Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-08-11
From the London TRUTH
DR.. VINEYARDS PATIENT.

DR.. VINEYARD was a young medical
practitioner who had just started in
business and was doing fairly we'll
He had selected one of the districts OF
Noting Hill as the field OF his labors,
and being q bachelor, he contrived to
make both ends meet. Still, he found
it uphill work, and fresh patients did
not present themselves every day.
Consequently he was very well salts
fed at being summoned to case
which would require constant care
and attention for several months.
The invalid was gentleman of about
40 years of age, stricken with dis
ease which must inevitably terminate
fatally, though medical skill might re-
iieve his sufferings, and possibly sus-
tain life for a longer period than fate
seemed to have decreed. The name OF
the sick man was Burton, and he lived
with his wife in ST. Barnabas Square.
DR.. Wynyard subsequently learned
that they had only resided there
about six months, but, not being of a
curious disposition, the young practi-
Gioner never troubled himself to in
quire about their antecedents.
He saw nothing, however, which led
him to doubt thai the Burtons were
most respectable people. The patient
was evidently not highly educated
man; but Mrs. Burton was very re-
fined and lady-like, both in manner
and appearance, and DR.. Wynyard al
ways suspected that she had married
beneath her. Without being hand
some-or even, strictly speaking, good
looking-she was decidedly q fascinat-
ing woman, with large, soft brown
eyes, and an expression of tenderness
and sadness. DR.. Wynyard was not a
susceptible young man, but he ad-
mlred Mrs. Burton, and soon discov-
cred that ne was taking an unusual in
terest IN her husband for her sake. He
was touched by the poor lady's devo-
ton to the invalid, the more especial
~ as Mr.. Burton, with the selfish
capriciousness of g. sick man, not in
frequently received her illustrations
with singular ungraciousness. But
Mrs. Burton never uttered any COM
plant nor relaxed from her gentle de-
yotion, a circumstance which helped
TO augment DR.. Wynyard g respect and
esteem for her.
The doctor considered it his duty,
on the earliest opportunity, to com
municate to Mrs. Burton his fears OF
her husbands illness terminating IA
tally. The poor lady was not UMPIRE
pared for the announcement, having
been warned some time since by a
physician of high standing that the
disease was incurable; but she was
terribly distressed at the prospect OF
the end being so near. To soothe her,
DR.. Wynyard suggested calling in an
eminent specialist for consultation
to which she eagerly agreed. This gen
tleman, however, only confirmed DR.
Vineyards opinion, and Mrs. Burton
reluctantly consented to the sick man
being informed of his hopeless condi
ton. The poor fellow received the
news with extraordinary fortitude
and seemed considerably less affected
than his poor wife.
For the next three months DR.. Wyn
yard never missed visiting the patient
daily, and sometimes oftener. He
earned the gratitude Of the dying mar
by his skilful attention and constant
care. He was well remunerated fol
his services, as Mrs. Burton insisted
on his sending IN his account period
cally, which she paid forthwith. But
he was chiefly gratifed at the lady'E
touching expressions of thanksi anc
her evident appreciation of his efforts
His admiration for Mrs. Burton hac
reached such a point that, unenthusi
astic as he was by nature, he felt that
he could go through fire and water fol
her.
One day, when the end was visioly
approaching, Mrs. Burton said, upo1
the termination of the doctors pro
fessional duties:
Il think, DR.. Wynyard, my husband
wishes you to see him sign his will"
Certainly" said the doctor, glanc
ing at the patient, who nodded &C
quiescence.
"He had it prepared some time ago
Shall fetch it?" inquired Mrs. Bur
ton, gently addressing her husband.
In obedience to a gesture from him
she left the room, returning presently
with document in her hand.
81 should like you to read it out be
fore sign," said Mr.. Burton.
DR.. Wynyard unfolded the will
which was very short, and read il
aloud. It contained q bequest o
$500, free of legacy duty, to Charlotte
Emlin, the wife of John Emlin, anG
gave everything else the testatol
possessed to his wife, who was ap
pointed sole executrix.
SIS that correct ?" inquired Mrs
Burton of her husband. ''Does that
express your wishes?"
The invalid nodded and expressed
his readiness to sign.
DR.. VINEYARD, who knew something
about the formalities to be observed