The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-25
A MARVELLOUS CURE.
BY ANNA d. PAGE.

kskA trembling hands before a bright wood
So fire and rubbing them against each other
while he glanced every few moments down the
little sycamore avenue which led 10 his house.
"Nobody!' 1gr owled he, shaking his large
head with its tlorid face framed with white hair
ana beard and then he commenced TO warm his
hands again before the fire.
Gufchemerre was surgeon who had been es-
tablished for fifty years In village called SAINT
Leon. He was worthy man. not very learned
but he had cured diseases just the same as others.
He had been The only physician IN mar region
for a long lime. His only amblllon ilad peeh 10
become Mayor OF bis town. .,,,,.
This beautiful dream was not an imposSlOllty.
GuichemeIre had had glorious lerlods III ms
life The Saint LeoniOnS owed everything 10
him How many colds cTamFs, s@oaeh h te@ "aJ
stomach troubles ana other diseases lie mao
cured or aggravated for them! Ihey VeheIateu
Guithemeile. :, .. ia ~, ,,,,,
maze What a series of miSadventures. First,
the surgeon had always sold his own medicine
TO his patients. he had me rlsht 70 90 so, as me
nearest aputnecaTy was fifteen miles away. But
behold, now a second-casS apolhecaIy had es-
tabshed himself in Saint Leon, thus preventing
Guichemerre from selling syrup OF tolu ahu
MAJ shmalluw. Alas, The sale OF these artlcles
constituted the Smest part OF the surgeon living
This little ANNOYANCE was nothing 10 what was
TO come. The apOtheCary was not conlehteu
with pecuniary INJURY lie carried II as ia' aS
moral prejudice. ,,
.'What is THIS ?r he would scOrnfuy ask OF the
person who brought him GuichemerieS PIE
scrptions, and his face would exhibit peauti-
full, scientific scorn -
The humble surgeon really did not know now
to write tiue formulas. He owned lew original
recipes which lie had invariably used since his
youth but they had not been III fashion Tor some
time The auothecary could not see any virtue
in Them. So Gulchem ere lost good lhlfd OF
his practice.
which occurred about two years alter The drug
giSpS Installation. -, ~,
: Young doctor by the name of Albert Preville
came to locate in Saint Leon. This was the
finishing stroke. ,,,
The doctor was stranger. He had Partisan
accent and manners and certain style WING"
dazzIed the village people. They were Willingly
i'll Ia Saint Leon in order that they might be
cured by such stylish Doctor. GulcueleTIe
DR. PIeyile had the support of the apothecary.
This man knew how to write prescription tie
knew how 10 prescribe rare aud eXp enslVe drugs
He let fall from his learned mouth ponpous ana
learned words when describing the miidest and
mo>t common OF complaints; Guichene,rs caii til
a cold III lie head cold III me heau' out ttis
vulgar haoit did not awe the County people.
They felt their dignity was wounNo at hndlng
Themselves afflicted with such ordinary com
ulaints Dr. PrrYi,le al least found honorable
diseases for them. lie gave them complicated
uuheard OF names, Tor the treatment OF
which they willingly bought new medicines al an
eXOrUltaut price.
Guichemerre, who read lily prescribed eentau-
rea. camemlle, borage ana stramunium all well
known plants which he gathered himself on Ms MS
patents land, could not struggle against Dr.
Preville's curative methods One; by one ms
most faithful followers abandoned HIM. AS lie
had never laid by anything for rainy day Wnen
he had the whole field 10 himself lie saw nothing
before him now but The direst poverty.
IL.
His distress was grieyOus upon this winters
day. J his was he reason why: Among the few
faitbful ones who still cluug 10 him was the CON
stable OF the place. This constable was MS
friend. aud married. He had sou, . years od,
named Robert, who was a playmate OF his iltile
grandson Emile. Now Robert was III; he had
been SO for several days already, and the sur
geOn had not been sent for yet.
q abandon
surgeon to himself, as he warmed his bony
hands. Every time that he glanced Out OF me
window toward the avenue lie hoped 10 see his
friend burryiug toward the house 10 lnplore MS
services. The constable never appeared, aud Tor
The ire. How many times lie had looked down
the leafess avenue but all in vain. IL was cold.
II was now December, and bad season Tor ola
IL IS to be hoped that may not fall Ill my
self 7" thought Guchemerre with terror. he
had already gwen his orders TO lit tie Emlle's
You remember If l am i'll 10 send for the
Minizin surgeon TO take care OF me! Let no
doctor enter my house above all things. would
rather del"
The twlgs burned and twisted in the flames
and fell into the embers. Sometimes his door
opened but II was not the constable; IL was
never a patient, and Gutehemerre's Old heat
throbbed painfully.
"Llsteu ~ said she, looking terribly pale.
Tie surgeon raised his head aud listened, be-
Coming pale in his turn.
They could near horse trottiLg along The
road. lie knew this lr0t only too we'll.
Yes, yes it is he" stammered Gulchemerre;
she Is going to the cons abe's."
Ten seconds later Dr. Prevllle passed the foot
OF the avenue and proudly turned to the left.
concerted manner 10 his saddle Old Guich- |
MERE buried his lace in his hands. III was |
ended
Adieu TO the Mayors office. Adieu to every |
thing. He took his daughters hands and ST. |
lenly pressed Them In his, daZed and poweriess |
10 even shed tear.
III.
Fifteen days after this Guichemerre expert |
enced one OF he greatest joys of his life. man
came up the avenue. Ii was tue constable whom |
lie no longer expected |
Monsieur Gulchemerre." sad he, with eyes |
full If tears 'my wife and beg your pardon. |
We thought II our duty; in fact you know. we |
lost our heads. Let us NOT speak OF it. |
We were entirely In The wrong. Now then, our |
little one Is worse yet since the doctor has had |
charge OF nm. He has terrible disease, can |
tell youi have forgotten what 1t is called. At |
any rate IL has never been heard OF before In |
This place. Our lille Robert is doomed. have |
realized that IN spite OF all the doctor has said
am extremely penitent, ana have come TO ask |
you II you will come to see him. VIII youP
Guchemerre was not revcngeiul. The con- |
stable cried and the surgeon had 10 restrain |
himself to keep from throwing his arms about |
his friends neck. But on account OF probes
siOnal dignity, he remarked In solemn tone:
Wnat you ask me to do IL a very delicate thing,
my friend. do not know just how DIR. Pre-
vile"
ION! you need not trouble yourself about
be SURPRISED / have notified him, besides that
he shall never put his foot inside my door again."
Gulchemerre assumed an Important air III spite
OF himself, ana added:
:. / take charge OF the case a little late
| have not observed the differ eut phases 10 the
case and you understand"
" understand ali about 1t, Monsieur Guche-
merre. but we have faith in you ana you will
him. You Will see. besides" added lie In cou-
vlncing tone. "tne somnambulist told us So I"
All! II the somnambnst said sol
Guichemerie turned Il radiant face toward the
constable and said:
:" will be at your house In less than quarter
of an hour ~
He passed into his chamber and stood before
the glass. picturing 10 himself the beautiful
effect tricOlOred scarf would produce around
his waist, for he could foresee the glorious
future Only to hink of III To cure dying
| man that DR.. PreviIIe had given upl What re-
lnstatement! What deillcatiOn! lie certainly
would be Mayor, and perhaps II he cared for it
chief counseori All Saint Leou would hear the
| great news in less than two hours. They would
be interested In The den0uemenl. Bets would bs
| proposed: He VIII cure him. He Will not
cure hlm!"
Oh. II he should succeeds
- Will succeed" swOro Guiclemerre. raising
his right nand up before the glass; and fun OF
hope, as rosy ana happy as when he was 20
years Old, he directed his steps toward the con-
stables cottage.
Yes, little Robert was doubtless very ILL.,
Guchemerre admitted that. But as to prog
Gulchemerre thought OF going to consult the
He bad seen others like It! He was not IN
easy He felt the chd's pulse, looked at his
tongue. tapped hi. chest, and even passed his
hand over the poor little fellows emaciated
body, and as lie saw the mother crying at his
side ne cried a little. too, In spite OF himself.
ION, we Will cure him." said lie, concealing his
| emotion. and he ratified off few medical terms
| to reassure The mother. What The devil should
lie give The dear little fellow?
An! at that moment GuIchemerre regretted
lnat ne did noi have his diploma as a doc orr
How glad lie would be to cure this poor, little
tniee- year-oid baby, who had played so often
| with his little gfands0ui
| Yes, ytsl we will cure him!"
ne Sent MS own servant with his prescriptions
10 me uiuggist In neighboriDg town so that the
apolhecary should not have a chance io criticize
lDenl. But these prescriptions were useless. AS
lie pad once believed In the good God, lie tried TO
still do so. aud piously told his beads IN the
hone OF obtaining aid from heaven to cure little
| Robert.
But his prayers were as useless as his pre-
| scriptions.
The old surgeon was scarcely able to conceal
| his despair. During this time all Saint Leon was
| eagerly watching the Case. The whole parish