Middletown transcript., 1895-02-02

his degree and received his diplom'
only the day before. He had gradua
ted at the top of his class, and, as DIR
Best had said to one of his fellow plo
fessors as they sat together signing The
diplomas, he was tie only man in the
class who really had genius for his
profession.
DR.. Best was New York physician
of wide reputation who had kept bis
professorship in the medical school OF
one of the small inland colleges, both
because it was his own college and be.
cause the few weeks which his lee.
turers covered gave him almost the
only vacation that he could manage
to get through the long, hard-worked
years.
'spm not so sure that I won't take
you into partnership, my boy" he said,
after ordinary means of persuasion had
seemed to fail; "that is, if you will
take few months first in the -- hos
pital, where III get you grand chance.
You ought not to bury yourself in Il
country practice with your gifts. Ill
push you along as fast as can if you'll
come to New York"
The younger man threw back his fine
head with a sudden eager gesture-a
strange wistful look shone in his eyes.
He knew well enough all that the doc
t,r's generous offer and fatherly af-
fectionateness meant; fame and money
and all delightful social advantages
We're put easily within his reach. He
was reverent of the world of art and
of etters, and of mans best know
ledge and close acquaintance with
affairs. But he could not shut his eye rs
to that ot ber vision of familiar up
land Country, he dark bills, the nal
row rocky roads, he gray and ed tarm-
houses of Alton. He remembered, too,
his fla hef, The old doctor of all ti,al
region, physician of souls aud bodies,
whom everybody Lad missed, he illm-
self most Of all.
"You're very kind, DIR. Best" SAID
john AslIurst, with n bright color Ill
his cheeks. II know how much you
Kindness would mean-but you SIT
they need doctor up at Alton"
"There are plenty of dociors," sAae
the old gentleman grLfly. "Tit er
pie up there can get d,clor--i,i there
Duncan or Grafton or Smith Who pi nI-
ise 10 do fairly we'll, and don't knn"
where in the world to settle. You
ought To have larger place. Come,
make push and take what belongs 10
you."
81 feel as if were needed up az Al
ton, sir" said the young doctor, with
the anxiety slowly leaving his face, ,and
happy light coming into his eyes
again, though he reached his hand for
the back of chair close by and took
hard hold of it. Duty Was shining so
clear that the moment of temptation
was quickly over, but he suddenly re-
membered that he was turning his back
upon the most beloved c0mpaionship
that he had ever known, except his
fathers. The doctors about Alton,
whom he should sometimes meet, were
old-fashioned men, not of the best sort;
some Of whom we're likely to be jealous
of him. There would be no more talk
for him now with DIR. Best or with
other fliends who saw their profession
from anything like a wide point of
view, to whom he could speak in his
own language. He was facing good
deal OF loneliness; lie could not hope
to 20 to New York very often; he was
in debt already for his education. DIR.
Best was all old man, too: they might |
never meet again.
The old doctor rose gruffly-the |
moment had grown too painful for
them both. 'Well, wellW he said,
impatiently. "You must do as you
think best; mother living and depend
ing on you; wouldn't feel at home any
where else; sacred Inheritance from
your father TO take up his work; | |
know, ! know, but if lie was here he'd
feel just as do. No, no, sham for
get you. I'm too busy to write much,
l never promise; but you write to me,
if you like, and keep up with the peri
Odicals; poor as they are, thy're better
than nothing, and you must follow the
new notions. Some day, if l can get
off, l may run up among the hills in
the summer. Gyd bless you, my boy!"
said the old gentleman, handing him a
book, but not even Offering to shake
hands, and turning again, grumblipg
to himself. to fumble among some
papers. John Ashurst escaped as
quickly as he cOuld-he felt a H. tie
light headed aud broken, as if it w uld
be easy to shed tears. When he reached
his boarding place he sat down drearily,
and thought for long time, deeply
anxiolsly. And at last he looked at
the great book. 1t was the very best !
French surgical work of the day, one
that DIR. Best had just imported; he
could net have bought it himself with
a months hard work.
III.
A good many years afterwerd, one
winter day, John Ashurst, grown older
and gray and weathel-bealen with his
long drives over the windy hills, cane
into a railroad car from one Of the
small stations within. twenty. miles of
Alton. He carried a heavy wrap over
his arm, q Scotch plaid which DR..
Best, dead now these many years, had
sent him once after summer abroad.