Wichita daily eagle., 1884-07-13

as II to say It was all In vain.
The venerable physician sat in his luxuri.
Gus Office, meditating on the vanity Of
earthly ambition. When he was young he
had hopes, desires, and noble aims Now
that be was old be was content with his car
riage, his wealthy patients, and comfortable
practice. His regular Office hour was nearly
over, and he was waiting, perhaps impa-
tiently, for the bell to call him to
dinner. In his callow days be could
nit up all night, and go without food
to watch q new experiment in science.
Now his dinner was the most important event
in the day. Such can be the decay Of no.
ble ambition. Apatient was announced
She came bustling in, lively, vivacious, full
Of fresh, young life, that broke into touches
Of natural merriment. Clearly not q very
sickly person. She seemed an antidote for
sadness soothing balm for blighted am
bition-and the old man vas truly gladly to
see her. sf-S " / EAA
Miss vivacia! Is this youf Charmed to
have you come TO my den. Lights the old
place up. How is the motherp
Mother is perfectly well, thank you, doc
tor. She does not know have come to you,
| and want to see you very much-particular
case Of my own"
The doctor stood smiling and pleased be-
fore the lovely Vivacia, and wondered what
on earth could be the matter. 81 k~s -
1It's not for myself I'm never a. u
a-a-well, a friend Of mine-very sd AD
-deep-seated melancholy. Never lauehs-
never even smiles"
"Not even in your presence? Must be Q sad
case, indeed"
1T is, sir, deeply affecting, too A man
grown, and, as his mother says a man
never known to smile; and no is to be my
husband"
"Sos He win recover soon You are his
best prescription"
"You do not understand, sir. 1t is a
strange story. He was born in hospital,
and as they said. brought up artificially-
though don't know what they mean by
that He was always sad, and grave, and
oh! doctor, do help me. I'm going to be his
wife, and shall certainly die of the blues II
live alone with him, and shall die II I
don't"
A shade of deep sadness overspread the
old physicians face. He sat down, and for
moment was absorbed in reflection.
What hospital was itf'
"The Hospital for Infants and Respect
able"
She did not finish the sentence. Tor the
doctor rose abruptly, and said:
Il knew it. knew il les ths ame case.
1t is strange how time takes is revenges l
know all about that case The man was
brought up by my patent mechanical nurse"
@WhatP
"His young head was pillowed on unfeel-
ing sawdustl"
What do you meanF
"His life was saved by my patent cow
reuse, but, as the nurse predicted at the time,
his natural affections, which should have
gone out tc a mother, met only an irrespon-
sive incubator, and this is the result. 1t is
not strange that, as the poet has so we'll ex.
pressed it, 'he is never known to smile.'"
"Whatr
He did not seem to heed her.
Something must be done; yet ] know mot
what" =
u don't understand single word you say,
though l suppose it is very dreadful"
"Yes, miss. 1t is, indeed, dreadful that
any child should have been thus blighted.n
"Tell me what to do Will he never get
over its Won't he outgrow it. Cannot you
give me prescription
"Hush, child! Let me think"
A solemn hush filled the room The physi-
SLAMS mind ran back to that fatal night in
the hospital. Miss Vivacia began to Sc
cretly wish she was not engaged to so very
undesirable person. There must lie Some
horrible mystery about that hospital Her
lover was. perhaps, the victim of some scien-
tiic experiment too awful to describe.
Just then the dinner-bell rang, and the
aged physician rose with alacrity, and said:
"You must excuse me now, Miss Vivacia
I'll consider your case, and send you a pre-
scription by my boy in the course Of the
afternoon"
Miss Vivacia considered herself dismissed,
and went home, and waited as best she could
the expected advice.
1t came in about two hours. She tore
open the envelope, and found only few
Lines in pencil:
"The patient must be born again, or he
cannot be saved"
She threw the note on the floor in mingled
misery and vexation. What did he mean by
such cruel nonsensei After While she felt
better, dried her tears, and repaired to Mrs.
Stevens mansion, and there laid the note
and the whole story before that motherly
person.
"That's clear sensible advice"
ats rubbish"
"Not at oil. He means that Edward
must be q boy again. He must learn
to say with the poet, Turn backward, oh,
time, in thy flight, and make me boy
again. and so on. declare did not know
DIR. Smith knew SO much about children"
"Where is Edward nowi'
"He has not como home yet; detained At
the office. Leave it all to me. Ill get him
rattle and some other playthings and he
shall be a boy again. You see he is disap-
pointed child. He lost all the joys of baby
hood in that dreadful incubator. The doctor
means he should begin all over again rs far
as possible Poor dear little thing What a
frightful loss, to have no babyhood. You'll
help me, dear"
YES" said vivacih @FH try"
"Yon will never succeed if you are so
gloomy about il. Do you think any baby
would ever smile to see such cloudy face as
yours''
III do anything, Mrs. Stevens, to help cure
dear Edward, but to treat him as a child is
Just u little silly"
Its not. It's good medical advice by one
of our best physicians. Now run right up in
tho nursery and look in the top drawer Of
the old bureau and you'll find Katy's play
things. Hurry, before Edward comes"
an do nothing Of the kind"
"Then III go myself I've been Q mother,
and / know just what to do in such case"
With that she went hastily out Of the room.
III.
Miss Vivacia sat sadly thinking OF the
poor child's blighted baby hood, and inwardly
raging against her friend for thinking that
her intended husband oould ever be pleased
with toy. Just at that instant the door
opened, and the lover solemnly entered the
room. She sprang gladly up to meet him,
with light laughter and lively affection con-
tending for room on her tongue He took her
hand soberly, and said: i
Good evening, Vivacia. 1t has been a fine
day. Sorry to be so late tonight, and
pleased to find you here
"Well, you don't look it. Why don't you
smile, or laugh, or look pleasant
Can man laugh TO orderi l don't see
anything to laugh at. As for this everlasting
smile so many people wear, it reminds me
of that Cheshire cat who, l am told, gradu
ally faded away and left only grin behind
It's an absurd story, and don't see how any
one could believe such awful nonsensa'
"Why, it's very funny. For my part. l
think it perfectly delicious. l read the whole
book through twice, and laughed till cried"
"Wha, paradox. How could you do
bothr'
My love,' cried vEach, in desperation,
"wer you eysr guilty Of laughfngi7
Newer knowingly. never could see any
thing TO laugh at
Then it's time you did. The trouble is,
you were disappointed child You never
had any fun. Sit down, and III try to make
up the loss TO YOU
He calmly sat down by her side on the sofa,
and she, nerved to her duty by mingled love