Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-11-30
THE LOAN.
''Good morning, DR.. CARL"

seat in my Officer"
"Thank you, doctor, | will"
Fine morning." continued DIR.
Carl, "the weather prophesies well
for November, judging from the
opening of the month"
1T does, indeed, sir" rejoined the
lady, looking up to him with a
modest, grateful expression.
The physician drew chair and
sat down near his visitor, feeling
highly gratifed at the department
of the latter.
"Well, madam"-this being the
style of address quite in fashion
with the doctor when speaking to
ladies who had escaped from the
fitful and interesting period of the
teens what can | do for you to-
day., ~,
81 have called, sir, to liquidate
the account you hold against lie
for the attendance upon my moth
err"
"Ah! exclaimed the doctor, very
nearly losing his equilibrium at the
mention of liquidation. For that
was season when pressure" in
the money market had thrown
thousands of industrious and deserv-
ing persons out of employment, like.
wise making itself heard in tht
homes of opulence and luxury. A
time when thinking business mer
had risked the gains of a lifetime
upon some new mercantile transac'
ton: and seen, owing to his lmpor
tations being too heavy, or hiscredit
list too large, the whole of his vast
fortune fall from his grasp and sink
away, while he stands by stunned
with pain and fear.
DR.. Carl was, by reputation, a
man of wealth, having an extensive
and lucrative practice. Notwith-
standing "the times" to which he
expected to succumb in the end, he
still continued to argue that he held
an irrefragable claim to a livelihood
from the adjustments of his calling,
and that physicians must live as
well as other people.
"Suit your own convenience,
madam" the doctor blandIy remark
ed, feeling little nervous as the
delicate purse was produced and the
clasp loosened.
Fifteen dollars, ] believe it is,
sir" and again those glorious eyes
were raised to his.
What was that revealed within
their liquid depths that so forcibly
reminds him of something that he
had lost; something, perhaps,
which he had never owned, still he
was conscious of feeling a sickening
heart-poverty like that the warm
spirit feels on rising with each new
day to unrequited love and unmit-
igated labor, after reveling through
the hours of darkness in ecstatic
fancies and bright, joyous dreams.
Pardon, lady," he exclaimed, at
the same time accepting the money
she was holding out to him, which,
from his intense study of her fea-
lures, he had not sooner observed
IL crave your parden, certainly,
for my inattention," and the color
mantled his expanded brow, seemed
more with deep thought than time,
as he was thus reminded of his I'M
intentional rudeness.
but sit down, il you please"
motioning her to the seat from
which the lady had arisen, 'and tell
me, .how is your dear mother now?"
''She is some better, and trust.
will be able to leave the room very
soon."
II am very happy to hear it; but
how is her cough?"
ut still continues to trouble her
at night, still she thinks she is
slowly gaining"
"Well, good nursing, now that
the danger is removed, will do more
good than medicine. | was, for a
time very fearful that you would
be obliged to part with her."
Again those deep, brilliant eyes
were raised to meet his own, but the
sadness and mournfulness of their
expression, like shadows upon the
dial plate Of her radiant counten-
ance, instantly seemed to roll back
upon his own heart, as from a con-
viction that it were sacrilege for a
stranger TO penetrate the hearts