Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-11
THF DOCTORS DILEMMA.
TYou8S Ladies' Journal !
pTER L

the death Of an uncle Who mad lived there for
bstd. ana bli3tered the population during two
gent rati0nS ar least In the last yoar OF his
lie. When be was too feeble TO ride long dis
tauCes to see his patients. ne had tuken Philip
into partnership, and on his death had left him
the practice, his savings amounting 70 some
three or four thousand pOunds), and the house
In which he liVed-a roony, old fashioned abode,
over winch TALL leaD maypole OF woman,
SISen Cole, retgned supreme as housekeeper;
aud OF OF the conditions OF the will Of Philip
Hamilton senior was, that Philip Hamilton
Junior should retain Susan Cole in his service
until she was past her work. when she was TO re-
tire Tn little cottage on the London road.
which the Old surgeon had purchased for her,
and which he had left her with small annuity
sufficient for Ter wants
People Said that Philip Hamilton was lucky
fellow 10 stept n'o such a comfortable home and
1iouri> hing practice ar eight and-tweuty, and
there Is no doubt that he shared the general
opinion himself. Medicine. as a profession,
is raleiy O very retnuleTattve one until We
Ia the 'Sere aud yellow leaf, and sometimes If
never becomes 50. There are certain requisites
imperative TO success good presence and
manner; an ability to disguise the truth, H.
the same way as pills are silvered, TO prevent It
being uDpalafaOle, and just slight SOupc01t
or ftattery. Fine l21ea, for Instance, do not
Ike tn be told that their indi5pOSitOl 0u+iS,I
OF nothing In the world but afIectasion and Idle
hess: they prefer their medical attendant 10
speak or want of ''tone," and nerves, &C. and
their spouses when laid up With govt, don't
relish being told, In so many words that IL Is
yOtion TO port wine. Philip Hamilton was not
much OF a courier; he was good looking and
well hammered. and when he felt The truth was
tisagreeaple. he had sufficient common sense
20 hold his tongue.
He vas rather favorite at Honeymoon: peo-
pie liked him. partly for his uncle'S sake, and
soDeH hat for his Own; he was good looking,
and had pleasant manner: he dressed well too
and the costume Of that period. hreecheS, long
Mapped " aistcoats and coats. silver knee aud
shoe btckles-a far more graceful one than the
style Of manly c0meliness
Some Of the young ladies OF Honeymoon were
apt 10 color and drop their eyes when Dr. Ham.
tlton appeared In sight: out the damsels OF that
period were brought up far more strictly than
the youDs ladies or the present day. ana such
word as fast, applied IN the sense in which it
is USED nowadays, was unknown.
Philip Hamilton had been at Honeymoon two
years, when he got into the dilemma without
when this TeracionS history had n ever been
written.
rr. Hamilton was 10 love-not a very unusual
state OF things when {. man is In the prime of
youtn, and very susceptible; and by no
" no was great adnltreF or the fair sen and Il
faycIite With them.
Many time and Oft has his fancy been
caught By pretty face peeping forth from one
OF the huge coalscuttle bOnDetS then In vogue.
but his heart had remained untouched until his
present ensiaVer had appeared upon the sc me.
She was the second or three daughters CT 4
wealthy lawyer, who had recently settled rs
Honeythorn, occupying a large red brick man
sion on the summit OF bin q little distance
from the town Itself; and the first time Philip
had laid his eyes upon her the mischief had
been done and he had surrendered his heart
Into her keeping. 1t was In church tn It the
event took place, and the time was that pleasant
spriDguIe In which. according 10 Mr. Tenny-
son. young mans fancy lightly turns to
thoughts or love- So perhaps the season OF the
year had something TO do with It, although
an more inclined TO think that the fault-if
there be a1y-tS TO be attributed TO distract
Ing poke bonnet, 1ined With pale green, out Of
which the fair face OF the lawyers second
daughter peeped like rosebud surrounded
with foliage. This Is Philips expression. not
mine, reader, and you may judge therefr0m
how hopeless was the case Oh love at first sight.
Besides this DeWitching headgear, she wore a
dress OF some figured green mater lal, made with
low bodice anG short sleeves, as was Jhen the
fashion: dainty, frtlled affair, something Of
peler1ne suppose, and black lace mlttens Which
went UP 20 ner elbows; ana when she left the
Church he saw she carried green para5ol 10
Shade her fair face.
NCtmnch heed, fear, did Philip Hamilton
pay TO the service that morning. the fair face
encircied and Swallowed by that exquisite bon
net. with sweet eyes mJd9Stly dOWncaSt ard
sedately liked upon the prayer book held Ia the
nJtle mlttened haudS, perSStently haunted the
pages OF his own churcn-Seryica, and most
efectualiy disturbed his deYouons, and when
he left the church he carried away Its Image
enSbrtned within his heart.
Not much appetite mad he for the dainty din
neT Suean Cole had prepared for him. and tue
coed woman wondered what had come 70 her
master, AID decided 10 her own mind that ne
must br anxious about some one OF MS patients.
Susan WAS mistaken, as we know: and yet tle
most hopeless case which Philip had ever un-
derlaken was not more hopeless than his own
nOH that he had fIien under the dominion OF
that UBIQUITOUS Little b!iDd god who Is the cause
Of three parts or the mischief and confusion In
this mundane sphere CT ours.
a that sunday the iasr face haunted him,
and during the whole week. as he rode OUT 10
WISH MS patients. it went with him through the
lanes, up hill end down dale.
\
Iexs SUNDAY gave him an opportunity or again
SEEING hts divinity, and be thought hSr more
io7ey than ever, although ste did not appear
In tie bonnet. but Wore smart gypsy hat,
tTimmcu with garland Of pink roses. But bY
the tine service was over Philip Hamilton was
reduced to that state. that II she had Worn
them the most becoming attire u pretty
woman could wear.
pnIip went home Nat day, having made UP
his mild 20 obtain an introduction 20 Mr.,
Langron, he,' father. as soon as possible, and
resolving 20 be so attentive and deferentfal TO
that gentleman. that he should make favor
able impression upon aim, as first step to
making the same on his daughter.
And, indeed, II seemed as II the young lady
heiseIf was not quite so demure as she ap-
peared to be; Tor ohce, on turning MS eyes
10 her face. Philip met her own lovely ofpS
nX6d upon aim with rather an 1nquirfng look,
which transported him 10 the seventh heaven
CT delight.
Now as IL for once 20 contradict the saying
OF the greatest and wisest OF poets, living or
dead, that the course OF true love never did
Tan smooth" the next day one or the servants
from Red House came daShlng down at his
horst SWifteSb pace to the doctors, TO say that
his master nd fallen down 10 q IT, and 70 re-
queSt Philips Immediate attendance
\ gu nay imagine that our nero-f0rtunately
&; hoIne-ipst no time IL obeying the summons.
He mounted his horse, ard gail0ped over 10 the
Red House where he was met by q couple OF
weeping daughters, of whom sh" vas one who
entre4ted hun 10 save her father.
Mr.. IarStCns attack proved 10 be slight
one, ana Philips remedies soon HAD The desired
effect; but he ordered his patient TO remain ia
Oed. promised to call again IN the evening, ard
was rewarded by gr4tefu. glance from pair
OF BIZ e! eS drowned in tears.
IL the evening he found his patient decidedly
bSttfr-SO mucn better, Ia fact, that Philip was
oJiteW hat disappointed. He did not want Mr.
LangtOn To- get well TOO soon, so he recommended
dead quiet AID care: and during the following
week paid daily visit 10 the Red House, where
ne was cordially received not only Dy the law
yer himself, but by the ladies OF the family.
Besides bis three daughters, Mr. LangtOn's
household vas graced by the presence Of
fourth lady-hf5 maiden sister, VINO. although
she was considerably past her first youth, had
py no means given up the hope OF a suitable
establishment IN lfe, and who Was much more
romantic aud affected than her nieces, While
she closely Initiated their style OF dress ana
gffiish rnaBlCrS.
This lady, called b. her nieceS by the name o;
EnlnCline-She forbade the addition or ''auDt"
Was an object or no small amusement TO the
doctor; but his amusement was mingled with
u tEal-