The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-05
DOCTORS INHERITANCE.

Two gentlemen, both past middle age,
were seated beside glowing CRATE ire,
chatting as old friends will who have
met after long separation. The hour
was late, nearly midnight, but no sign
of wearinessswas on either face. The
room was library, with well filed book
cases on all sides, large, business like
table IN the center and deeply cushioned
chairs scattered about. One bookcase
contained only medical works in sub
stantial bindings, and with marks OF
service plainly visible.
Dr. Thornton, host and owner Of the
handsome house in which the room was
Situated, was man past 40, with iron
gray hair, strongly marked features, a
tall. erect figure and an expression at
once kindly and resolute. You read
prompt decision in his dark blue eyes
and sympathy in the pleasant smile
that often crossed his lips.
His companion, heavily bearded and
bronzed by travel. was a far handsomer
man, but with weaker face.
"'At last" he said, stretching himself
lazily in his deep arm char, Il find you
alone and disengaged. Give me per-
mission to stuff towel into that OBJ
trusive Office bell of yours, so that no
whining woman or squalIing brat can
summon you away and make me I'M
happy"
Cant be done, Tom. Make the most
Of me now, for the claims Of the whin-
ing women and the squalling brats can
not be denied"
"You know what / want to hear. |
left you twelve years ago poor man
with struggling, almost wholly gra-
tuitous practice, sworn bachelor, and
almost hermit outside of your profess
sional duties. L find you wealthy, with
charming wife and popular member
of society, and yet your practice is, as
before, almost entirely among those who
could not fee you If they would. From
whaS relative unknown 70 me, your own
cousin, did you inherit your fortuney"
did it ever occur 10 you, Tom, that
there are roIn6nces in real life all about
US, quite as improbable as those found
upon the shelves of the circulating Ii
brary? My experience will convince
you that speak with authority. Twelve
years ago-we are getting old. Toni
was, as you say, poor man, studying
hard, living III stuffy house in a poor
neighborhood, honing for better times,
more profitable practice and fuller
purse was bachelor because / could
sffer only poverty to a wife; a hermit
because my studies were engrossing. In
my small house kept one old woman
servant, who cooked for me and kept
things tidy. Having no carriage /
needed no boy, for Martha could write,
and had much larger Office practice
than that outside.
1T was late, one bitter night in Janu-
nry, when l was reused by the Office bell
and the sound of excited voices under
my window fastening down l found
several men carrying upon a shutter the
unconscious patient l was to aid, if pos
sible.
"'An old man, sir, knocked down by
runaway horses and run over said one
of the party, as they gently deposited
their burden upon a sofa. Badly hurried,
I'm thinking, doctor, but not deadr
Badly hurt, indeed, ] found him. and
my examination convinced me that any
further motion would result fatally.
Keep him must, or risk his life by re-
mOval TO a hospital With the assistance
of two of the men | undressed him and
put him into my own bed, noticing then
that he wore no coat.
Somebody took it Off they told me,
and currently somebody kept it, as it
never apl cared again. In the trousers
pockets were only some trifing articles,
bunch Of keys and handkerchief, but
nothing to give any ciew 10 the identity
of my patient and unlimited guest.
II will not enter into the details of the
injuries that excited my interest as a
physician and surgeon as much as they
called for my sympathy as man. There
were complications in the case that
called upon all my skill and knowledge.
and the patient endurance of great suf-
fering made me respect my unfortunate
guest from the first.
ut was nearly fortnight before he
recovered from the brain injury suf-
ficiently to speak distinctly. When the
sufferer could speak he told me that his
name was Fanshawe, but said nothing
more Of himself. and / supposed him I'M
willing to confess to poverty and the in
ability to p:y me for my services.
Il do not take much credit TO myself
for my hospitality or devotion. because
was so deeply interested in the case
professionally considered. that l would
have lived on bread and water rather
than have it taken ont Of IRy hands.
AS he became stronger my patient
became my friend. and interested me
deeply by the variety and depth of his
information. his experience of travel and
charm of conversation.
"Not until he was convalescent ana
had been an inmate of my house for four
months did | know that he was a man of
wealth, living in the house now oc-
cupy.
ITO cure him was beyond human
skill bat through ryvo years / attended
hun, alternating great suffering and
often accepting his invitations 20 spend
an hour or two with a lonely old man
When he Gied he left me his entire
fortune. which supposed TO be mine
only because he had no direct heirs or
near relatives. He had never spoken but
once of his family, and then said briefly
that he was widower and had lost his
only child.