The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-12-05

been well, and it was a great risk to take
this Journey
John Ashurst considered a little. II see
you are not we'll SIR he said at last. I'm
think could give you some ease now, and
perhaps head off what's likely to trouble
you good deal if it goes on
The stranger took a straightforward look
at the unexpected Good Samaritan He saw
man who looked rich in kindness and wis
dom. and poor in everything besides, but
there was a look of distinction about him,
there was something that whispered to him
to have confidence. Go on, sir" he said,
IF you think you have time. L should be
very much obliged to you.''
There isn't much time. But I'll write
you a prescription. Tell me if and he
asked question or two with sympathy
and directness. BY the time they parted
they We're already friends. The traveller was
a man of few words and great sincerity.
He said that he was in business in Cuba,
and had much against his will been obliged
to come to the states at this season. His
health had suddenly began to fail him in
such way that he was much concerned.
He insisted. in a blunt, old fashioned way,
upon paying the doctor his fee, but the
doctor laughed and said the advice was
his own proposal-t was nothing, and at
that moment he rose up and said good-by
hastily. Keep the wrap he said. You
can send it back by express to DR.. John
Ashurst, Alton. Be careful about chills.
That is part of the prescription
The traveller watched him as he left the
car and got into a shaky looking open
buggy with which a young woman was
waiting to drive him away. AS the cars
moved Oh he twisted about to watch the
buggy as far as he could down the frozen
road under a gray, bleak sky. 1t was a
poor looking, billy piece of country. The
traveller took a note book and gold pencil
out Of his pocket and wrote down care
fully the name of DR.. John Ashurst of
Alton; then he tucked the Scotch plaid well
about him and smoothed it over his knees
affectionately. That's a scholar and a
gentleman he thought, with an un-
usual glow in his heart. He treated
me like brother. l wonder how he comes
to be hidden away in this corner. Well
the world isn't as bad as 1 thought; it was
good sense, everything he said. That fell
low l saw yesterday made a trade of it,
ana this one put me on the right road.
know my condition better than he thought
but he didn't lie once, and he explained
Just what chance l had, and how to go to
work to take it. That's the doctor for
me-" and the traveller drummed on the
dusty windowsill with a pleasant sense of
taking a new lease of life.
DR.. John Ashurst was driving away with
one of his daughters and explaining to her
under what circumstances he had left his
wrap in the train Poor cross old man.
he said. Il should not wonder if 1 patched
him up for some years to come He was
just where that frst-rate prescription will
hit him right between the eyes; he'll be sur
prised to find how much better he feels
even within day or two
Il hope he'll remember to send the plaid
back" said the doctors young daughter
smiling a little. She was too we'll used
to her fathers doing such kndnesses on
every hand, to take special note of this
Only the thought sometimes fitted through
her mind that people hardly ever took the
trouble to do him a kindness in return
and when the plaid arrived neatly folded
and addressed but without a word OF
Acknowledgement, she put it in it's place
on the study sofa and loved her father all
the more, because this stranger seemed to
love him less
III.
1t was late November the year after
DR.. Ashurst's death, and his two daugh-
ters and their mother were in a good dea
of trouble. He had been a man of infinite
generosities; he had gathered some good
books and a very few good pictures He
had made his family happier than any
other family in all that region ever
! dreamed of being. He was still a good
| bit this side of age when attack OF
pneumonia brought him quickly to his
| end. People who had allowed themselves
to take his talents and gifts for granted
were surprised into doing him tardy hon
| or by finding what recognition was giver
him on every hand. Those who knew him
best praised him most, and many city
man, who had, perhaps, only seen him
once at some medical club meeting, te
which on rare occasions DR.. Best or his
little group of intimate friends beguileC
the busy and self sacrificing country doc
| tor-many a city man owed to him the
best of inspiration enlightenment from
| some chance word, some new way OF
| looking at old things. "Ashurst has more
genius for his profession than any of US,
old DR.. Best used to say
| 1t had been long, sad year since the
| good man died-indeed they needed g
| doctor up at Alton,'' as he had said al