Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-10-15
A DOCTORS RUSE.

DR.. Paul Ventnor sat alone in his Of
fee, his hands crossed on his knees, his
eyes fixed upon vacancy, the light from
the side-jet falling upon his worn, anx-
ious face.
The room was barely comfortable.
The floor was covered with mating.
The wall paper was shabby, but was
cheerfully relieved by few cheap, yet
brightly colored chromos, and the
heavll gilt frame which enclosed his
diplomA. A desk somewhat Uttered,
500, case but partly filed, an old
fashioned sofa, and few stuffed, stiff
backed chairs, were all the furniture
visible. We say visible, because within
a small, curtained alcove, were a low,
narrow bedstead, and dingy toilet
stand, in keeping with cracked wash
bowl and pitcher which surmounted it,
and with the rickety towel-rack which
stood beside it.
The doctor was quite young man,
prepossessing in appearance, and pos
tive in his manner-his grave, thought
full face indicating character and fair
degree of reserved strength. His
cloths had seedy look; they were en-
tire. but much worn, frayed around the
button holes, the faded binding rem
derel less noticeable by the application
of ink.
In fact, the 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 a stu
gle professional call. He had spent his
means, and had been compelled to pawn
his surgical instruments and few of
his books; he was in arrears for board
ing, while the landlord had given him
notice to vacate the room.
The doctor was not to blame for his
Strengthened circumstances. He had
practiced rigid economy; he had nailed
up his sign and distributed his circulars
he was at least theoretically well up in his
profession: his address was in his favor
he had patiently waited. There was
not much sickness in the neighborhood
and what little patronage there was
went into the hands of the older prac-
titioners. No wonder that the young
doctors attitude was a forlorn one, and
the expression on his face almost devoid
of hope.
Suddenly his countenance bright
ened Some one had pulled the bell.
Who else, if not patient? He opened
the door, and lady entered. She was
closely yelled and yet she was young,
because of the elasticity in her move
ments
"You are DR.. Ventnor?" she asked,
her voice sweet and distinct, though
slightly tremulous.
AT your service, madam" he an
swered, with a polite bow. "Pray, be
seated"
She took the chair which he placed
for her, and removed her veil; and as
she did so, he noticed that her hand
was small, white, shapely and bejeweled.
Her face was exceedingly fair, though
it wore troubled look. Her eyes were
black and lustrous They made rapid
survey of the room, and then they
rested upon the doctors face in such a
steady, calculating, estimating way, that
he felt the blood filling his cheeks.
Il wish you to call upon my father,
she said.
"To-night?" asked the doctor.
"Well-no," she debatjngly answered
Tomorrow will do. | tell you before
hand it's an odd case, and bad one
If you succeed in relieving him you
have only to name your fee."
"What is his malady?" asked the
doctor.
Hes hypochondriac," she slowly,
half .unwillingly admitted, the color
coming and going in her face. "He has
strange hallucination, and if he is not
lifted out of it it will end in his death
The doctor was becoming fascinated
with the sweet voice, the graceful ges-
lures, the black eyes, which grew more