Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-01
Al DOCTORS RETURN.

Dr. Richard Clarkson sat ON the front
porch Of his elegant suburban residence as
the sun went down oness bright October
evening.
The doctor and his motherly helpmeet
had never been blessed with children OF
their own, but their doors always stood
wide open to the orphans and the needy
of the neighborhood. Two or three chill
dren had been given homes and grown to
honored manhood and lovely womanhood
under the Clarkson roof, with all the adj
yantages of education and refining infiu-
ences.
Besides these two bright young men had
read medicine with the old doctor and for
a time after acquiring proper amount of
medical knowledge and skill practiced
with their preceptor, remaining as long as
they desired under the roof of their bene-
factor before going out into the world for
themselves.
The last of these two was a rollicking
young fellow named Frank Halfway, full
to bubbling over with high spirits, sunny
and jovial and as prone to innocent pranks
as boy With all his fun loving nature,
however, he was industrious and quick to
learn, skillful and painstaking, possessing
the necessary delicate touch, eagle eye and
lion heart as primary qualifications for
successful all round country doctor.
In the course of time warm attach
ment sprang up between the old doctor
and his bright, young student. and when
the time came for DIR. Frank Halfway to
go 1000 miles to the westward to make
home and reputation for himself the two
parted with as deep feelings of affection
as father and son would have done in
such case.
1t is not necessary for the interest of this
story to detail the successes and failures.
hopes, desires and trials CT the Young prac-
titioner in his new western home. His
were the usual experiences of Others who
cut loose from friends and home ties and
go far away in the interest of their profes.
sions.
He lutifully correspondent with his east
ern friends and kept green in the old home
stead the memory of his smiling face and
sunny disposition.
He had been away five years when, the
old doctor sat on his porch that golden
October evening enjoying the rich seen
cry, resplendent in all its autumnal gran
deur of green, gold and varicolored tints
just within the open door the other in
mates of the happy home were passing the
time as best suited themselves.
On the tops of the hills the last rays of
the slowly declining sun were kissing the
frost tinted foliage, and in the valleys the
feeble twilight of the evening had scarcely
made its presence observable as the old
doctor, from some inexplainable impulse.
turned his eyes toward the front gate.
A glad smile leaped to the time fur
rowed face of the noble old man, for he
saw the familiar figure of Frank Halfway
approach the gate, raise the latch and
start up the path toward the house. DR..
Clarkson noticed his young friend had
changed but little in the five years since
he had left. His hat was well set back on
his head, revealing the broad, intelligent
forehead so familiar to all the family. The
right arm, as of yore, swung faster than
the left The toes stood well out, and in
other respects the carriage of the approach
ing figure was so erect and natural as to
produce the mental conclusion on the part
of DIR. Clarkson that the climate of Franks
new home must have agreed with him.
In the few seconds it required for the
figure ITO advance half way to the house
the smiling old doctor wondered why it
was that Frank had not mentioned his in
tended visit to his old home in his last let
ter As a solution of this problem he
thought
'.Just like him-he wants to surprise
u.s."
When the figure had approached with
steady step to within 90 yards of the porch,
the old gentleman turned his face toward
the door and said:
VMOther here comes Frank "
This announcement produced a commo-
ton inside, there was hurrying of feet,
and all crowded to the door to welcome
the returned friend, whom they all loved
as a near and dear relative.
When the doctor again turned toward
the walk Frank Halfway had disappeared
-'Up to his old pranks," said DR.. Clark
son, with a smile of indulgence. "He's
lodged into the shrubbery and is going to
steal in the back way and surprise the
women folks. Glad to see the boy in such
good spirits.'
To question from the others he replied,
Hes gone around the back way"
Then came q wait of moment or two
for the sound of the well known footsteps
at the rear of the house. Three. four, five
minutes passed and yet no signs of the
playful, boyish doctor.
The old doctor arose and went around
the house to look for his young friend, but
did not find linn. Then the whole family
joined him for half an hour with like re-
suit. The entire grounds and every room
in the house were searched in vain for the
supposed hidden one.
Finally the matter became SO serious
that the neighbors were called in to lend
their assistance in solving the mysterious
disappearance of DR.. Halfway. The search
was carried on far into the evening, as it
was generally supposed that something
had Defallen the young man, but the most
careful and minute investigation failed
signally to satisfy any of the members OF
the family as to what had happened.
With this half satisfactory conclusion,
the old gentleman fell into troubled
slumber.
AS has been said before, the closest bond
of sympathy and good feeling always ex-
listed between the old doctor and his pro
tege, but they disagreed on one thing--the
old doctor was skeptical as to the generally
accepted belief as to the future condition
of the soul of the righteous and otherwise,
and the two had frequently waxed elo
quent in discussing this point. The day
Frank Halfway left his old home, with