Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1890-10-25
A CLEVER GAME.
From the Hartford Times.


Clever, by Jove /" exclaimed M
Flaubert, "the smartest thing that l
ever heard -
Not by any means the smartest,'
answered the doctor. "Just let's have
a2otheA glass of punch and III tell you
story of Woman's wit which, In the
classic language OF Center street, beats
this trick all hollow"
'The scene, my friends" he began,
els Paris; gay luxurious, vain, coquettish
Iutetia Parisiorum, where more
crime and Wickedness is perpetrated
than anywhere else in the world.
"It was about o'clock in the morning
when an elegant private carriage drove
UP to the house of DIR. De MERCER de
Jauviile, who was at that time one of
the first specialists of nervous diseases.
A richly dressed lady got out and de-
sired to see the doctor. She was ush
cred into his reception room. Her
beautiful refined face was sad and she
gazed wistfully into the celebrated
mans eyes.
"'M. lie Docteur,' she said, in soft,
velvety tones, pardon this early visit
But ! was DESTROYS of seeing you alone,
without fear of interruption. So L took
the liberty of coming before your office
hours. May | venture to state my
cas0H'
"The doctor bowed silently.
"'Oh, monsieur, que je suis NAL
heureuse It almost breaks my heart
to speak to YOU Pardon, oh, pardon
these tears, but am so unhappy
''With an effort she seemed to repress
the tears which had welled up into her
clear, hazel eyes, and after a pause,
which the physician was too wise to in
terrupt, she went on:
81 am the wife of M. Labourian the
great, jeweler. You know him. do you
'''0nly by reputation replied the
doctor, with a bow.
"'WelI, M. le Doctor, we are wealthy.
We have a beautiful home, we have a
son, an only child, young man of 20
years. We ought to be happy-but
mon fills; mon pauvre enfant!
Her feelings seemed to overcome
the fond mother and she sobbed audi
blv. Collecting herself, she went on:
"'Oh, | am SO unhappy My son is
so good, so lovable, yet for the past few
months he has acted in most singular
manner. He was always Of highly
nervous temperament, always easily
excited, but never like this. At times
especially wen he is suddenly APP
unnaturally excited and a mOnomaGla
seems to take possession of him. He
gets into an uncomfortable passion, and
three times last week when | tried to
get him out of the room, and twice this
week when | essayed to go out myself,
he seemed not to know me, clutched
me furiously by the arm, and cried
out: Here Stop Stop that woman
She is carrying away my diamonds J!
StopSher, | say! My diamonds, wom-
an Give me my diamondsn
ut has driven me almost distracted.
doctor, and my husband has become
quite melancholy. Oh, my Francois
my darling What can have come to
him? Can you-will you-help us, doc
tori
'"The physician was touched by the
evident distress of the lady, and after
number of professional inquiries which
he addressed to her in his gentlest and
most COnsiderate manner he asked:
"'But how did this begin, madame "
'''It began as | told you, about two
months ago-immediately after the
large theft of diamonds from Monsieur
Labouriau's store, of which you may
have heard, doctor. My son at that
time, during his fathers temporary alb
sence, was at the head of affairs, and
the lDelC, all luuleuSe lOSS-loT we
never discovered the thieves-must
have affected his nerves. He took it so
much to heart and considered the
whole affair, though, of course he was
not to blame, his own fault. Oh, doc
tor, we are almost heartbroken at the
poor boys state, and would gladly give
all our wealth if our only child, our
only son, could be restored to health !!
Can you give us any hope ?
my dear madame replied the doe
tor, 4 shall, of course, have to see the
Young man and make a diagnosis before
| can express an opinion. From all
you have told me, however, the case
does not seem hopeless-simplv tenn
porary affection, | think. Now, when
can see him :?
"'Ue is so sensitive, sir, and gets so
easily excited when introduced to
strangers at our house. that l think it
would be best to bring him here, and
SO atieast our family physician counsels
to leave him at your institute for a
while'
Undoubtedly, undoubtedly re-
piled Nj. de Jauville; nothing could be
better. When do you think you will
bring the young gentleman? I have to
ask this because we want to have his
room in readiness
M. de Jauville took her to one of his