The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1891-12-12
DOCTORS INHERITANCE.

were seated beside glowing CRATE fire,
chatting as old friends will who have
met after long separation. The hour
vSas late, nearly midnight, but no sign
of WEAKNESS was on either face. The
room was library, with well filled 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 far handsomer
man, but with weaker face.
AT last" he said, stretching himself
lseSily in his deep arm chair, 81 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 squaling 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"
1 A.
left you twelve years ago poor man
with a struggling, almost wholly gra-
tuitous practice, sworn bachelor, and
almost hermit outside of your profess
sional duties. find you wealthy, with
charming wife and a popular member
OF society, and yet your practice is, as
before, almost entirely among those who
could not fee you if they would. From
what relative unknown to me, your own
cousin, did you inherit your fortuneg'
did it ever occur to you, Tom, that
there are romances in real life all about
us, quite as improbable as those found
upon the shelves of the circulating Ii
$rary? My experience will convince
you that speak with authority. Twelve
years ago-we are getting old, Toni
was, as you say, a poor man, studying
hard, living in a stuffy house in poor
neighborhood, hoping for better times,
more profitable practice and a fuller
purse. was bachelor because could
offer only poverty to wife; 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 a much larger Office practice
than that outside.
1T was late, one bitter night in Janu-
airy, when was reused by the office bell
and the sound of excited voices under
my window. fastening down | found
several men carrying upon shutter the
unconscious patient 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 sofa. Badly hurled
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 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 apparently somebody kept it, as it
never appeared again. In the trousers
pockets were only some triaing articles
a bunch of keys and handkerchief, but
nothing to give any clew to 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-
fciently 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 pay ME for my services.
81 do not take much credit to myself
for my hospitality or devotion, because
was so deeply interested in the case,
professionally considered, that | would
have lived on bread and water rather
than have it taken out of my hands.