The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-21
DOCTOR AND PATIENT.

condemned to death, or are you going to re-
prieve me?'
81 think can reprieve you; but I can't
promise to do more"
II never expected it. know my state
quite as well as you'll haven't a years life
in me. Now, don't begin to talk the usual
rubbish; you ought to know me we'll enough
by this time Can you give me six months?'
mot in England"
"Where?'
Somewhere in the South-say Nice OF
Cannes. Nice by preference"
All right. Nice, by all means. When can
travel?'
Early next week, if you rest the remain
der of this"
Mr.. Fletcher gave dissatisfied grunt as he
turned himself in his bed.
Look here, Maitland" he said, when he
had settled himself into new position; III
you think that at my time o. life L m going
to CAD about foreign countries by myself
you re mistaken. You'll have to come with
me-"
The Doctor smiled; he was pleasantly sur
prised to hear his patient make the sugees-
ton, but he did not wish him to see how
gratifed he was
what is to become of my practice, mean
whileT' he asked
"Oh, your practice must take care of itself;
look upon this journey as holiday taken
rather earlier than usual. See me safely to
Nice, put me into the hands of good doctor
there, and then you can leave me to end my
days in peace. l think you will do that for
three hundred and expenses"
81 would do it for less, ~ was Maitland's
reply.
81 don't want you to. I'm rich enough,
as you we'll know to pay well for what peo-
Aio do 60 4 I
to keep my money for? | can't take it with
me, can I-eh?'
mot beyond Nice" replied the young
doctor, using the freedom which his eccen-
trio patron liked.
Good; and 1 shan't want much there. 1
can't make much of a hole in my property
in six months, however hard 1 try; though [
belive that young scamp of a nephew OF
mine will grudge me my daily drive"
Maitland was silent; it was not his place
to foster the breach between uncle and
nephew, whatever his private opinion of
Fred Dexter's character might be.
You have father, haven't your" asked
the old gentleman, after pause
YES; he is still living"
Then treat him better than my son treat
ed me; it will make him happier, if it
doesn't make you"
II wish you would let me speak to you
about your son" said Maitland.
THANK you; I'd sooner hear you on any
other subject"
~ don't often trouble you with this one."
''No or I should change my DOCTOR"
'You have done him injustice, at all
events" said Maitland, rather warmly, land
| think you will live to repent it."
TN that case you must make me live long
er than you profess to be able to do" retort-
ed the invalid Don't renew the subject,
please, till ask you. Come in tomorrow,
and we will make final arrangements about
the journey"
Maitland knew Mr. Fletcher intimately
enough to know that the interview was over
He left the room and proceeded on his round
of afternoon visits, reaching mis- small house
about an hour before dinner.
A letter was waiting for him. twas direct
ed in lady's hand, and bore the postmark of
Nice He read it through twice, apparently
enjoying the perusal; then he lay back in his
chair and thought
otis a stroke of good fortune most de-
cidedly" he soliloquized. amy is at Nice,
and now 1 shall be able to go and see her.
That will be pleasant surprise for her.
hope. I'm afraid she doesn't get too many of
them. Luckily, Mr.. Fletcher will never
guess the reason of my recommending Nice
After all, it is just as good for him as any
other place, and may be doing him greater
service than he dreams of in taking him
there, if things fall out as they should"
an the midst of his reverie the servant
entered, bringing him another letter.
"Please, sir, this came this morning, but
you don't seem to have seen it."
Maitland opened it, not with the alacrity
he had shown with the first 1t ran thus:
Dear Maitland-How is the old boy9 This
question will SAVIOR OF nepottc affection inter
ested selhshness; you may take your own
meaning. | ask, because L am among the sharks
again, and until can pRcify them with a feed
on my unces accumulati0ns they are insatia-
BILE. want to know, as matter of business,
how long he is likely to linger on this earth, II
he has made will In my favor, as he knows
very well shall not be sorry to get iJ proved
Why should / hesitate TO own as truth that
which he taunts me with every time We meet7
Could you lend me fifty till the time CONTEST
Charge so per cent, II you like. Tell me truth
him five years longer. shall bear 1t still better
II You eonfne him to five months. Yours,
F. DEXTER
"Reartless bruter' thought Maitland on
finishing, Though certainly he never makes
pretense of being anything else It's for
tunate for him that his uncle knows so little
about him or his chances of succession would
be considerably smaller"
He scribbled a note in reply to the letter
simply informing Dexter of his uncle's in
tended journey and of his state of health.
He omitted to give any cpinion as to the
probable length O. his tenure of life,
DR.. Maitland was still young man in his
of age He had entered it late; his prospects
were fairly good; but hitherto his practice
had been restricted-in a country town it
takes time for new man to make a position,
as every family of standing already possesses
q medical man and is unwilling to change.
However, he did not despair of getting on.
He had every reason for wishing to do so,
for he was DESTROYS of getting married He
was not yet even engaged; he had secret
reasons for not proposing at present to the
girl he loved. Whether he would ever
be in a position to do so was more
than he could as yet foresee, Mr.. Fletcher
had been his patient during the last five
years-in fact, ever since he began practice.
This was partly because he had quarreled
with all the other medical men of the town,
but chiefly for reason that he would never
own. This was that Maitland had been
great friend, many years before, of his only
son, Charlie.
Charles Fletcher was of very different