The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1884-10-22
688
A Doctors Ruse.

side-jet falling upon his worn, anxious
face.
The room was barely comfortable. The
floor was. covered with mating. The
wall paper was shabby, but was cheer
fully relieved by a few cheap, yet bright
ly ealored chromos, and the heayily-gilt,
frame which enclosed his diploma. A
desk somewhat Uttered, a bookcase but
partially filed, an old-fashioned sofa,
and a few stuffed, stif-backed chairs,
were all the furniture visible. We say
visible, because within small curtained
aleove, We're "a low, narrow bedstead,
and dingy toilet-stand, in keeping with
the cracked wash-bowl and pitcher
which surlnounted it, and with the rick
ETY. towel-rack which stood beside 1T.
The doctor was quite young man,
prepossessing in appearance, and posi-
tive in his manner-his grave, thought
full face indicating character and fair
degree of reserved strength. His clothes
had seedy look; they were entire but
much worn, -frayed around the button
holes, the faded binding rendered notice
able by the application OF ink.
In fact, the doctor was very poor, and
the outlook for thefuture was in no wise
encouraging. He had been located lin
that quarter of the city for three months,
and yet had received not single pro-
fessional call. He had spent his means
and had been compelled to pawn his
surgical instruments and a few OF his
books; he was in arrears for boarding,
while the landlord had given him notice
to vacate the room.
The doctor was not to blame Tor his
Strengthened circumstances. lie had
practiced rigid economy; he had nailed
L ;ct, Lon
he was at least theoretically we'll up in
his profession his address was in his
favor; he had patiently waited. There
was not much sickness in the neighbor-
hood, and what little patronage there
was went into the hands of the older
practitioners. No wonder that the
young Doctors attitude was forlorn
one, and the expression on his face al
most devoid of hope.
Suddenly his countenance frightened.
Some one had pulled the bell. Who else,
if not a patient? He opened the door,
and a lady entered. She was closely
yelled, and yet he knew that she was
young, because of the elasticity in her
movements.
"You are DIR. Ventnor?" she asked,
her voice was 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
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 rested upon |
the Doctors face in such steady, calcu |
lating, estimating way that he felt the |
blood filling his cheeks.
81 wish you to call upon my father,'
she said
"To-night?' asked the doctor.
''Well-no,' she debatingly answered. |
Tomorrow will do. I 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.
He's hypochondriac,' she slowly,
half-unwillingly admitted, the color com
ing and going in her tace. ''He has a
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
with tears. He drew his chair nearer to
her own.
"'You have consulted other physi-
cians?'' he asked.
"Quite NUMBER" she replied, little
fiurriedly. "Some of the best in the city"
Without SUGGEST"
sob, ofAcourse;' and she spoke with
Impotence. ''They had no-no-inten-
tions. They argued, and-hooted."
There was something charming about
those pauses in the choice of words.
"You think they should have humored
him." the doctor asked.
"Yes!" she answered, her face bright
ening wondrously ''You have caught
the idea. Oh, sir, believe that you can
cure him."
In her excited eagerness, she uncon-
sciously laid her hand on his arm, and
the touch thrilled him.
'Why did you come to me?" he asked.
ST am young inexperienced; unknown"
"Why?" she inquired, with search
ing look. 81 do not known. Why do
we do queer things?" and she smiled
little oddly. They come to us like IA
revelation"
1t was an ambiguous explanation, and
yet he understood her.
Perhaps the other physicians were
too old, and knew too much" she adj
ded, the odd smile again stirring her lips.
II will do what / can," the doctor
gravely said. ''What is the character
of the hallucinatibn
at is concerning his food," she slow
ly replied, the piquancy dying out of her
face. cor, to be precise, it concerns
what is given him to drink. For days
at the time nothing liquid passes his lips.
Oh, it is just dreadfuln'
"There are rational intervals?" the
doctor asked.
eyes, thank God" she. exclaimed,
!. with sweet fervor; "otherwise he would