The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-09

md unconscious and unable to con-
tinue the service. Even the next day,
when he had slightly recovered, il was
found that any attempt 10 renew his
fervid eXhortations produced the same
disastrous result.
IL so chanced that the medical prac-
titioner of the district was a man of
large experience, of military training
and plain speech. When, therefore. he
one day found in his surgery man of
rude western type, strong limbed and
sunburned, but trembling, hesitating
and neurotic in movement, after listen
ing TO his symptoms gravely, he asked,
abruptly: And how much are you
drinking now2"
II am "a lifelong abstainer," STAN
mered his patient, in quivering indig-
nation. But this was followed by al.
other question so frankly appalling 10
the hearer that he staggered TO his feet
I'm Stephen Masterton-known of
men as a circuit preachc", Of the North
ern California district" he thundercd,
land an enemy of the flesh in all ica
forms!"
IL beg your pardon" responded DR.
Duchesne, grimly, but as you are suf-
ferirg from excessive and repeated eN-
citation of the nervous system, and the
depression following prolonged arti.
fetal eXaltation--it makes little differ.
ence whether the cause he spiritual, as
long as there is a certain physical effect
upon your body-which | believe you
A. IL,
diet? you look all wrong there"
"My food is of the SIMPLEST have no
hankering for tieshpots,' responded the
patient.
'1 suppose you call saleratus bread
and salt pork and hapjacks simple? ?"
said the doctor, coolly. They are com
mon enough, and if you were working
with your muscles instead of your
nerves, in that frame of yours they
might not hurt you; but you are sur.
fering as much from eating more than
you can digest as the veriest gourmand
You must stop all that. Go down TO
quiet hotel in some watering place for
two months. ."
II 60 TO a watering place?" inter.
rupted Masterton; ito the haunt of the
idle, the frivolous and wanton-ncver!"
"Well, I'm not particular about a
watering place, said the doctor, with
q shrug, although little idleness AMI
frivolity with different food wouldn't
hurt you-but you must go somewhere
and change your habits and mode Of
life completely. Call your vocation
calling, if you like--it's vocation, all
the same, and you are suffering from its
excess; il you wish TO be able 10 con.
tinue it you must do as l say. will find
you some sleepy old Spanish town i'm
the southern county where YOU can rest
and diet. If this is distastcful to you"
he continued, grimly, ''you can always
call il "a trial
Stephen Masterton may have thought
ii so when, n week later, he found him.
self issuing from n rocky gorge into n
rough, badly-paved, hilly street, which
seemed to be only continuation OF the
mountain road itself. II broadencd sud
denly into a square or plaza, flanked IN
each side by an irregular row of yellow
ing adobe houses.
Rev. Stephen Masterton felt his
throat swell with his old eXhortativc in
dignation. A gaudy yellow fan waved
ianguidly in front of "a black rose
crested head at "a white-curtaincd win
dow. lie knew hc was stiling with
righteous wrath, and clapped his spurs
10 his horse
Nevertheless In n few days. 10y the aid
Of a letter To the innkceper. he was in
stalled i'm dilapidated adobe house. not
unlike those he had seen. but situated
in the outskirts. and overlooking the
garden md part Of the rcfcctory OF tho
old mission. II hal even n small garden
ot it's own--if strip Of hot wall, ovct
bufdcncd with yellow and white roses
..Geu struggling callas, q bank oi