The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-09-04

AHS uHu y oe ooiAOANOuD mouuCEs uoWAuS
me out I had almost reached the
door. hat in hand, when Mrs. CONTAIN
60 said, with some effort: doctor.
you know we have the utmost conf
dence In you; We carry out your in
structions to the letter; but our dear
child
Eyes. madam; only you will persist
in treating hor, il l may be pardoned
the smile, too much after the manner
OF a tropical orchid. instead of regard
ing her as beautiful plant OF En-
glish growth.
well, you may be Alright, doctor;
but we are SO very anxious, Mr.. Con-
tango and myself-you see Mur!el is
our only child, our sole hope. Now
would you mind our asking the opinion
of famous specialist as to the case?"
Nothing would be better or more
proper. Pray, whom would you like.
and when may We arrange, contingent
on his being able to come, to have him
herep''
Mrs. Midas Contango mentioned the
name. of a very fashionable and ex-
pensive London physician with con-
sultative practice confined almost en-
tirely to the houses Of those who had
been presented at court. He was cer-
tain1y not the man I should have
chosen, for the faculty rather smiled at
his pretensions to pre-eminent skill,
and his reputation was far more that
of the drawing-room than professional.
However, l, humble il conscientious
practitioner. could not afford, had l 80
desired. to decline to meet him, and l
consented to facilitate arrangements
for an interview at the great mans
convenience.
The fashionable physician drew up
in his imposing equipage at the door
OF Mount Aureo half an hour behind
the time appointed, was introduced to
his patient, making the while profuse
apologies for having been unavoidably
detained by critical case-that Of the
Duke OF Deerwood-to whose house in
Mayfair he had been summoned by the
Duchess request to give his opinion as
to the treatment adopted by the at
tendant medical gentleman.
What said the society exquisite
for such the celebrity certainly was .
"whatr' exclaimed he. in grandilo-
quent tones, striking theatrical atti.
tude, 'is it that fine young lady we are
to consult aboutp That superb girl, In
such perfect condition! Come, madam,
confess that you are only making fun
of u.s."
WELL" replied Mrs. Contango. i'm.
pressed, as she was meant to be, by
the Importance of the pompous per.
sonage who was addressing her, 81
admit appearances are in my daugh-
ter's favor, and / hope that you may
be able to assure US that her condition
is not serious; but she is always losing
her voice-always coughing-and II
we were not to take care A food
of tears drowned the rest of the SEN
tence.
But" airily remarked the famous
doctor, 'my dear madam, why dis.
tress yourselfa All may be we'll Lei
me hear from this gentleman, your
family attendant, the symptoms as he
has interpreted them"
| gave the history Of the case in q
few words.
"Well. we'll; there seems to be moth
| ing serious; but we must examine the
chest with the utm ost exactness to de.
eide that"
Pardon me-" interrupts mamma,
"but will you allow me to remain in
the roomp"
"Of course. madam" responded
the favorite Of fortune. "You have
a sacred right to stop here. Pray, SIT
down" And then he directed me tc
commence the examination. I per
cussed with minute carefulness ever,
part Of the thorax, and, as before
could really find nothing abnormal.
There; you perceive that l have
tested with exactness, and the resO
nance is everywhere perfect"
made the remark as mere matter oil
form, for l had not failed to note thu,
the very superior West End practition'
err had not condescended to pay the
slightest attention to my proceedings,
but was talking in low tones 10 Mrs,
Midas Contango all the time.
'.Ah, we'll, now it is my turn" said
he, and with the most delicately i'm.
pressive care placed Miss Murie
again in position; not as l had done
with the arms crossed on the chest
but stiffly extended. In place of tell
ing her to count thirteen to sixteen
he gave her book and directed her t.
read dozen lines, and then to sin.
the gamut, an octave and a half. Ths
mother was watching all this in ad
miration and devouring every detail
"Ah! humph!" said the oracle; ..i
seems there is something-but ex
tremely difficult to differentiate. Lee
us hear what percussion yields" Ant
his style was truly enchanting. Every
tap with the fingers was given with ,
flourish and graceful sweep worthy
of the most expert professor Of sleight
of-hand that ever entertained Coun
tess guests There was a moment o
studied indecision. and then, with ,