The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-03

F. NJ, M. D.
A Story by Thomas w. Knox.

aone month from to-day" said Kate.
at will be a long month for me-" I replied,
Out then it is February and we are notin leap
gear"
Her rosy lips parted just the least in the
world as she retorted.
"a long month fer you! And don't you think
il will be just as long for meln
'Of course it will, my darling" I answered;
''you have month to wait and so have L Just
sight weeks for the two of US, and I'm sure
~e shall both think we've waited forty weeks at
least"
A few minutes later said good night" and
turned away from the front gate of her fathers
house. The gate had been between us for sew
eral minutes; somehow it often happened that
we exchanged our evening farewells at this spot,
especially when the sky was clear and the stars
Tinked their approval.
1t may be surmised that we were fixing the
date of very important event in our lives. The
surmise would be entirely in accordance with
the facts in the case.
Kate was to be MY bride in four weeks from
that time. She was the daughter of an old
friend of my father. and had known her from
:hildhood. l was in love with her for years, but
didn't know it until was sent away to college
and found out how much | missed seeing her.
When finished riy studies and received my d.
ploma as a full-hedged doctor of medicine,
ventured to open my heart TO her. A comparison
of notes and emotions showed that there had
been reciprocity of feeling-she was in love
with me- and had been all along. In this state
of affairs nothing was more natural than that we
should become engaged, and as we were both
poor and without fame, there was no reason why
we should fail to keep the engagement Rich
people find many stumbling blocks on the road
20 matrimony but it is otherwise with those who
haven't dollar nor no immediate prospect of
one. They do as they like AS we liked
and loved each other, l asked Kate to name the
day and she named it.
l went home happy man. and would have
been unwilling to change places with the Gov
ernor of the State or the Emperor of China.
Four weeks later should be married to the girl
of my heart and there would be something in
life worth living for. Meantime, l must look
around and determine what to do. l was alone
IN the world; had fought my way through col
lege and the medical school: had a few dellars in
my pocket and none in the bank; possessed two
or three dozen books, small wardrobe and a
stout heart; also. clear conscience and the broad
parchment which confirmed my right to the
title of NJ D. Books clothing heart and con-
science were good things to have, and so was the
diploma. | unfoded it when reached my room
and contemplated the Latin phraseology and the
signatures of the professors with feelings of re-
spect and esteem, for myself as well as for it
and them.
Kingsville was rural township of about 2, 900
inhabitants, scattered over an area of ten or
twelve square miles. The post village in the
center was known as Kingsville Plain probably
because it was in the valley and close by the
who're Of a small lake which generally pre-
n1nfed a. Main gurfacp SOmatimaS ha charp
winds from over the hills and far away
roughened the water and rolled a miniature surf
upon the little sandy beach which was shaded
by some old pines, and here and there a weather
beaten oak. The village was not altogether
regular in construction. AS you climbed the hill
and looked at the assem- blage of dwellings it
seemed as if they had been dropped down in
colossal handful from the sky and were left all
higgledy pggledy where they fell. About half
these houses had realized that such order was
3sordery and had made an effort to arrange
themselves in double line and thus form
street The result of this struggle was like that
of company of raw militia on training day; the
line was considerably out of line, but then it
showed good intention and was to be com
mended The other half of the houses remained
where they fell and were scattered with the ir-
regularity of bricks from an overturned cart.
Some had their front yards in the rear, and
some of the front doors were closed altogether
and nailed up because there was way of
reaching them from the street But the houses
were all comfortable enough inside. and when
you were seated before their cheerful fires it
made little difference to you whether the dwell
ing was on the street off on its own hook
YES il did make difference. Kate lived in one
Of the struggling houses. and l thought it more
attractive than any Of the prim and orderly
residences that had taken so much trouble to-
stand themselves in a row.
lily parents had died some years before the
time of which | write. My father left a few
thousands dollars to be divided among several
children. | made use of my share to procure
my education, and managed, by teaching school
IN winter and coaching few wealthy students
at college, to launch myself on the world with
out any debts. At the time | proposed to Kate
and was accepted our dual possessions, when set
down and footed up, left very little to carry: in
fact the united total formed an exceedingly light
burden. My diploma was the most important
item, and laid it away with great care.
determined to start in medical practice then
and there. Next morning invested two of my
remaining dollars IN sign, irreverently denom-
mated a ''shingle." 1t bore my name in large
capitals. Frederick Morton, NJ d." and con
templated it, when finished, with feelings akin
to those with which had regarded the diploma
AS somebody has phrased it, II shook hands
with myself" by way of congratulation.
hired room suitable for an Office, placed my
sign where it could be seen of men, and then
staod awhile on the other side of the street to
observe the effect
Several persons passed without noticing the
addition to the mural ornamentation Of Kings
Vile / began to feel blue around the corners of
my mouth, when two men emerged from the
tavern and proceeded up the sidewalk, One of
them caught sight of my single and directed
his friends attention to it.
Frederick Morton, M. d." said the latter
slowly, another pil"
And in large gold letters, too" said the other
I'm afraid the gliding is worth more than the
pill
This was not satisfactory beginning for nv
professional career. l observed carefully the
faco of the maker of this heartless joke, with
IN earnest hope that fate would some time
ARROW him into my hands for treatment Thus
seuld be revenged.
Then sought Charley Bliss. an old friend of
my boy hood. We had crown somewhat apart in
later years, as Charley had been to California
and made some money while / was attend
ing to my studies; he cared nothing for medi-
cine anything else that had mental work