paul Edgar
whose reputation as a physician
was fast spreading.
We chatted together a moment
and. after asking how I was pros
crossing on my work on Toxicol-
ogy, he departed.
He had been gone but a short
moment when the bell announced
another caller. Going to the
door ] found a servant who said
that a lady wished to see me, aud
handed me a Eote, which read
like this:
Dear Str.-.You will not refuse
to see, for five minutes. person
whose GRAND is lite or death.
Hem! said I, lite and death are
not very unusual occurrences ;
bring the lady in.
A moment later she appeared;a
tall, stately woman, richly and
completely yelled.
| handed ner a chair, and then
seating myself awaited her pleas
ure.
Dr.--,I I presume, speakln g
with foreign accent.
Yes, madam.
| wish to consult you upon
very serious matter, sir. 1t Is
entirely conhdeDtlal.
1t is unnecessary to mention
that TACT, physician is bound by
the honor and dignity OF his pros
tesslon to regard all consultations
as strictly confidential
[ presume so, but excuse me
In two words, doctor, you have
the reputation of knowing more
about polsons than any other liv-
ing physician.
It is OF poisons you wish te
speak.
Yes, | suspect that I have
swallowed some deadly substance
not at once. but in too minute
doses just beginning to make
themselves felt. | have come te
you for information, and for al
antldote, which, trust you vii
not refuse me.
Before we talk OF antidotes, we
must discover the polsons, i
your suspicious are correct. Ev.
cry poison has ali antidote of it
own, as every vice is counterpart
OF an especial virtue. Raise your
veil and draw IF your glove, i
you please.
The lady, without reply, threw
back her heavy veil, and showed
her small .black>sllik mask GOV,
ering the middle of her tace, bu'
leaving exposed a charming chin
and two lips that All anchorite
would long to kiss.
1t appears, madame, that al,
though you thought fit to respec
my discretion, you do not inteno
to confde in it, said | il di-pleas
ure.
/ Pardon me. sir; but 1T Is yer,
possible that you and | may NEE
again, perhaps, IN society. 1t i
far better that you should not b,
able tc recognize me-better 70
1 us both.
| Madame, in the seraglios of tn,
East, when Frankish physician
is summoned to precribe for tn,
favorite of a prince or arnoDle
and discov ers that he is not trus
ted with the sight of his patient
If he is an honest man he with
draws at once from the case, con
scious that he can do nothing, AN.
unwilling to risk his own reputa
ton and the life of the unfortu
nate slave by the blind attempt
But am not an ignorant slave
and it is [ who take the sesponsl
bi1ity in this case,I said the wo
man in a sweet and pathetl
voice. I will die rather than re
veal myself; but ] do not wish t
die, and believe that you ca
save me. Will you not try?
How eau |?
Yon may ask what question
you wish, and will answer ther
honestly. You may see my hand
tongue; you may put your TN
gers on my temples, throbbin
constantly with devonling he'd
Will not these suffice?
I undertake the csse, but 1t
on your own Tesponsibillt.
remember.