The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-30

| passions long since uliHecuei' ,hctS e"aio
from this quarter sounds OF wrangie so
unusually violent that perforce he had
10 listen.
"Of course" said voice, oily, insihu-
ating. exasperatlng, "of course. you boast
now. so far ahead OF the event; but
when It comes off, and your precious pro-
teges are so much out OF the race as
10 have never been I'm Il, why you Will
50 thoroughly have swallowed your words
as 20 swear YOU never even chewed them.
Its a lee" rasped another voice, tremu-
lous with wrath; "a domned. unmannerly
lee. I'll bet my head and my boots that
graduate OF the Pergamos Medical
School tahes the prize without half try
Ing i could name a thousand ilne young
men who could do IT, and let me tell
you, sir, when this particular fine young
man. whoever he may be. has done II,
he can own anything I've got, from
partnership, TO my daughters hand in
marriage. Meanwhile, sir, conceive your
doubts are meant in no friendly way,
and so good day to you"
DR.. Dick crouched in his chair, and
Dust in time, for through the room
stamped DR.. John Knox Mcpherson, red
faced and furious. through the room and
out, with a tremendous emphasis Of the
door.
'Ha! Hai Ha" came from the inner
room. DR.. Dick entered, and found as he
expected. Prof. Eben Meade. Dean of the
Pergamos Law School, perpetual crony.
and occasional foe Of the lrascible presi-
dent, and hence this young mans advo-
cate and friend.
AT 1t again. hey?" said Dr. Dick.
Pray what is it all about?"
The professor beat his sides for several
minutes before he answered That i'm
POSSIBLE old idiot" at length he gurg-
leo' went off in a fury just because L
Ventured to say that 1t wasn't an abso-
lutey sure thing that one Of his confound-
ed graduates would take the prize Of
fered by the State University for the
the best essay On The Idiosyncrasies Of
the Medulia Oblongata.' AS II he hadn't
turned out a perfect pestilence of num-
skulls and quacks by Jove! Why, even
you, my son. had to clear away the
cobwebs with a German brush. and
yet he'll wager his head and his boots
on his paragons. and give to the victor
his daughter. i swear If l wasn't just
as old as | used to be. I'd have try
for IL myself. Ha. Ha! Hal" And away
waddled Che professor.
DR.. Dick stood and pondered like one
who has heard the voice OF the oracle.
yet Is doubtful OF Interpretation. "Td
have try for it myself he repeated
All. why, oh why, shouldn't he, a grad
uate of the Pergamos Medical School,
take the president at his word and, In
winning the prize, win also a bride?
Would not the old mans qualification in
his triumph do away with all remem-
brance Of his spostasy? Would not the
former regard revive enhanced by this
later respect? At least he would have
a try Cor it. Yes indeed. At the worst
he could hold the doctor to his word,
and who more scrupulous than John
Knox Mcpherson? At worst-ah, this
worst would be rapture, even IL the OBJ
6urate sire should burst with chagrin!
Have try for Il? OF course he would.
and gain 1t too. For weeks thereafter
the places that had known Dr. Dick 8
recreations knew them no more. and the
round of his professional engagements
became In comparison his resting spells.
There was general rejoicing in Pergam-
os. and amusement, too, when 1t was
known that Or. Dick had Won the great
prize offered by the State University
Not only was the popular pride tickled by
this success but also the popular sense
misses as to how the old president would
| be able to assimilate so bitter pill. Or.
| Dick wondered also, and uneasily, as
| he wendell his way to his antagonist s
house where the mead Of his victory was
| awaiting him. He was resolved TO en-
| dure verbal. aye. even physical. abuse.
| II only ah! II only, he might be per-
| United to see his beloved But what
| then? Would he be allowed TO begin
where he bad left off? Poor Dr. Dick did
| not realize that Evelyn didn't know that
| ne had ever left off,
John Knox Mcpherson, NJ. n. re-
ceived DR.. Dick with the awful, austere
| dignity Of his namesake. ut behooves
me. Sir" he began, by virtue of my Off
| cial position. 10 present TO you the prize
which you have so uneXpectedly-ahem
so meritoriously won. / am constrained,
| too, 10 express my persnal sentiments
| Of SratiAcation-no. dom it all. l mean
amazement--I swear. mon, ! dinna ken
what I mean. I've lost my head al
| thegether" and the red bandana frantic
| ally waved like signal OF distress.
mot at ALL" said DR.. Dick. with the
| pieasant, captivating smile Of his boy
hood. i've saved your head, and your
/ boots, too"
"Whatg roared the old man. WAS
Il YOU smuggling before the fire? Well
II was lucky I didn't know you, | was
| that enraged But you did maintain my
| words, me boy, and right scienteehcally.
| too; and the Dean may put that In his
nine and smoke 1t. And you are a grad
| nate Of my school. and an honor "a II
besides. There. there I've always loved
YOU. and III not only forgive but Ill
| forget" and Or. Dick was inclosed in
snuffy and sticky embrace.
"My success is due to your instruction.
Sir" said DIT Dick, adroity. "All else is
| but"
"Rut an idiosyncrasy Of your confound-
Oh conceited medulla obloneata." inter
r,Iptcd the Del. hted president.
and now | may hope" continued the
| Young man. chat you will wish 10 keep
your word"
'Nfe word, I'll have you to understand
sir"
From partnership to my daughter
hand in marriage. quoted Or. Dick.
80 it's Evelyn you're after. and twas
| not q eneolSing fondness for your old pre-
| centor that moved you? Weel. weei! It's
| natural. 7 suppose, and the mother says
che has ne'er forgotten. But, no secrets
ont az school. you shall just ask her your
self A partnership. though-that requires
| elaboration There'll be no potencies, no
| trlturates, will there, now
Nothing later than Galen.' asserted Dr.
| Dick.
! Come on. then" and a moment later
| this medical knight was alone in the draw
| ing room with his lady love.
How pretty she was. and how altogether
desirable in her unfeigned JOY!