Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-06-05
CARRISTON'S GIFT.
PART l.
roLp by PHILIP BRANh NJ n. LONDON.
BY HUGH CONWAY.


by turning To my professional visiting books,
and, taking at random any month ont of the
last twenty years, give its record as fair
sample of my ordinary work. The dismal
eNtrac would tell you what a doctai's-I sup
pose may say successful dociM's-lot Is.
WheR his practice lies in a poor and densely-
populated district ot London. Dreary as
such a beginning might be, it would perhaps
alay some OF the incicdulity which this tale
may probably provoke, as it would plainly
show how little Poem there is Tor things i'm
agnative or romantic in work So hard as
mine, or among such grim realities OF power
~, pain, and gInef rs those by which | have
been suiTouncted. Ii would certainly make
IL appear extremely unlikely that | should
have found time to imagine, much less To
write, ro0dance or mclodrama.
The truth Is that when a man has toiled
from ninc O'clock in the morning until nine
O'Clock Knight such leisure as he can enjoy
Is precious 10 him, especially when even that
short respite is liable 10 be broken in upon at
any moment
Still, in spite of the doleful picture have
drawn of what may be called the daily
grind" | begin this tale with the account OF
q holiday.
Inihe autumn of 1854 | turned my back
with right goodwill upon London streets,
hospitals, and patients and took my scat in
the y Orth Express. The first revolution of
the wheels sent "A thrill of delight through
my iaded frame A joyful sense of freedom
came over me. | had really got away at last!
Moreover. 1 had left no address behind me,
so for three blessed weeks might ruam al un-
disputed lord of myself Three weeks were
not very many to take out OF the ffty-two
but they were all could venture "a give my
self: for even al that time my practice. il not
so lucrative as could WISH was a large and
increasing one. Having done a twelve
months hard work. felt that no one'in the
Kingdom could take his holiday with con-
science clearer that mine 80 4 hay back in "a
peculiarly contented frame of mind, and dis
counted the coming pleasures OF my brief
respite from labor.
There are many ways OF passing q holiday
many places at which it may be spent hut,
after all, if you wish 10 enjoy it thoroughly
there is but one royal rule 10 be followed.
That is, simply to please yourself-go where
you like, and mount the innocent holiday
hobby which is dearest 10 Your heart let it,
name be botany. geology. entomology, con-
chology, venery, piscaton, ar what not.
Then you will be happy. and return well
braced up for the battle of life. j knew a
city clerk with literary tastes, who invariably
spent his annual fortnight among the musti-
est tones of the British Museum. and aver
red that his health was more benefited by So
doing than If ne had passed the time inhaling
the freshest sca-brcezes. L daresay he was
right in his assertion.
Sketching has always been NY favorite
holiday pursuit. Poor rs my drawings may
be, nevertheless, as / turn them over in my
portfolio, they bring, 10 me al least, vivid re-
membranes of many sweet and picturesque
spots, happy days. and congenial compan-
ions. 1t is not for me TO say anything OF their
actual merits but they are, dear 10 me TO-
their associations.
This particular year weut, to North Wales
and made Be:tws-yCoed my headquarters.
stayed at the Royal Oak, that wc-known
little inn dear To many an artists heart, ant
teeming with remniscenccs,of famous mel
who have sojourned there times without
number. 1t was here j made tire acquaini
ance of the man with whose life the curiou-
events here told are connected.
On the first day after my arrival at Betty
my appreciation of my liberty was so thor
ough, my appetite for the enjoyment, of til,
beauties of Nature 30 keen and Unsuitable
that went 50 far and saw so much. tha
when / returned to the Rnyal Oak night had
fallen and the hour of dinner had long pas
ed by. was, when myOwn meal was place
on the table, the only occupant of the coffee
room just then young man entered, ano
ordered something to eat. The waiter know
ing, no doubt, something of the frank oonto
rnderic which exists or should exist, between
the followers of the painters craft laid his
cover at my table. The newcomer seated
himself, gave me pleasant smile and nod.
and in five minutes we were in full swing @;
conversation.
The moment my eyes fell upon the younc
man had noticed how singularly handsome
he was. Charles Cauiston-for this founG
afterward to be his name-was about twenty-
two years of aye. He was tall. but slightly
built; his whole bearing and figure beingJe-
markably elegant and graceful. He looked
even more than gentlemaRly---he looked d -
tinguished. His face was pale, its featus'3
well-cut, straight and regular His for -
head spoke OF high intelectua qualities, All
there was somewhat of this development
over the eyebrows which phrenoiogists, be
lieye consider as evidence 0fthe possession
of imagination. The general expression 0;
his face was one Of sadness. and its refined
beauty was heightened by pair of soft dark,
,dreamy-looking eyes.
1t only remains to add that. from his at
tire. judged him TO be an arist-a profes
sional artistic the backbone. In the courS.
of conversation told him howG had classi.
fed him. lie smiled.
II am only an amateur" he sad: IAN idle
man, nothing morc-and your
Alas ! am doctor"
'"Then we shall not have to answer 20 each
other for our sins i'm painting
We talked on pleasantly until our bodily
warts were satisfied. Then came Shat plea,-
antcraying for tobacco. which after good
meal. is natural to- well-re regulated digestion.
''Shall we go and smoke Outsider said Car
riston. THE night is delicious"
Wewent out and sat on one Of the wooden
benches As my new friend said. the night
was delicious. There was scarcely breath
of air moving The stars and the noon
shone brightly, and the rush of the not far
distant stream came to us with a soothing
mh,mur. Near MS were three or four iowlal
young artists. They were in merry MOOD;
one of them had that day sold picture to
tourist. We listened 10 their banter until,
tnoSi likely craving thirsty they re-enferpd