The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-06-03
Seletteo Storm.
A False Friend.

there were good openings in most of
the larger towns for medical men; and
as l was exceptionally fortunate in the
introductions with which the fore
thought of my friends at home had pro-
vided me, patients rang my bell in con-
siderable numbers. Within three years
/ was making an annual income of
nearly $1,000; and when, owing to
family necessities, | was obliged re-
gretfully to turn my back upon the new
land that had treated me so hand
somely, | had saved 600, 900, and had
in addition obtained a very respectable
sum by the sale of the good will of my
practice to distinguished young Edin-
burgh surgeon, who went out expressly
to succeed me. l give these details not
in order to encourage young fellows
fresh from the schools to rush off to
Australia under the impression that it
is still an Eldorado, but in order to
show that | stood well forward in the
front rank of my profession in Mel
bourne, and in some measure to account
for the fact that when gentleman who
held very high political rank in Victoria
met with severe and ultimately fatal
accident, | was called in to attend him.
/ suppress his name for reasons which
will be obvious later on; but for con-
venience will call him Sir James Reilly.
Sir James was one of the largest land
and stockholders in the colony. / have
ridden for thirty miles along the banks
of the river Murrumbidgee without 90
ing off his property; and whereas ordin-
airy men count their possessions by hun
dreds of acres, he counted his by hun
dreds of square miles. He had worked
hard, and his upward progress had been
gradual; but it had always been steady
When / knew him, no man in Australia
was more respected or looked up to.
He had been knighted as a small re-
ward for his services as a colonial min
lister; he had received all kinds of graf
flying testimonials from his fellow-citi-
zens; his word in all the transactions
of life was as good as another mans
bond; and yet Sir James, forty years
before, had come to Australia as a con-
Wet on account of the disgraceful crime
of forgery. / never inquired into the
details of his case; and, indeed, never
knew them until he told them to me
when on his death-bed
Sir James lived in a beautiful and
spacious house overlooking the sea, and
distant a few miles from the center of
the city. In spite of his seventy years
he was a good and active horseman; and
one morning, as was his frequent Gus
tom, he rode into Melbourne in order to
transact some business with his solicitor.
He had quilted the lawyers office, and
was already half way home again, when
his horse was frightened by some blast
ing operations which were being carried
on in connection with the making of a
new road. The animal became FESTIVE,
and finally threw Sir James. He fell
heavily upon heap of stones, and his
groom, coming up, found him lying in
sensible. The unfortunate gentleman,
who was well known to every one in the
neighborhood, was tenderly carried to
the nearest house; and no sooner did he
regain consciousness than he sent his
servant for his carriage and dispatched
messenger to request me to go at once
to his house. l rode thither immedi-
ately, and reached the place before Sir
James arrival. / feared, of course, that
he had met with an accident; but l had
not the faintest idea of the nature of it {;
and therefore l was greatly shocked
when, few minutes later, | saw him
lifted from his carriage, helpless and
well-nigh speeches.. He was conveyed
to his bedroom, which was upon the
ground floor; and upon examining him
/ found that several of his ribs were
broken, that the internal organs had
been injured, and that there was, prac-
tically speaking, no hope of his recovery
Sir James was bachelor, and had no
female relatives in the colony. He
might live, l knew, for some days; and
as his housekeeper, though kind and
thoughtful woman, was too far advanced
in years to be capable of properly at
tending upon her unfortunate master, l
sent the groom back to Melbourne for
an experienced hospital nurse, and in
the meantime remained with my distin-
guished patient and did all that lay in
my power for him.
published in the city, it occasioned great
excitement. Several of Sir James
former colleagues Immediately met to-
gether, and one of them rode to the
house to request that l would not leave
it so long as my patient continued to
breathe. l was to summon any assist
ance that / might need, and do exactly
as / deemed best.
% We would move heaven and earth ~
said the gentleman, to preserve his
life.n
" / feel" said 1, " that there is not
the slightest hope of saving it; but you
may be sure that | will spare no pains. A"
Sir James had tainted during his re-
moval from the carriage to the house,
and he did not regain the use of his
senses for some hours afterward. | was
sitting by his bedside when he opened
his eyes.
so Pm not gone yet, DOCTOR" he
said, with weird kind of humor. " Can
this last for long?"
I" Who can say?" replied. g You
are sadly hurt Are you in much pain?'
No! In pain, but not in severe
pain"
1 should warn YOU" l said, as
gently as | could, 4" that if you have any
worldly affairs TO settle, you should set
tie them speedily. There is grievous
danger"
g know it," he returned, with sac
smile but | have settled everything
everything, that is, that IA lawyer
could help me in. Yet before die
there is something that should like tc
confide to you"
g Will it agitate you to tell it?''
Pm afraid it will, little" he re