The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1884-10-15
A DOOTOR'S RUsE.

tne llght from the side JET failing
upon, his worn, anxious face.
The room was barely comfortable.
The floor was covered with mat.
ting. The wall paper wasshabby,
but was cheerfully relieved BY a
few cheap, yet brightly colored
chromos, aud the heavy guilt
frame which enclosed his diploma.
A desk somewat Uttered, a book.
case but partially filed, and old.
fashioned sofa and a few stuffed,
stia.backed chairs, we're all the
furniture visible, We say visible,
because within a small, curtained
alcoye, were a low, narrow bedstead,
and a diugy toilet stand in keep
ing with the cracked wash bowl
and pitcher which surmOunted il,
and with the rickety towelirack
which stood beaido it. s
The doctor was quite a young
man, prepossessing in appearance,
and positive in his manner-his
grave, thoughtful face indicating
character and a fair degree of re.
served strength. His clothes had
a seedy look; they were entire, but
much worn, frayed around the but
ton holes, the faded binding render.
ed less noticeable by the applica.
tion Of ink.
In fact, tho doctor was very poor,
and the outlook for the future was
in no wise encouraging. He had
been located In that quarter Of the
city for three months, and yet had
not received professionally a CALI
He had spent his means, and had
been compelled to pawn his surgi.
col instruments and u few Of his
bookP; ho was in arrears for board.
ing, while the landlord had given
him notice to yacato the room.
The doctor was no. to blame for
his straightened circumstances,
He had practiced rigid economy
he had nailed up his sign and dis.
tributed his circulars; he was at
least theoretically we'll up in his
profession, his address was in his
favor; be had patiently waited,
There was not much sickness in
the neighborhood, aud what little
patronage there was went into the
the hands Of older practitioners.
No wonder that the young doctors
attitude was q forlorn one, and the
expression on his face almost dc.
void Of hope,
Suddenly his countenance bright.
Oned. Some one had pulled the
bell. Who else, if not a patientH
He opened the door, and a lady en-.
tered. She was closely yeiled, and
yet he knew that she was young,
because of the elasticity in hel
movements.
"You are Dr.. VentnorH" she ask.
ed, her voice sweet and distinct,
though slightly tremulous.
"At your service, madam" be
answered with a polite bow. spray,
be seated"
She took the chair which be
placed for her, aud removed her veil;
and as she did so, he noticed that
her hand was small, white, shape.
ly and bejeweled. Her face wa,
exceedingly fair, though it wore a
troubled look. Her eyes were
black and lustrous. They made q
rapid survey of the room, and then
rested upon the doctors face in
such a steady, calculating, estima.
ting way, that he felt the blood
filling his cheeks, % a'R ''l'm
II wish you to call upon my
father" she said. {.ii"
"To.nightH" asked the doctor.
"Well-no," she debatingly ans,
wered. "TO.morrow will do. !
tell you beforehand, it's an odd
case, and a bad one. If you sue,
coed in relieving him you have
only to name your fee." ,''a
"What is his maladyH" asked the
doctor. p ai' r9gl iafs.d
"He's q hypOchOndriac," she
slowly, halt.unWillingly admitted,
tho color coming and going in her
face, "He has a strange hallucin.
alton, and II he is not llftedIout Of
it will end 10 his death.p %
The doctor was becoming fascl.
mated with the sweet voice, the
graceful gestures, the black eyes,
which grew more lustrous because
anxiekv had fllad Than, With toapo