The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-12-20
PHILIP WHARTON'S CHOICE.


physicians in charge. stood by tht
marble slab putting up prescription
Near him Iounged, IDLY, DIR. Frazier
his colleague, dark, mustached
young fellow, with a hard. intoler'
ant cast of cOuntenance, rendered
more repellant just now by an angry
scoWl.
Don't talk to me, Phil" he said
"There's a miserably poor outlook foi
either of us here. The poorest hod'
carrier that walks the street has 3
better chance for success than you OF
1, even though we have NJ. ID. tackled
to our names. You can brang of fy,Ss.sE
Hproressfon n you Ike, b. I,.sa sieL -.
it! I'll try something else before
the years out"
81 haven't Dragged of it,' said
DR.. Wharton, good humoredy. 81
haven't said anything. You meyer
gave me a chance"
"To think of how I've wasted my
life !" continued Frazier without
heading. "Four years at college, two
in a doctors Office, two in the Phila-
delphia medical schools. And here
l am. and here you are, men at tWen-
ty-four glad to have a years practice
in hospital for our board, when my
brother, two years younger and with
out an education, is making hand
some living specializing in the STOCK
Exchange"
Philip Wharton made no reply,
but ground away steadily at his NOR
tar.
"Do stop that screak !" said Frazier.
irritably. Come out and have a
smoke"
Il haven't finished putting up this
prescription"
you haven't had any supper
either"
"No; but l shall finish the pre-
scripti0n first"
"You always stick at thing until
it is finished. You'll stick at your
profession until il finishes you !"
81 hope not, "said Wharton. laugh
ing.
"What are you going to do when
you leave the hospital? Our time
will he up in September. Where are
you going to settle?"
81 don't know yet," said Philip,
his cheerful face suddenly clouding.
81 know of no place where there is
much chance of success. My cousin
John advises me to go West. But
there are half.ad0zen doctors in every
village out there already"
"There !" said George Frazier, t7\
umphantly. "What did l say? Theio
is absolutely no chance for youii,,'
doctor. unless he has fortune or
friends to push him on. You and
have neither. We had better go out
and preach this new cure of fasting.
We have every yruspect of becoming
good examples fits effects, whatever
those may be-"
DR.. Wharton laughed, hut made no
oh,
that he felt the truth of what Frazier
said.
"YOu had better come to supper,
Phil" Frazier added, in a more
cheerful tone. Having succeeded in
making his companion miserable, his
own spirits began to revive.
mo; must put UP this powder
first"
Every well. I'm going to cut my
ward and take a stroll to. night"
He sauntered out into the clear
moonlight and fresh air. DR.. Whar-
ton glanced after him. feeling as if
he, too, must escape from the nau.
seating smell of the drugs and the
heavy, fetid air of the sick wards.
But he ground on steadily at his
powder.
He was homely little man, whose
only attractive trait was happy,
hearty buoyancy of heart, hut that
was gone now. When the prescrip.
ti0n was made up in little papers,
labelled and directed, he washed his
hands, put on his hat, and looking ut
his watch, walked quickly out into
the street. Half an hour WIS the time
he gave himself for meals; but to-
night he would use the half hour for
something else than supper.
He turned into a quiet cross street, -,
and In few minutes reached little
b0ok-shOp which wore n melancholy,
watchful air, as If tired of looking out
for customers. Inside Il young girl
was Derched on high stool, writing
In le lger. She had a round, merry
face, which grew suddenly red as she
looked up.
10 Philip" she cried, jumping