Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1885-05-22
A False Friend.

I returned only three months ago from
Melbourne, where had been IN prae-
tice as a surgeon for about ten years.
stood so well in the front rank of my
profession that when a gentleman who
held very high political rank il Victoria
met with a severe and ultimately fatal
accident, was called in to attend him.
I suppress his name for reasons which
will be obvious later on but for con-
venience I will call him Sir James
Reilly.
Sir James was one of the largest land
and stock holders in the colony. When
I knew him, no man in Australia was
more respected or looked up to. He
had been knighted as a small reward for
his services as a colonial minister; he
had received all kinds of gratifying tes-
timonials from his fellow citizens his
word in all the transactions of life was
| as good as another mans bond and
vet Sir James, forty years before, had
come to Australia as a convict, on
account of the disgraceful crime OF for
gerry.
Sir James lived in beautiful house
| distant q 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
custom, 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 10y
some blasting operations which were be
ing carried on in connection with the
making of new road. The animal be
came FESTIVE, and finally threw 81
James. He fell heavily upon heap o
stones, and his groom coming up tounC
him lying insensible. The unfortunate
gentleman, who was well known t.
everyone in the neighborhood, was ten
DERBY carried to the nearest house; an'
no sooner did he regain consciousness
than he sent his servant for his carriage
and dispatched q messenger to reques
me to go at once to his house. rod
thither Immediately, and reached tn
place before Sir James's arrival.
feared, of course, that he had met wit
an accident; but I had not the fainues
idea of the nature of it and therefore
was greatly shocked when, few min
utes later. I saw him lifted from hl
carriage, helpless and wellnigh speech
less. He was conveyed to his bedroom
which was upon the ground floor; an
upon examining him I discovered thu
several of his RIBS we're broken, that tn
internal organs had been iniuIed and thi
I there was, practically speaking, no hoI
of his recovery. Sir james was bacl
elor. and had no female relatives IN Il
colony. He might live, 1 knew, Il
some DAYS; and as his hOusekeepe
though kind and thoughtful womal
was far too advanced in years to be cap
BILE of properly attending upon her III
fortunate master, sent the groom baC
to Melbourne for an experienced hosp
tai nurse. and in the meantime +
NAMED with my distinguished patien
and did all that lay in my power Il
him.
Sir James had tainted during his r
moval from the carriage to the nous
aud he did not regain the use OF
senses for some hours afterward. W
sitting by his bedside when he open
his eyes.
$50 I'm not gone yet, doctor"
said, with weird kind of humor. 20
g this last for long ?"
. "Who can say ?" 1 replied. "You a
sadly hurt. Are you in much pain"
mo, thank God In pain, but
in severe pain.
II should warn you" 1 said, as gem
- as I could, "that if you have any wor
" affairs to settle, you should set
. them speedily. There is grieVous d.
! ger"
) 81 know it." he returned, with a s
=. smile; ''but have settled everything
"' everything, that is, that o lawyer col
help me in. Yet, before ! die there
something that should like to conf
to you" o..
1912. My father was the rector OF
IS; and after putting me to SO
school he sent me to Cambridge. l to
rns nv degree in 1888 and then went to
oc bar. My chief friend, both at Ca
70, bridge and at the Inner Temple,
Horace Raven, young man who p
sessed astonishing ability, remarkal
II good looks, great ambition, and
les prospect of succeeding to large +
tune and to one of the Oldest Engl
a baronetcies. In all these respects
was, need scarcely say, my superi
[ was poor man; had only my en-
giles to depend upon; and l had no
fiuential relatives, no near relatives,
near relatives indeed Of any kind,
cept my father, being an only chi
and my mother having died during