The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-06-21
Philip Wharton $ Choice

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clans in charge, stood by a marbl
slab putting up a prescription
Near him lounged, idly, DR.. Frazier
his colleague, dark mustachioet
young fellow with a hard, intoler
ant cast of countenance, rendere,
more repellant just now by an angr,
scowl.
"Don't talk to me, Phil" he said
There's miserably poor Outlool
for either of us here. The poores
hodcarrier that walks the street hai
a better chance for success than yoI
or l, even though we have NJ. d
tackled to our names. You car
brag OF your profession if you like
but I'm sick of it! I'll try some
thing else before the years out
81 haven't Dragged of it," saiC
DR.. Wharton good-humoredly. 81
haven't said anything. You never
give me a chance"
"To think of how I've wasted my
life! continued Frazier, without
needing him. "Four years at col
lege, two in a doctors Office, two in
the Philadelphia medical schools
And here I am, and here you are
men at twenty-four glad to have a
years practice in hospital for oul
board, when my brother, two years
younger and without an education
is making a handsome living specu-
lating in the Stock Exchange"
Philip Wharton made no reply,
but ground away steadily ut the
mortar.
''Do stop that screakr' said Fra
zier, irritably. "Come out and have
a smoke"
'I haven't finished putting up
this prescription"
"You haven't had your supper
either"
':No; but 1 shall finish the pre-
scription first"
"You always stick at a thing until
it is finished. You'll stick at your
profession until it finishes you"
81 hope not" said Wharton laugh
ing.
"What are you going to do when
you leave the hospital? Our time
will be up in September. Where
are you going to settle?'
81 don't know yet" said Philip,
his cheerful face suddenly clouding.
81 know of no place where there is
much chance of success. My cousin
John advises me to go west. But
there are half-a-dozen doctors in
every village out there already
"Therep' said George Frazier,
tridmphantly. "What did 1 say?
There Is absolutely no chance for a
young doctor, unless he has for
tune or friends to push him on
You and have neither. We had
better go out and preach this cure
of fasting. We have every prospect
of becoming good examples of its
effects, whatever those may be-"
DR.. Wharton laughed, but made
no reply. His face showed, how
ever. that he felt the truth of what
Frazier said.
"You had better come to supper
Phil" Frazier added, in a more
cheerful tone. Having succeeded in
making his companion miserable,
his own spirits began to revive.
"No; must put up this powder
first"
every well. Pm going to cut my
ward and take a stroll tonight"
He sauntered out into the clear
moonlight and fresh air. DIR. Whar-
ton glanced after him, feeling as if
he too must escape from the nause-
ating smell of the drugs and the
heavy, fetid air of the sick wards.
But he ground on steadily at his
powder.
He was homely little man, whose
only attractive trait was q happy,
hearty buoyancy of heart, but that
was gone now. When the prescrip-
tion was made up in little papers,
labelled and directed, he washed
his hands, put on his hat, and look
ing at his watch, walked quickly
out into the street. Half an hour
was the time he gave himself for
meals but tonight he would use the
half hour for Something else than
supper,
He turned into a quiet cross
street, and in a few minutes reached
little book-shop which wore q
melancholy, watchful air, as if tired
of looking out for customers. In.
side young girl was perched on a
high stool, writing in a ledger
She had round, merry face, which
grew suddenly red as she looked up
80 Philip?' she cried, jumpin g
down and catching his hand with {
nervous sob and laugh. "Such 8
good day as this has beeni Mr.
Nixon has not scolded since morn
ing, and have made two sales, ant
now you are Gomez
$50 Nixon was scolding you, was
he!' said Philip, his face darken
ing. "The scoundrel! To thinl
that you must submit TO the tryan
ny of ruflian like him, and l cal
do nothingw
''Hush-h'. She glanced in terro
dG IuG HAIL OpcH hOOI. 44S 10 d
supper in the back room. Don
offend him, Philip, or ne would dis
charge me, and then what should
do? 1t is impossible for girls to ge
work in the city now, and ] mus
| liye:H
eyes, and you must earn YOU
cwn living" he said, bitterly. 81
/ were half man l would have beel
able to marry before now. It's tel
years since you promised to MARI,
me, Susy; do you remember? Yol
were a little freckled tot then
munching candy, and ! q lubberl.
farm-boy. But I" determined t
make you my wife, and keep yor
from all trouble, though sloy
enough I've been about itp'
"You have done more than an,
other man ever did" cried Susie
hotly. "You have educated your
self; earned your profession'-
"Professionl Pm beginning t.
think Frazier is right, and that
had better be hod-carrier than
doctor. Then at least ! would b