The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-12-26

ana III 90 10 my rather
The message was sent, and when the
Colonel awoxe from an uneasy slumber
he saw his son at the foot Of the bed,
gazing piteously at him.
my dear boy said he, faintly, and
held out wasted hand. Walter was
pricked to the heart at this greeting;
not remonstrance at his absence.
IL fear you missed me, father" said
he. sadly.
THAT have" said the old man; but
! dare say you didn't forget me, though
Won weren't by my side"
The high-minded old soldier said no
more, and put no questions. but conf
ded in his sons affection. and awaited
the result of it. From that hour Wal
ter Clifford nursed his father day and
night. DIR. Garner arrived next day.
lie examined the patient, and put a
great many questions as to the history
and progress of the disorder up to that
date, and inquired in particular what
was the length Of time the fits general
ly endured. Here he found them all
rather hazy. "Ah,9 said he, patients
are seldom able to assist their medical
adviser with precise information on this
point, yet it's very important. Well,
can can ;y You tel me how long this attack
They told him that within a day or
two"
"Then now" said he, "the most i'm
portant question of all: What day did
the pain leave his eXtremitiesf"
The patient and John Baker had to
compare notes to answer this question,
and they made it QUITO be about twenty
days.
"Then he ought to be as dead as her.
ring" whispered the doctor.
After this he began to walk the room
and mediate, with his hands behind
him.
"Open those top windows" said he.
"NOw draw the screen, and give his
lungs chance: no draughts must blow
npon him, you know" Then he drew
Walter aside: do you want to know
the truth? Well, then, his life hangs
on thread. The govt is creeping up
ward, and will inevitably kill him if we
can't get it down. Nothing but heroic
remedies will do that. and it's three to
Eve against them. What do you say?"
II dare not-I dare not. Pray put the
question to HIM"
II will" said the doctor; and accord
ingly he did put it to him with a good
deal of feeling and gentleness, and the
answer rather surprised him.
Weak as he was, Colonel Clifford's
dull eye flashed, and he half raised him
self on his elbow. What question to
put to soldier!" said he. "Why, let us
fight, to be sure. 1 thought it was
twenty to One-five to three? l have
often won the rubber with five to three
against me-"
"Ahl" said DR.. Garner, "these are the
patients that give the doctor chance"
Then he turned to Baker. "IIave you
any good champagne in the house-not
sweet, and not too dry, and full of fire?"
"Irroy's Carte dor" suggested the
patient, entering into the business with
a certain feeble alacrity that showed his
govt had not always been uncOnnected
with imprudence in diet.
Baker was sent for the champagne. 1t
was brought and opened, and the pa
tient drank some of it fixing. When
twinkled, and he said;
That's a hair of dog that has often
bitten me-"
The wine soon got into his weakened
head, and he dropped asleep.
Another draught when he wakes"
said the doctor, but from fresh bot
tie"
"We'll finish this one to your health
in the servants hail." said honest John
Baker.
DIR. Garner stayed there all night,
keeping up the patients strength with
eggs and brandy, and everything, in
short, except medicine; and he also adj
ministered champagne, but at much
longer intervals.
At one o'clock the next day the pa
tent gave dismal groan; Walter and
the others started up in alarm.
"Good!' said the doctor, calmly: now
I'll go to bed. Call me if there's any
fresh symptom"
At six O'clock old Baker burst in the
room: "Sir, sir, he have swOre at me
twice. The Lord be praised"
Excellent" said the doctor, Now
tell me what disagrees with him most
after champagne"
"Why, Green Chartreuse, to be sure"
said old Baker.
"Then give him tablespoonful"
said the doctor. Get me some hot
water"
(which first?" inquired Baker.
THE patient, to be sure" said DIR.
Garner.
Soon after this the doctor stood by
his patients side, and found him Yrith-
ing, ana, 10 tell the truth, lie was using
bad language occasionally, though he
evidently tried not to.
DR.. Garner looked at his watch. II
think there's time to catch the evening
train"
"Why," said Walter. surely you
would not desert us; this is the crisis,
is it not?"
"It's something more than that" said
the doctor; "the disease knows its old
place; it has gone back to the foot like
shot; and if you can keep it there. the
patient will live, he's not the sort of pa
tient that strikes his cOlors while there's
a bastion left to defend"
These words pleased the old Colonel
so that he waved feeble hand above
his head, then groaned most dismally,
and ground his teeth to avoid profanity.
The doctor, with exquisite gentleness,
drew the clothes off his feet, and sent
for lot of fleecy. cotton or wool, and
warned them all not to touch the bed,
nor even to approach the lower part of
it, and then he once more proposed to
leave, and gave his reasons.
Now, look here, you know, l have
done my part, and If give you special