Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1893-05-04
A PATIENT THAT PAID.

the ink on his medlca diploma was not
yet dry, and, secondly, because be could
not raise a beard. He was sitting idle
in his Office chair endeavoring to con.
lure up some means Of increasing his
income. lie thought Of starting a med
ical institute aud of invent,ng Il patent
medicine, but lie had no capital. To
remove to Il smaller town wa retro.
grading, and he dismissed it ansr!y
from his mind.
Two patients were the extent Of his
practice. One of them wouli die soon,
and the other was nearl Y well. The
income from them was hardly sufficient
to pay his rent. The last two letters
from his father, lnc!oslng much neeaed
checks, had been very curt. One OF
them had said: 1T seems you are old
enough now to have an income Of your
own.
In fact, young Dr. Struthers was at
his wits end. lie was not the man to
worry over anything however. There
would be a way out he was sure OF
that. He lighted cigar, puff d at it Il
time. walked over to the mirror and
looked at himself.
I'm not bad looking. I'm dressed
well eno Ugh. But IN 50 deucei young
they won't put any confidence IN me
have nalt a notion to 20 to my friend
Soulley of the Academy Company, have
bin make me mp, rnt Somr lines n
my face, so | would look about 35.
Then ia require a brass bntoned he
gro lackpy to Receive the patients. II
| could onl Y capture one IN Ilonare
dvspcptlc, one over worked CAPITALIST
and one aged dowager with the heart
disease TIN un-l'd j risk the rest
Well, there's noth!ng TO 10 but to
wait for them. he SAID Sltting no"n
again. i sometimes feel like hiring 4
cnnvas er To solicit pa .,nts "A hand
some, capable young doctor. careful at,
tcntiou given To CONT and dyspepsia,
mild melicnps used. That doesn't
sound badly, Humph Medical dig
nltv prevents it, though | must 81.
here patiently and trust to that little
nckelpIated sign t" do the rest.
At that moment A carriage drove mp
IN iront Of the house. TIE tootman
alieh,ed and opened the door for Il hand
some young woman to step down upon
the stones. She gtve the tootm1n a
s'ynal he climbed upon the box and
the carriage wheeled about and drove
away.
She rang the bell and called for Dr..
Strutncrs. The doctor heard her cal
and it gave him tire to makea pass at
his hair with brush to tidy up his
clothes and to matter
Here's patient at last / hope.
Are YOU DR.. Struthprs = she asked
standing in the doorway, picture Of
loveliness and stylish clothes.
Yes, | am. VIII yon come in and
be seated ;.
She sat down listlessIy ia the chair
provided for her, u'teriny dcspairing
little slgl as she did 80.
DR.. Struthers mustered all Of bis dig
nlty, self possession and Wis !om. As lie
looked at her for a moment before she
spoke, he wondered il she coAIl be i'll
at all. she was apparently SO rosy
checked and healthy.
You see. doctor, she SAID, heart d,s-
ease is hereditary in the T;lrr family,
and-and Nv got It, This with anoth
er despairlng little sigh.
Heart disease. Fortunes had been
made out of heart disease The doctor
took hope.
Yes, he SAID slowly, waiting for her
to 90 on.
You see Skuylel SAID it was a.! my
itnagination,' she continued between
gasps tor breath.
They said thought had it when |
hadn't it, There was the suggestion
Of pout Oh her pretty lips.
Very presuming Of them, am sure,
interrospd Struthers.
She liked hlm for his sympathy and
she became more confidential.
/ know | have it. Why. when 90
up Stairs it beats SO fast and | can t get
my breath Just the way poor dear old
mamma sand er own did. She reached
for her haudkrrchlef aud wiped away
two small tears with 1t. 'Papa-l beg
your pardon for net telling YOU before,
papa is Mr. Cortland Tyler-pnpa
says 1t all nonsense Just because DR..
Shuyler says SO. If Dt. S%nyIer told
papa he was going to die tomorrow he d
believe it, he's such goose. She