Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-08-25
The Curse Of the More
lands.
BY LEON LEWIS.
CHAPTER XIII. l.-(Continued.)

Doctor, as he handeQ OUT tnlrd pnOIO-
graph. "This sweet child is now in her
third year. AS you will see by her por.
trait, there is nothing whatever the mat
ter with her hands. 1t is pleasant
thought for me, ladies, as / recall the
history of this family, and remember how
the curse of this deformity has been
traditional for generations, to feel that
have put an end to this curse forever"
at is indeed glorious privilege to be
able to do such things, DR.. Robinett, :"
said Mrs. Moreland, with an intense In
terest and wonder. But do you really
believe you can do for us what you have
done for this poor lady?"'
| II not only believe it, my dear madam, :"
assured the Doctor, "but / know it.!
From all your brother has told me, am
convinced that your case would be far
less difficult than that of the lady now
under consideration.
"Oh, if it might be so" breathed Jes-
sic, with an intensity Of feeling that
brought a suspicious moisture to the
eyes of the good Doctor. "Oh, if it
might"
"But it can be and shall be, If you say
the word" declared DR.. Robinett, en-
phatically. All you have to do is to
place yourselves unrcseryedly i'll my
hands and accept my conditions"
The mother and daughter consulted
each other with earnest and yearning
glances.
"Of course we would like to be cured, +"
then declared Mrs. Moreland, with an
almost tremulous eagerness. at would
be like a new lease of life."
"Nay, mamma, it would be a new
birth ITSELF" cried Jessie. "1f l could
be -sid Of this affliction, should feel that
I had Ievcr lived till now"
cIhe cure is knocking at your door, If
you are ready to take it in," assured the
old Doctor, with kindly air which had
already endeared him 70 the mother and
daughter causing them to feel that they
had In him a devoted friend. "You have
only to accept my conditions.
"May | ask what those conditions
are, Or. Robinett?" asked Mrs. More
land, after again exchanging few ear
nest glances with her daughter.
,"They are four in number" returned
the Doctor, with sigh Of relief. "The
first of them is that you will unreserv-
edly accept my assurance that l can cure
you."
"That we can certainly do, Doctor"
declared Mrs. Moreland, "after the
proofs you have given US of your skill.
Can we not, Jessie?"'
1--WE can, mamma. / already believe
and feel that DIR. Robinett can cure us!"
"Then one Of my four conditions is
already accepted" commented the Doc
tor, with smile Of encouragement. "The
second is that you will obey my direc-
lions and conform to my Instructions
in word, that you will do as tell youl"
"This, too" declared Mrs. Moreland,
without an instant's hesitation, "Seems
to me to be very reasonable demand.
Am / not right, Jessie?"
"You are, mother" was the girls re-
ply. "This obedience is tacitly recog
nized between every doctor and his pa
tients, whether any especial mention is
made Of it or not"
"Then you will both accept this second
condition." demanded DR.. Robinett,
looking from one to the other.
ave WILL" replied Mrs. Moreland, and
the promise was repeated by Jessie.
"Good," commented the Doctor. "This
brings us to the third condition, which
Is that l must be allowed to bring into
the case another doctor, whose aid Is
absolutely necessary in the treatment.
In other terms, l must be allowed to
have an assistant"
The mother and daughter again con-
suited each other with their eyes.
"YOu say this assistant is absolutely
necessary, DR.. Robinett?" then asked
Mrs. MOreland.
"He is" replied the Doctor. at takes
two of us to give the treatment success
fully"
"Then, of course, we must give our as
sent to this third condition." decided
Mrs. Moreland. ais it not so agreed and
understood, Jessie?"
at is, mother" replied Jessie. "But
allow me to ask, DR.. Robinett, who will
be your assistant"
81 have selected DR.. Wyeville."
This announcement seemed to drive
every trace of color from the girls face.
'"Oh, no, no.7'. she protested, with
voice and mien expressive of terror. q
can never permit Vance Wyeville to
learn my secret"
"Nonsense, my dear child" returned
the Doctor, energetically. "Vance is as
well aware of your secret at this moment
as l am, or as you are yourself. He and
/ have talked about it for hours since
my arrival"
Jessie could only stare at the speaker
with the dumbness of CONSERVATION.
"Can this really be SOP" faltered the
mother. who seemed at loss, to decide
whether to be pleased or angry.
do
the Doctor, emphatically. "Nor is that
all. Vance has in his library book by
your humble servant in which your case
is fully described"
"Our case?" gasped Mrs. Moreland,
turning pale with surprise. gln book,
did you say?"
aIn a volume 1 wrote years ago, my
dear Mrs. Moreland."
"But how could you know anything
about us years ago, Doctor?" asked jessie,
in breathless wonder.
"Why, the facts were given me by your
old doctor, the predecessor OF Vance
Wyeyille," explained DR.. Robinett,
"and I deemed it duty to my profes-
sional brothers and to the cause Of hui
manity to publish resume OF the case
in nv volume. We doctors are blamed
occasionally for doing these things, but
we think that all fair-minded persons
will excuse u.s."
"And Vance knows alp" Queried
Jessie, as the warm tide of life in her
veins surged unanimously back to her
features.
"Eyerything!" declared DR.. Robinett
"And what does he think?"