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

that DR.. Gaudier had forbidden the
young mar to come because he did not
wish his daughter TO throw herself
away on a mar who could hardly make
a living for himself. This conclusion
was clinched when DR.. Atkins, who
for some time had said to himself that
Ilr. Gaudier was an old fraud, began
now and then 10 say it aloud. Once
he happened to say it in the presence
of DR., HARDWOOD.
Young man." said DR.. Harwood,
you are making a mistake. The
people of this city know DR.. Gaudier
and love him. You can never prosper
here by slandering him. One word
from DIR. Gaudier would starve you out
Of Atwater."
The result OF this warning was an
open rupture between DR.. Atkins and
DR.. Harwood, for the young mar lost
his temper at hearing what he called
quackery upheld by an old member Of
the profession. DIR. Harwood soon
told Dr.. Gambler what the young mar
mad said Of him and suggested that the
upstart ought to be driven out of the
city for the good Of the profession.
The next time Or. Gaudier met DR..
Atkins he passed the young man with
out even the form OF recognition.
DR.. Atkins sat in his Office for an
hour after this meeting, wondering
whether he had not made a mistake.
He felt that he had, for he now saw
that he should probably never be able
to obtain a foothold in Atwater. He
seriously contemplated leaving the
place and making a new and better
beginning somewhere else. He even
~>pcculated a little on quitting a pro-
iession which seemed to offer so many
inducements to fraud and so few to
honorable practices, But he closed
all this speculation with a fresh reso-
luton to fight it out on that very
ground, and, as was his habit. soon
forgot his troubles in absorbing study,
Weeks and months went. but the
young doctors condition was not i'm
proved. The few patients he secured
were obscure poor persons who could
not pay much and who took long time
to pay the little. For two good reas-
ons he had left his boarding place-he
must live cheaper and his landlady
would not suffer him 10 owe her more.
His clothing was becoming shiny and
'rayed He slept on a secondhand
lounge in his little dingy back Office
and did not eat very regularly, But he
studied hard and constantly.
One day, about a year after ne had
come to Atwater, he was aroused from
his book by the entrance of a coach
man who handed a small note to him,
1t read:
DR. Atkias: VIII you please call as soon as
you receive this: James and the carriage are
81 your service, AMELIE GACDIER'
The young doctor was puzzled. He
sat awhile wondering whether the
daughter knew of the strained rela-
tons between her father and himself
ard whether he ought not to inform
her OF them before accepting her inyi-
tation. But the invitation seemed to
be Of a special and almost imperative
nature, so he decided to accompany
James.
As the carriage rolled up the grand
DR.. Atkins saw Miss Gaudier
seated in a large chair on the deep
porch. She did not rise when he APP
preached her and he saw that she was
pale and i'll. When the ordinary sal
utations had passed between them
Miss Gaudier said:
Doctor, have you and papa had
troub,e?'
II ~ros "a difficult question to answer,
SO he avoided it.
why DO you ask, Miss Gaudier?1
Because believe you have and |
want to know what it means"
WAS it for this that you SEN for
ue28
No" replied the young lady, land
since you do not wish to answer | will
not pres, the inquiry further. | sent
Tor you because | need your services"
In what manner. Miss Gaudier?