Daily Kennebec journal., 1893-06-26
4 PAYING PATIENT.


div. and secondly. because he could mot
raise heard. He was sitting idle In
his Office chair endeavoring to conjurs
up some means Of increasing his income.
He thought Of starting medical insti-
tutc and Of invepting q patent medicine.
but he had no capital To remove to
! smaller town was retro2rading. and he
dismissed it angrily from his mind.
Two patients were the extent OF ms
nractice. One of them would die soon.
and the other WAS nearly well. The in
come from them was hardly sufficient to
nav his rent. The last two letters from
his father. inclosing much needed 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 DIR. Struthers was at
his wits end. He was not the man to
worry over anything, however. There
would be Il way out, he was sure OF that.
He lighted cigar. puffed at it q time.
walked over to the mirror and looked at
himself.
I'm not bad looking. Tn dressed
well enough. But I'm so deuced young
they won't put any confidence in me. !
have half a mind to go to my friend
Soutley of the Academy company-have
him make me up-put some lines in my
face, so | would look about IS. Then
I'd require brass buttoned negro lackey
to receive the patients. If could only
capture one millionaire dyspeptic, one
overworked capitalist and one aged dow
ayer with the heart disease-um-um-
I'D risk the rest.
Well, there's nothing to do but to
wait for them" he said, sitting down
again. Il sometimes feel like hiring a
canvasser to solicit patients. "A hand
some, capable young doctor; careful at
tention given to gout and dyspepsia,
mild medicines used That doesn't
sound badly Humph! Medical digni-
ty prevents it, though. ! must sit here
patiently and trust to that little nickel
plated sign 10 do the rest"
At that moment carriage drove up
| in front Of the house. The footman
alighted and opened the door for hand
some young woman to step down upon
| the stones. She gave the footman sig
nal, he climbed upon the box, and the
carriage wheeled about and drove away.
She rangthe bell and called for DR..
Struthers. The doctor heard her call.
and it gave him time to make pass at
his hair with brush, to tidy up his
clothes a bit and to mutter:
Here's patient at last hope"
Are you DR.. Struthersy' she asked.
standing in the doorway. picture Of
loveliness and stylish clothes.
"Yes. am. Will you come in and be
seatedy"
She sat down listlessly in the chair
provided for her, uttering despairing
little cry as she did so.
DR.. Struthers mustered all Of his dig
nifty, self possession and wisdom. AS
he looked at her for a moment before
she spoke he wondered if she could be
i'll at all, she was apparently 80 rosy
checked and healthy.
| "You see. DOCTOR" she said, "heart
disease is hereditary in the Tyler fam
lily, and-and I've got it." This with
another despairing little sigh.
Heart disease? Fortunes had been
made out of heart disease. The doctor
took hope.
Yes" he said slowly, waiting for her
to 60 on.
"You see, Skuyler said it was all my
imagination" she continued between
gasps for breath.
They said thought I had it when !
hadn't it." There was the suggestion OF
a pout on her pretty lips.
| Every presuming of them, I am sure,
interposed Struthers.
She liked him for his sympathy, and
she became more confidential.
Il know have it. Why, when go
up stairs it beats SO fast, and can't get
my breath, just the way poor, dear
mamma said her own did" She reach
ed for her handkerchief and wiped away
two small tears with it. "Papa-I beg
your pardon for not telling you before
papa is Mr.. Cortland Tyler-papa says
A's all nonsense just because DR.. Skuyl-
er says so. If DR.. Skuyler told papa he
was going to die tomorrow, papa would
believe it, he's such goose" She
stopped and blushed, astonished at her
self. "Oh! didn't mean to say that,
but I'm sure I've got the heart disease,
so came to new doctor who would
Snow that l had it,"
"If you will please let me examine, I
shall be able to tell you in a moment"
he young physician said sagely. He
moved his chair over to her side and
bent his head down so that his ear would
be directly over the heart of his beauti-
ful patient. A little thrill passed through
Miss Tyler's heart and madeit beat fast
er as she felt his head touch her coat
and looked down upon his handsome
stock Of light hair. A young doctor was
much nicer than an old one, she thought.
He listened to the pitpats for momenr
and found that the beats were perfectly
regular, but were faster than normal.
When he raised his head, DR.. Struth
ers looked serious and little alarmed.
"What is the matter? Tell me! Dom
keep me in suspense!"
| II trust you are brave woman"-
II knew it! knew It'll" she cried.
| "You have very serious heart trou
ble," he continued gravely. "If yor
have patience, courage and will follow
my instructions. you can be cured"
DO you think SO, DOCTOR" Their
were tears and an appeal in her eyes.
eyes"
"Tell me what shall do. I'll do JUS
as You say. II don't want to die"
| "Ill not let you," he said encourag
ingly, reaching over to his table for ,
prescription blank.
There was nothing organically tn,
matter with Miss Tyler's heart. 1t un
doubtedly did palpitate rapidly at time
when Miss Tyler took overexercise. Blu
this was due to poor digestion caused b,
overeating-sorry but true accusation
against so pretty woman-and emu
and lack Of regular occupation.
| The doctor wrote outsome hieroglyph
les on his blank. which interpreted
meant plain pepsin compounded will
some ingredient which made it good :,
take.
Now, if you will take this to you
druggist, Miss Tyler. and follow direc
tons on the label"
"Yes. And what am l to do to shov
that am courageousS' she asked anx
iously.
Il would like you to get a pair O
dumbbells.
But that would make my heart beat
Doctor"
Use them very moderately each day
increasiI as You find you can. Ais
diet yourself"