Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1889-03-30

for him his heart, which was as sus-
/, ceptible TO compliment as any other
| human heart, softcned toward DR.,
/, Gaudier; and yet when he thought Of
t the fathers seeming moral eowardice
in running away and leaving his
daughter TO manage her own case he
!, despised him in a way. Above all
other thoughts. however, arose the
one that DR.. Gaudier had been com
PEELED to acknowledge him as a safe
physician, and this made his heart
glad.
Late that evening as the young
doctor sat porting over a book he heard
a footstep on the Office stairs, and in a
moment saw Dir. Gaudier enter.
Doctor" said the visitor, 'my
daughter informs me you wish to con-
suit with me before taking her case"
do you wish me to take her case,
DIR. Gaudier?N
II do" There was manifest effort
in DR.. Gaudier's manner. lie was try
ing to make himself believe that the
meeting was purely a professional one.
DR., Atkins aided him in this,
Il will do all that lies in my power
for her he said.
my carriage is at the door," said
DR.. Gaudier. ''Will you go now?n
DR.. Atkins did not feel that there
,r,e ,,l ~ .r,b bns.n. 4bn o l;l
not seem to him to be SO very urgent,
but he saw that DR.. Gaudier was
frightened, as physicians are apt to be
when sickness invades their own
homes, and he went at once with tho
father,
On the way t oDr, Gaudier's mansion
and for some time after arrival there
the two men conversed of the daugh-
ter's case, Dr.. Gaudier made con-
fession after confession of his own
helplessness, his utter inability to
treat the case, and tears glistoned in
his eyes as he related how, in spite Of
every thing he had done for his darling
child, she had become weaker and
weaker, paler and nearer to death.
"Oh, Frank" he finally broke out,
as the tears welled from his eyes and
ran down his checks, "you must save
my child. | can not, can not lose her
DR.. Atkins was deeply touched by
the old doctors grief and by his mani
fest confidence in his skill, He left his
chair and stood at DIR. Gaudier's side,
with his head on the old gentlcman's
shoulder.
Il do not think she is in very great
DANGER he said, II will neverthe-
less devote my entire time and effort
to her"
When he had Gained the old doctor
somewhat he asked for a full history
OF the treatment he had given his
daughter and DR.. Gaudier, who now
concealed nothing from him, had
merely piled her with patent nostrums
such as he had used in disguised forms
and with considerable success during
his many years of practice. He had
compared her symptoms in his SUPER
fetal way with the symptoms of other
patients whom he had attended and
had resorted to the same remedies
which had seemed to effect cures in
those cases. When DR.. Atkins learned
this and heard the name OF the nostrum
which was now being administered he
believed he clearly understood the
case and felt confident that the Young
lady's sufferings would soon cease. He
was tempted then to tell DR.. Gaudier
that ii was the nOstrum aud not a dis
ease that was reducing his daughter.
But he had q wholesome purpose to
serve by holding his peace.
Miss Amelie was in bed in her ROOF
across the hall. The effort she had
made to see DR.. Atkins on the porch
that afternoon had so exhausted her
powers that her paleness and feeble
ness had given her father, upon his
return, the extraordinary scare which
sent him of at that late hour in search
OF the young physician for whose
learning he had so much respect.
The father led the way to the
patients bedside. DR.. Atkins asked a
few questions, which she answered
fecbly.
ut seems impossible to get her en-
tremities warm" said the nurse who
sat by the bed,
DR.. Atkins took up a bottle that stood
on the table.
This is the medicine you spoke
Yes said DR., Gaudier.
The young doctor set it down, say
ing: I'VE will give her no more of
that"
lie then wrote a prescription and
said that it might be sent to the apoth-
ecary in the morning. From his pock-
et-case he prepared a powder for i'm.
mediate use, Meantime DR.. Gaudier
watched him as a trusting child might
have done. The old gentleman was a
picture of utter helplessness.
at is a cruel thing to do" thought
The young doctor, "but | owe it to
him and to myself to do it." Then
turning to the nurse he said:
You say you can not warm her ex-
tremities?n ;
mo, sir; they are constantly cold
doctor" said the young man, turn
ing to the father with that calm poise
which denotes a feeling of moral tri-
umph and complete mastery over the
vanguished, you once advised me TO
quit studying the books Of my profess
sion and go to studying the vanities of
people. Had | followed your advice |
might be rich instead of poor, but !
should not have stood at your daugh-
ter's bedside tonight to tell you that
it is not because her hands and feet
are Sc small that they are cold"
The warm impulses of DR.. Gaudier's
heart overwhelmed him. He had no
thought OF resentment for the terrible
laid upon him by the young
man. Crushed beneath the weight of
his heavy conscience, he sat and
sobbed until DR.. Atkins tenderly laid
a hand upon his shoulder and said;
''Tell me, doctor, that success in our