The Opelousas courier., 1893-07-29

M IN beard. he was
asSsSNg.N sitting idle in his
&IaS Office chair en-.
~deavoring to %conjure up some meana
of increasing his income. He thought
of starting a medical institute and Of
lnventing a patent medicine, but he
had no capital. Toremove to a smaller
town was retrograding, and he dis
missed it angrily from his mind.
Two patients were the extent of his
practice. One of them would die soon,
and the other was nearly well. The
income from them was hardly sufficient
to pay his rent. The last two letters
from his father, i~nclosing much needed
checks, had been very curt. One Of
them had said: cit seems you are old
enough now to have an income of your
own"
In fact, young DR.. Struthers vas ct
his wits end. He was not the man to
worry over anything, however. There
would be a way out; he was sure of
that. He lighted a cigar, pulled at il
e time, walked over to a mirror and
looked at himself.
Tim not bad looking. Tn dressed
well enough. But Tn SO deuced young
they won't put any confidence in me. /
have half a notion to go to my friend
soutley Of the Academy Company, have
him make me up, put some lines in my
face, SO I would look about thirty-fve.
Then I'd require a brass-buttoned
iackey to receive the patients. II ]
could only capture one millionaire
~dyspeptic, one oyer-worked capitalist
and n aged dowager with the heart
d1sease-um-um-I'd risk the rest.
"Well, there's nothing to do but to
wait for Them he said, sitting Town
again. II sometimes feel like hiring
a canvasser to solicit patients. "A
handsome, capable young doctor, care,
ful attention given to govt and dyspep
sia; mild medicines used That doesn't
sound badly. Hump! Medical dignity
prevents it, though. / must sit here
patiently and trust to that little nickel
plated sign to do the rest"
At that moment q carriage drove up
in front of the house. The footman
alighted and opened the door for a
handsome young woman to step down
upon the stones. She gave the foot
man q signal, he climbed upon the box
nnd the carriage wheeled about and
drove away.
She rang the bell and called for DIR.
struthers. The doctor heard her call
and it gave him time to make q pass at
Ills hair with q brush, to tidy up his
clothes o bit and to mutter
"Here's q patient OF last hope. "
':Are You DR.. struthersq" she asked,
standing in the doorway, a picture OF
loveliness and stylish clothes.
eyes, I am. Will you come in and
be seated?"
She sat down listless1y in the chair
provided for her, uttering a despairing
little sigh as she did SO.
DR.. Struthers mustered oil of his
01gnlty, self possession and wisdom.
AS he looked at her for a moment be
fore she spoke, he wondered if she
could be Ill at all, she was apparently
DO rosy checked and healthy.
"You see, DOCTOR" she. said, sheart
disease is hereditary in the Tyler fam.
lily and-and I've got it," This with
another ~despairing little sight.
Heart disease? Fortunes had been
made out Of heart disease. The doctor
took hope.
"Yes.' he said, slowly, waiting fol
her to go on.
"You see Skuy1er. said it was all my
imagination" she continued between
gasps for breath. ssThey said / thought
] had it when I hadn't it." There was
the suggestion of q pout on her pretty
lips.
Every presuming Of them, I an sure, "
interposed Struthers.
She liked him for his sympathy and
she became more confidential.
Z know / hare it. Why, when I go
up stairs it beats SO fast and I cant
get my breath just the way poor dear
mamma said her own did, She
reached for her handkerchief and
wiped away two small tears with it.
aPapa-I beg your pardon for not
telling you before, papa is Mr.. Cort-
land Tyler-papa says it's oil nonsense
Just because DR.. Skuyler says SO. Il
Or. SkuyIer told papa he was going to
die tomorrow papa would believe it,
he's such 9 goose" She stopped and
blushed, astonished OF herself. sOht
didn't NEAR to say that, but Tn sure
I've got the heart disease, SO 7 came to
d new doctor who would know that i
had it,"
IF you will please let me examine ]
shal be able to tell you in q moment, Y
the young physician SAID sagely. He
moved his chair over to her side and
bent his head down SO that his ear
would pc directly over the heart Of his
beautiful patient. A little thrill passed
through Miss Tyler's heart and made i