The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-05-25
THE RIVAL DOCTORS.

'
l spent two days of last week at y
-, one of those pretty thriving, pic
turesque towns which dot the magnifi-
| cent and bold landscape of western Penn
sylvania, and which are miniature cities
in the energy, progressiveness, educa-
ton, and cultivation of their inhabit-
ants, and models of advanced municipal
regulations. 1t was a revisit to the
place, for l had lived there for year,
several years ago, attached to the single
newspaper of the town, which newspa-
per has, in the mean time, advanced
from somewhat uncertain weekly pub
iication TO the dignity of daily, with a
certain toning down of the pictorial ad-
vertising columns, which resembled
nothing so much as half-sheet circus
poster, and corresponding advance in
its news and general reading features
found that change, the epitaph of all
the years everywhere, had been busy
with the people here as elsewhere, and
one of these changes. completing ro-
nance which was well advanced when
quilted the town in 1873, enables me to
tell the story entire.
During my residence there, my most
intimate friend, and the one whose house
I most frequented, was DR.. Thomas
Wood, who had moved to N-from
Philadelphia, upon the death of his wife,
ten years before. bringing with him his
little daughter May. who at the time of
which l write, had grown up to be the
acknowledged beauty of the town. The
house they occupied was an old-fashion-
ed brick mansion in the centre of the
town, which DIR. Wood had modernised
gaf ~ the Vas always filed with erani' ,,naow'
roses and mvrtles, that, with a couple
Of small oTan re-trees, were the admira-
ton of the nelghborhood. Not that DR..
Wood had ang horticultural tastes. On
the contrary, he was very severe on the
devotion of minds TO such tritleS as flow
ers. fancy work, music, and dancing;
but then blue-eved May differed with
him. and told him so in the sweetest,
sauciest, and most lovable manner inn
aginable. 4
Upon the opposite side of the street
there had just been completed, at the
time of wlich ! speak, row Of
houses of an unusually imposing APP
pearance, anC which were dignified by
the high-soundiug name of Maple Ter
race" that being the kind of tree which
was most conspicuous by its absence in
the immediate locality. They were all
TO let, although the last finishing touch
es had been put on them in the way of
paint and paper, and they wanted moth
ing save furniture and human beings to
assume ciyi.ised appearance.
Calling one afternoon at the doctors
house, saw evidences of life in Maple
terrace. and upon enquiry of May as
certained that two of the houses had
been taken.
Papa is cutie pleased" said she,
"because. You know, he looks upon
| those twelve houses as twelve new pa
| tients."
But" said I, ''have you not read the
| advertisement: Healthy and airy situa-
ton, imposing neighborhood, and only
one physician2'
ooh yes smiled May; ''but sickness,
/ am sorry TO say, is apt to run about
| at some time or other, even in airy sit
uations."
Two DAYS afterward another bill was
| taken down, and in my strong interest
| in the terrace, which had seen grow
up under my eyes, / called to congratu'
| late May.
"Oh yes" she exclaimed with unusu.
al eagerness; land think by family
that will prove valuable addition tc
the neighborhood, for a very handsome
and MISUNDERSTANDING young gentle.
man drove up there this morning ano
| spent an hour in looking over the house
! and suppose he has taken it.
1t was several days before ! saw hel
again, and then she caught me by tht
hand, drew me rapidly to the window
/ and. with a Semi-tragic expression she
/ pointed to the house over the way.
! looked, and, TO my astonishment saw
upon the shutters, painted in very large
gold letters. Edmund Rand, Md
"A rival. indeed" said l, promising
Montague and Capulet state of things
But perhaps a Romeo and Juliet may bt
| found TO terminate it,
Don't laugh.' replied May gravely
.papa is rexed and indignant. Imagine
two PLY sicians in this locality! It's al
the fault of this advertisement, Some
scheming young man has seen it, and
finding no hope of practice elsewhere
has come here. | Isuppose he is as poo
as a rat.
At this instant three wagons full o
new furniture stopped in front of DR.
Rand's door. and May absolutely turned
pale upon discovering that it was of tn,
most elegant description.
The wretch has got a young wife
toor' she exclaimed, as q piano ant
harp came TO view; and then she added
rising, This will never do; they mus
! be put down 1t once; they are stranger
in the neighborhood; we are well known
/ have plan which | think viii effectu
ally dispose of the interlopers: ! vii
give an evening reception and ball. ant
viii Immediately prepare list Of all III
people wish TO invite"
Laughing at tbs wicked ingenuity Q
|. the plan by which the enemy was to b
crushed by the mere force Of number
of her allies, assisted in preparing tn
| list. which bad already become yer,