Middletown transcript., 1895-02-02

Il
never heard; but, for all that, the bes
physicians knew him by name and re
putation.
He wore the same boyish, simpl
look of his student days, and he had
doctor slovely habit of taking
care of other people, so tha
when he sat down, stiff and tired fron
long drive over frozen ground, h
noticed that his next neighbor, a cross
grumpy-lookiug old fellow, whose sea
he asked to sh re in the crowded car
looked old and pinched, and seriousl.
i'll besides. His quick eye saw signals
Of danger from most obscure disease
and he gave a little sigh as he settled
himself and tucked his warm wraE
round his companions knees and drew
a corner of it over his own.
''It's too cold here, sir, he said, in
an offhand way. Il haven't got far tc
60 myself. Pm ashamed that there are
no stoves in the cars yet. 1 spoke to
the conductor this morning about
them." H--
The elderly traveller turned CRATE
fnl, surprised face: "You're very
kind, sir" he said. ''I've been fairly
suffering. l haven't been well, and it
was a great risk to take this journeyp'
John Ashurst considered little.
81 see you are not well, sir" he said at
last. "I'm stranger to you, but Pm
docter, and think l 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 straightforward
look at this unexpected Good Samari-
tan. He saw a man who looked rich
in kindliness and wisdom, and poor in
everything besides, but there was a
lJok 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 III
write you prescription. Tell me if"
and he asked question or two with
ss mpathy and directness. by the time
they parted they were. already friends.
The traveller was man of a 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 begun TO fail him i'll such
q way that he was much concerned.
He llIsls ed, i'll blunt, old-fa>hiohed
Way, upon paying The doctor his fee,
bu, lie doctor laughed and said it was
his ow Ii prupusal-lt WAS nothing, and
at tha moment he rose and said good
by, hastily. ''Keep the wrap" hr
SAID. "Yuu can send it back by ex-
piess 10 Dr. John AshuIst, Alton. BE
careful iLeut chIlls. That is part ut
t e prescription.
Ih,- Traveller va ched him as he left
ne car and got Into siIaky To- king
.'s' hnGN "itt tlleh ii Young numal
IL cal move oL lie ws.eG abt hl L.
ajch The buggy as far as he could |
bleak sky. 1t was poul Looking hilly
piece ut country. The Traveller took a
note book and gold pencil out of his
pocket, and wrote down carefully the
name of DIR. John Ashurst of Alton;
then lie tucked the Scotch plaid we'll
about him and smoothed it over his
knees affectionately, "That's scholar
and gentleman" he thought, with
an unusual glow in his heart, 'He
treated me like brother. | wonder
how he comes to be hidden away in
this corner. Well the world isn't as
bad as thought; it was good sense
everything lie said. That fellow l saw
yesterday made trade of it, and this
one put me on the right road, if there
is any right road. know my condi-
tion better than he though-but he
didn't lie once, and he explain ed just
what chance had, and how TO go TO
lake it. That'S the doctor for me-" and
The traveller drummed on the dusty
window sill with a pleasant sense of
taking new lease of live.
DIR. John Ashurst was driving away
with one Of his daughters and explain
ing to her under what circumstances
ne had lett his wrap i'll the train.
Poor cross old man." he said. 81
should not wonder if patched him up
'Or some years to come. He was just
where ;hat frst-rate prescription will
lit him between the eyes. He'll be
to find how much better he
cells even within day or two."
81 hope he'll remember to send the
,laid black" said the DOCTORS young
smiling little. She was
90 well used to her fathers doing
'uch kindness on every hand to take
special note of this. Only the thought
sometimes fitted through her mind
hat people hardly ever took took the
trouble to do him kindness in return
and when the plaid arrived neatly
folded and addressed, but without
word of acknowledgement, she put
it in its place on the study sofa and
Owed her father all the more, because
his stranger seemed to love him less.
-4 + III
1t was late November the year after
Dir. Ashurst's death, and his two
daughters and their mother were in
good deal of trouble. He lad been "a
man of infinite geaerosities; lie had
gathered some good books and very