The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-11-21
DRs. FUTILE AND COX.

i lux q Cidbb DdNiCuto Ndo-bN
use his words-"the external assumption
of wealthy conditions"
DR.. Cox was not practical, and so as
sumed those conditions unsparingly
When his partner arrived at the new
house, he was shown into rather hand
some apartments.
"Good, indeed r. exclaimed DR.. Tut.
tie approvingly.
There is stable close by" said Dr.
Cox in gratified tone, land l have pur'
chased horse and coupe"
Excellent, excellent" cried the little
man. You have a driver, to-, oil
course. Isuppose you have about ex-
hausted our resources"
DR.. Cox blushed painfully.
Certainly" said he; "In fact. We are
little in debt for those chairs"
"Ah, well |" said the little doctor
cheeiily.
But it INIT WE'LL" burst out the big
man impetuuusly. II have no driver.
don't see how l could, but l forgot
him"
The little doctor whis;led eoftly.
Here was a quandary. DIR. Cox paced
up and down the room with long strides,
glancing at every turn toward his part
ner with comlcal helplessness. DR..
Tut lie nazed through the window and
the Wins in his forehead began to swell
with his intensity of thought.
They were an odd pair-these doctors.
They had been playmates in childhood
de sk-mates at school, room-mates at col
lege, and now they were partners for
life. The wonder was what knit them
togt ther so closely. Pherhaps it was
the attraction Of opposltes or simply the
effect of time which had been dove-tail-
Ing their incongruities since the bond
was executed between them away back
in the uncalculatiDg age OF childhood.
In truth they were unlike. DIR. Cox
was very tall, very nervous and very
fair. DR.. Tuitle ridiculously small, self
composed and dark. When they walked
on the street together people turned to
look at them, and the ludicrouS contrast
between the big and tie little man
seemed to strike everybody except Tut
tie and Cox.
Neither seemed to possess the suprem-
acy that one OF the people long In close
intimacy usually obtains, aud their mu-
ual dependence was amusing. Apart,
.ach Was like the cd hal, of pair oil
,clssJrs. Together, they could solve the
most vexed question, as uniquely some
Tunes as tney seuled this.
Presently DIR. TuItle turned from the
window ami DR.. Cox read success IN the
little mans eye, A moment later the
two partners were wringing each other
by the hand.
Every morning thereafter the little
physician was hurried from his house
Oy monster driver, and IN the after
noon the big doctor WAS driven away by
a pygmy jehu. That each had differ
ent coachman and that each had select
ed his physical complement was con-
sidered strlkingy consistent eccen-
rlcity. As disguise was easy, no one
ever suspected d that they were driving
each other into prosperity.
For prosperity came rapidly, Never
were men more energetic, sympathetic
and conscientious than these Two, They
were chaI table, too, and fearless. Their
many good deeds did not, however, be
come known until there occurred an
incident which gave them publicity.
One night so dark that the snow fell un-
seen 10 the ground, DIR. Tutt'e was
lrudging along with "a white bundle IN
his arms, when po iceman halted him
under gas post.
What have you got there?' a ked the
officer sharply.
The little doctor threw back The white
shroud, and the gas Yht fell across the
dead face IF child. 'Diphiheria, he
said quietly.
The policeman turned hastily away F.,
and The doctor went on with his burden.
But the story was told a; police head
quarters, and afler""ards printed IN the
newspapers. with the added particulars
hat alone and uncompensated the tile
physician was attending whole family
that had been stricken down with
diphlheria, and that he had borne the
child away in the dead Of the night to
prevent further cont gion. Other
charitable work that the pLrtners had
performed jointly was also mentioned !
and, thereafter, they received full
credit for the poss essiUn of something
more than personal eccentricltIes.
Within two or three years their
rlveries were laid away as mementoes
of hard times; and, indefatigable as
they were, both were over-burdened
with work. In fact, they were doing
too much.
DR.. Cox had grown perceptibly paler
and thinner, while shade of wearlness
nad crept over his small partners
dignity. At last, one morning in the
Office DR.. Tuttle mentioned the matter
10 a weighty fashion, 80 natural with
MIN that nobody who knew him ever
thought it absurd. Each had just re-
ceiyed and opened a letter. DR.. Tuttle
sat before the fire, looking into it
earnestly. DIR. Cox was at the table,
resting his chin on one hand, and swing
ing one of his long, thin legs over the
other like pendulum.
Tom said DIR. Tuttle, "it is just
about three years since we began work
together as medical practitioners"
The leg pendulum stopped.
singular" said DR.. Cox, II was
thinking Of that myself"
During that time" continued DIR.
futile, slowly, 1--WE have INDUCED in no
recreation whatever. We have cut of
all social pleasures as useless frivolities.
think the possibility of overwork an
element in our daily lives that is worthy
of consideration"
DT' SOA kIdulcu u OOiuiui doHOp~
DIR. Tuttle feared that he might be
growing ascetic, to the neglect OF the
lighter and more cheerful qualities OF
mind and heart, that he deemed essential
TO the fully-rounded temperament.
DR.. Cox thought that not only posi-
BILE but probable. In his own case the
nervous strain was growing unbsarable.
Some relief, he felt, was undoubtedly
necessary.
Both agreed with becoming modesty
that they had fairly earned the right 10
relaxation, and had now only to decide
what it should be.
DR.. Tuttle had taken a card from his
envelope, and, after looking at it mo
ment handed it to DR.. Cox. That
came this morning." be said.
DR.. Cox drew forth a similar card and
handed il to DR.. Tuttle. 80 did that.
Both cards announced that Miss
Marion Monroe OF Cambridge Place.
would be at home on Tuesday evening.
The partners had attended Mrs. Monroe
during an illness and, OF course, had
met the daughter, but only in the sick
room.
"How Fortunate" both said in sur
prise.
"How foolish" said Dr. Cox, a mo,
ment later. "Of course, IL she invited
one she would invite the other"
"Of course"
"I suppose we shall gow
Certainly"
Both lowered around Miss Monroe
most of the evening. The change from
their austere surrounding to the atmos
phere Of lights music and flowers,
duickened emotions that had long been
dormant. Marion's beauty-for she wsI
more than pretty-her yivacity and her
cordial reception affected them like
wise, Professional cares fell away. DIR.