Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-03-04
THE DOCTORS TALE.

It is thirty years since put my shingle
up. had very little money; SO had Ma
tilda. We were desperately in love with
each other-so much so that we really
could not afford to wait: SO Matilda and !
got married. lay in wait for patients be
hind my office door. Like a hungry tiger
Mguratively speaking) l cried aloud
"Ducky. ducky darling, come be killed.
But they did not come. The ducks
mean the patients-merely said 'Quack"
(fguratively speaking again) and passed
me by. They evidently looked on my shin
gle as danger signal But | soon got a,
large practice among the poor, and those
who could not or would not pay. They ap
pointed me their body physician. ] need
hardly add that it was purely an honorary
post.
Now, there was a rich old maiden lady
who lived opposite us. She was an eccen
trio but charitable old woman. and hei
name was Glumper-Clarissa Glumper
There was no chance of a woman like that
coming to me for advice. DR.. Dulle was
her medical attendant. He seemed to be
everybody's medical attendant that was
worth attending My blood used to boil
within me with Indignation whenever ]
saw his mud despatched carriage and pain
tearing about the neighborhood.
One afternoon l saw DR.. Dulles coach
man pull up at Miss Glumper's door, and
Matilda watched him through the blind.
Jack" she said excitedly. he's only
stopped five minutes timed him. And
oh. Jack! when he came out he was rs red
as turkey cock. Perhaps he's apopIec
tic," added Matilda, with a wistful sigh.
ooh, .Jackr cried my wife after an inter
val of few moments. there's The foot
man going post haste for the medicine.
and then she suddenly clutched my wrist
her face grew ashy pale. and she hissed in
a hoarse whisper: "Oh. Jack, he's coming
here! Quick-quickP' cried Matilda.
In an instant she had carefully regulated
my cravat There WAS tremendous ring
at the door. OF course, as i'll luck would
have it, Mary, our servant. was out. So
my heart beating wildly. opened the door
myself and tried to look as unconcerned as
possible.
you're to come across to the missus a,
once" said the pampered mental in pat
ronizing tone.
us it very urgent?" l said. looking at my
watch.
''It's matter of life and death, "said the
man, with vulgar grin which could not
understand.
Il will attend to it Immediately" said.
l had been smoking, SO took some tine
ture of cloves. Matilda sprinkled my hail
and whiskers with eau de cologne, | thrust
my instrument case into one pocket and
my emergency case into the other, and thel
tried to walk across the street in digni
fed manner, and of course failed miserably.
The footman, who was awaiting my ar
rival, was still grinning maliciously. He
ushered me at once into the drawing room,
where by the fire sat an old lady in black.
sobbing bitterly. It was Miss Glumper-
the great Miss Glumper herself.
"Are you the young man of the name Of
Pestle?" she said.
II am DR.. Pestle. madam" replied in
my haughtiest manner
'Quite SO, quite SO: am sure beg your
pardon. DR.. Pestle." said the old lady. still
sobbing copiously. "Dr. Pestle," she said
very solemnly. "are you a man of the
world?"
A mystery-evidently mystery. Mad.
am" | began. Il have never divulged
professional secret"-
1--WE are wasting precious time, DR.. Pes.
tle," said the old lady interrupting me. 81
believe her to be sinking fast She's all
seeing her. will you, as a favorS"
MADAM" began, ''as a matter of com
mon humanity
she isn't human" she said.
The old lady was in deep grief. and she
carefully lifted Il shawl which covered
something that lay upon the sofa. On the
cushion was a fat pug dog painting con
vulsively.
''Dr. Pestle." cried the old lady. "only
save my darling's life and there's nothing
/ won't do for you'll Is there hope?" she
added in voice of agony.
"While there's life there's hope. madam"
said, oracuIarly.
whipped out my emergency case and
attempted to administer Il remedy to my
unfortunate patient. The beast tried to
bite me at once
THAT'S good sign. madam" said: "a
capital sign. He'll require care, great
care" added, 1.-The greatest possible care:
but we must do what we can for him."
CDR. Pestle." said Miss Glumper reprov
ingly. "Flora is II lady dog"
"Quite 40, quite so. dear madam" re-
piled, ''that's what renders the case 80
much more difficult. IT, madam" | went
on, Il can have her under my own eye,
might be able to do great deal for her."
said.
'We'll make Il bed for you, with pleas
ure," replied Miss Glumper. Il beg you'll
not leave her for single instant, Dr.. Pestle.
Expense is no object, Iced hardly add"
MADAM" | said, in my best professional
manner. 'she needs absolute change OF
scene; rest, seclusion and-er-the usual
remedies" added vaguely. "If you will
permit me to remove the little patient to
my own residence, all that human skill
can do shall be done for her; otherwise" |
added and looked unutterable things.
success is well nigh impossible"
Miss Glumper clasped her hands in ag-
ony. ut is SO hard to part with her. doc
tor" she said.
''The matter is for your consideration,
madam" remarked.
"But may come and see herP", exclaimed
Miss Glumper.
mo, madam" said sternly. 1.-THE ex-
element Of such interviews might prove
fatal to the patients life."
ooh, Floral Florar' cried Miss Glumper,
and she dropped upon her knees and kissed
the patients fat back. would you he.
lieve it, Dr. Pestle," cried the lady excit
eddy, that DR.. Dulle actually declined to
prescribe for the little patients I've lost
all confidence in DR.. DuIle," she said, and
then she rang the bell.
The footman answered it.
"AGolphus John" said his mistress.
"you will take Flora to this geptleman's
private residence. you will carry her with
the utmost care. will send my man
every hour for tidings, DR.. esstle.' said
the old lady. u have trusted you. doctor
she said tragically, "See that you do your
duty" and then overcome by her feelings.
she hurried from the room.
! accompanied Flora and Adolphus John
to my OVID house. AS soon rs the man had
left hogan to consider Flora's case sefi
ously. | determined TO call In consult
ant at oncs ] knew nothing about dogs,
but knew man who did. After dark
person of villainous appearance presented
himself at my back door. No sooner did
he see the unfortunate Flora than he pro
nounced her casa hopeless "I'd have her
drownded at once. sir. if was you"
"You're quite sure the beast won't get
over it?' ! asked