The Penn's Grove record., 1886-08-28
DIR. PATIENT,

DIR. Wynyard was a a young medical
practitioner who had just started in
business and was doing fairly well. He
had selected one of the districts of Not
ting Hill, as the field of his labors, and,
being a bachelor, he contrlved to make
both ends meet. Still, he found it
uphill work, and fresh patients did not
present themselves every day. Conse-
~uuently, he was very well satisfied
at being summoned to a case which
would require constant care and atten-
ton for several months. The invalid
was a gentleman of about 40 years of
age, stricken with adisease which must
inevitably terminate fatally, though
medical skill might relieve his suffer
ings, and possibly sustain 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 practitioner
never troubled himself to inquire about
their antecedents.
lie saw nothing, however, which led
him todoubt that the Burtons were most
respectable people. The patient was
evidently not a highly educated man;
but Mrs. Burton vas very refined and
ladylike, both in manner and appear
ance, and DIR. Wynyard always sus-
pected that she had married beneath
her. Without being handsome-or
even, strictly speaking, good-looking--
she was decidedly a fascinating
woman, with large, soft, brown eyes,
and an expression of tenderness and
sadness. DR.. Wynyard was not a sus-
ceptible young man, but he admired
Mrs. Burton, and soon discovered that
he was taking an unusual interest
in her husband for her sake. He was
touched by the poor lady's devotion to
the invalid-the more especially as Mr.
Burton, with the selfish capriciousness
of a sick man, not unfrequently
received her mlnistrations with singular
ungraciousness. But Mrs. Burton
never uttered any complaint, nor
relaxed from her gentle devotion
a circumstance which helped to aug
ment DR.. Vineyards respect and esteem
for her.
The doctor ~ idered 1t his duty, on
the earliest o. = tunity, to communl'
cate to Mrs. I,lrton his fears of her
husbands illness terminating fatally.
The poor lady was not unprepared for
the announcement, having been
warned some time since by a physician
of high standing, that the disease was
incurable; but she was terribly dis
tressed at the prospect of the end being
so near. To soothe her DR.. Wynyard
suggested calling in an eminent spec
ialist for a consultation, to which she
eagerly agreed. This gentleman, how
ever, only confirmed DR.. Vineyards
opinion, and Mrs. Burton reluctantly
consented to the sick man being in
formed of his hopeless condition. The
poor fellow received the news with ex-
traordinary fortitude, and seemed COM
siderably 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 man
by his skilful attention and constant
care. He was well remanerated for his
services, as Mrs. Burton insisted upon
his sending in his account periodically,
which she paid forthwith. But he was
chiefly gratified at the lady's touching
expressions of thanks, and her evident
appreciation of his efforts. His admir-
alton for Mrs. Burton had reached
such a point that, upenthusiastlc as he
was by nature. he felt he could almost
go through fire and water for her.
One day, when the end was visibly
approaching, Mrs. Burton said, upon
the termination of the Doctors profess
sional duties:
81 think, DR.. Wynyard. my husband
wishes you to see HIM sign his will"
"Certainly," said the doctor, glanc-
ing at the patient, who nodded acquies'
cence.
"He had it prepared some time ago.
Shall l fetch lt2" inquired Mrs. Bur
ton, gently addressing her husband.
In obedience to a gesture from him,
she left the room, returning presently
with a document in her hand.
81 should like you to read it out be-
fore / sign," said Mr.. Burton.
DR.. WynyaId unfolded the will,
which was very short, and read it
aloud. 1t contained a bequest of $500,
free of legacy duty, to Charlotte Emlin,
the wife of John Emlin, and gave
everything else the testatOr possessed to
his wife, who was appointed sole execu-
trix.
us that c~orrectP" Inquired Mrs.
Burton of her husband. "Does that
express your wishes?n
The invalid nodded, and intimated
his readiness to sign.
DR.. Wynyard, who knew something
about the fofmalitles to be observed in
executing wills, sent for a second wit
ness, and also attested it himself. He
felt no scruples about the matter, for
Mr.. Burton was in full possession
of his faculties, and was perfectly
aware what he was doing. The sick
mans physical weakness, however,
became very conspicuous when he
attempted to write his name, and
1t was only after several efforts that be
produced a scrawl resembling a sigma
ture.
AS he sank baesf exhausted upon the
pillow, Mrs. Bur took up the will
and was proceeds -, apparently, to put
it in some place Of safety, when her
husband stopped her.
"Leave it," he painted, looking al
her angrlly.