Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-12
NOT PROFESSIONAL.


house m heohluftoh. II WAS CClu,
rainy evening, and the dripping umbrel-
las Of the few people obliged 10 be ont,
with the pavement shining under the gas
light with rain, gave q depressing aspect
10 the street. Dr. Walters face showed
that he found il depressing as he went
M the steps and let himself in. The
light IN his hall was turned low; the fire
had been allowed to get low too, and it
felt chilly even after the bitter outside
air. he hung up his coat impatiently,
and shortly opening a door on his left
went through bis consulting room into a
small room opening from 1t, where no
spent most of his leisure moments
The other rooms OF his house were, as
he often said, too large for one man.
The little room he entered was fur
nished with that attention TO comfort
first aud appearance attsrwsrd which is
much Oftener characteristic of men
than womea. There were as many easy
chairs of various forms IS the size Of the
room would allow two long bookcases,
in which was a great deal Of light litora-
turc. and the writing table. which stood
on one side Of the fire. contained every
appliance OF comfort and luxury. Tho
ire here was brighter Ringing for
lights DR. Walter drew a chair close to
il and sat down. He was tired, and gave
himself up for few moments to the
pleasure OF doing nothing mentally or
physically.
He stretched ont his hand for the new
novel lying Oh the shelf OF the book
case nearest TO him. with which he meant
q spend the half hour before dinner,
only 10 lay it down again instantly,
however, as there came into his mind the
remembrance of a letter which had been
brought to him just rs he went out-too
late for bin 10 be able 80 answer 1t then.
knowing that it must DO answered TINT
evening. he rose. and. gong TO bis table
for il. read il again, with irOwn on his
face.
II was from a Mr.. Meredith speaking
Of his daughters serious illness, the re
suit of = carriage accident, and asking
i DR.. Walter would be willing to hold a
consultation with and it was this that
deepened the frown as he read it" DR..
Mary Chsston, who has attended my
daughter for the last two years. A few
polite words as 10 the way in which DIR.
Walters name had been mentioned to
him and a request that if 1t were posi-
bile some time in the afternoon OF the
next day might be fixed for the consults-
ton brought Mr.. Meredith's letter to an
end.
On his first hasty reading of it in the
afternoon Dr. Walters only thought had
been of refusal. He, in common with
many other members of his profession,
entirely objected to women doctors. His
lad been one of the strongest voices
when several professional friends, with
whom ne sometimes spent an evening,
Lad thoroughly talked over the question,
and hal decided that, 20 their minds,
her entrance into the profession was
placing woman in al unnatural position,
and would inevitably harden the woman
who became doctor 10 an extent which
must take oil womanhness from her.
The question oil her competency had
never been discussed. though probably
only because there was perfect unanlmity
of feeling among them on that part OF
the subject. Still. though the remem-
!
before his mind. he did not at once be-
gin his note lie sat in front Of his table
thinking first, that he had no very def
mite reason for refusing. OF course he
conld plainly have stated his feelings
about women doctors, but, though he
hardly had confessed it yet, they were
beginning to yield TO strong curiosity
u see for himself a woman who, II
seemed to him. must have lost her most
attractive characteristics also, he was
not without anxiety. though he would
not have said II IN SO many words, to see
what a woman was able TO 90 IN the pro
ftssion 10 which h0 had given so much
Of his life. lie WAS too. practical, be-
sides. d lose a chance Of dong anything
which was good for the practice II
possible.
This Mr.. Meredith, though unknown
personally to Dr. Walter WAS. he well
knew. the centre of large circle OF PEG
Die 10 whom he would like to be known.
But there came 10 him. as he had nearly
decided. the natural dislike and feeling
Of something ike humiliation at meeting
woman on the equal footing consulta-
ton would imply. and the other conSld-
erations nearly faded from his mind be
fore it. They rcassvrted themselves,
however, with great strength in the last
of two or three turns he took up and
down tho room in front OF the tire-his
favorite wsy of thinking out 3 difficulty
and he finally wrote short note OF
acauiescence, making an appointment
for O'Clock the next day.
After all. DO said aloud as he
threw himself again into ms easy-chalr,
cit will he an experience need never
repeat 1t if il Is q disagreeable one-and
/ can stand half an hour, for once, OF
short hair, sngularity, aud spectacles, l
think.
The next morning as he drove about
the thought Of o clock occurred at IN
tervals 10 bis mind with q sort OF unex-
dressed wish that the consultation were
over he diliked the thought more than
he had done on she night before and
once or twice thought that, rad 1t been
possible. he would even now have re-
fused. But he came back to his former
decision, and 1t was with rather a sar-
castle smile al his va4llatiOn OF the morn
ing that he left bis own house to keep
the appointment. The house at which
he arrived had about 1t the odd hush
which illness always gives, familiar
enough generally 10 DR.. Walter; but to
dav II seemed 10 him almost oppressive,
and the entrance Of Mr.. Meredith was
welcome break.
After few woods OF erecting and
some mention OF his daughter Mr..
Meredith, saying, "You will allow. me
70 introduce you at once to Dr. Mary
Chaston, rose. Or. Walter mechanical
" rose and followed him through tao
folding doors INTO large drawlng-room,
where 9 lady stood by the window. Or.
Waters eyes fell on Der at once as he
entered the room, and by the time Mr..
Meredith was introducing him he had
had time 20 regain some OF the self-pos-
session which the first sight Of her had
taken sway. The slight, tall figure,
dressed very well but severely
in gray, was so different from
ANYTHING he could have imagined
that he felt almost prepared for
the face he looked al when DR.. Mary
Cbastou turned toward hlm-s face not