The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-03-27

son-in-law, and how indignant felt at
his declining to give me any reasons for
his decision. The following day l met
an old college friend in Bond street.
Douglas Bligh.
''You are not looking very bright, - he
Wit are you worrying about?"
vas doctor He had walk
.u hospital as old Rudgwick,
nany years later.
"A love affair." / confessed, with a
forced smile.
"Ahl Thought something of the sort.
Girl thrown you over?"
"No, not the girl-the father %
"Oh, that's nothing! If the lady is
willing, love will find out way, and
papa will come round.
He is pig headed old doctor-I beg
your pardon, but suppose doctor may
sometimes be pig headed like the rest of
us?''
Undoubtedly. Do l know him?"
CDR. Gordon Rudgwick. y
ooh, yes. l am acquainted with him.
also once met Miss Rudgwick. 1 con-
graduate you, old fellow. A charming
young lady, pom my word. But the old
man-hal ha-no wonder he rejected
you'll
"Why?"
"You are too healthyp'
"Too healthy!"
Eyes. You ought to have some in
teresting and deep seated disease-some-
thing complicated and lingering''
"I-what on earth are you driving
at, Bligh?"
Don't you know? He's"- and he
touched his forehead with his foretinger.
"You don't mean it?''
Eyes. He is mad on one point. He
has a contempt for healthy people, and
respects only those who are suffering
from some terrible disease.
but his daughter never told me. "
"She doesn't know. They have kept
it from her. And this is the cause of his
want of parental affection. There is alb
solutely nothing the matter with the
young lady. Now, what he wants is a
son-in-Iaw riddled with disease. You
must get some internal growth orr
Good heavens, Bligh! y
Come with me and will coach you
mp i'll all the symptoms Of most inter
esting malady. Everything will then
turn out according to your best wishes. -
"But how did you discover you were
in possession of this striking disease?''
said DR. Rudgwick i'll a state of ecstasy.
well, have had suspicious for a
long time" l replied, that something
was wrong, but ! kept the opinion to
myself A few days ago, however,
tried to insure my life, and the medical
officers of half dozen companies reject
ed me- | then went to a first class man,
was thoroughly overhauled, told exactly
what was the matter with me and in
formed that I was one of the most ex-
traordinary cases that had ever come
under his notice. He gives me only six
months
''Ah! The symptoms are most remark
able. I have not been so interested for a
long time. 1t is certainly very curious
case, unprecedented Ill its complexity.
"Do you really think it is SO serious?"
"Oh, hope SO. l think l may safely
assert that the man you have consulted
is absolutely correct in his diagnosis, if
the symptoms are as you say.
"Do you think shall survive it?'
mot unless you allow the course of
the disorder to be interfered with by
those sentimental quacks who hinder the
advance of pathological science by seek
ing cures. :"
but six months is very short, j." l said
despondently.
mot at all. With care, the thing may
be induced to run its course even more
quickly. Drugs and q low diet may be
made to do good deal i'll accelerating
matters.
what would you advise? Should
consult Sir john
"No, no, no! Don't consult anybody.
Don't NEEDLE with 1t, or you may spoII
all"
'But perhaps cure''-
''Cure, sir! Don't talk such sickly
nonsense, or l shall begin to think it
possible that you could do such a mean
and dishonorable thing as to rob medical
science of one of the most instructive,
beautiful and striking cases that have
ever enriched the literature of pathol-
ogy."
What, then, is the use of pathology
if doctors are not to cure?"
Pathology, sir, treats of diseases,
their causes, effects and symptoms. 1t
is branch of knowledge, an interesting
abstract study, recreation. 1t has
nothing to do with treatment, cures and
such like quackeries.
But what may be sport to you is
death to us. -
why, we must all die, and what
could be nobler than to die in the cause
of science? By the way, you were speak
ing to me about my daughter the other
day"
/ shook my head in a melancholy
manner.
well, have been thinking 1 spoke
hastily. She is yours l shall be proud
to have you as a son-in-law. To watch
the course of your complaint will be
privilege and a delight. Marry as soon
as ever you like. l think you will find
Dora somewhere about the house. See
her and fix the matter up"
But Dora was not to be seen that day.
She had gone to her room indisposed.
When l called the next morning the
housekeeper told me that Miss Rudg
wick had gone on a visit to friends at
Brighton, but had left a note for me. [
opened it and read as follows:
81 overheard your talk with papa,
and am so very, very sorry for you. 1
do SO hope that your state is not SO bad
as you fear, and that you will not lose
courage and will soon get well.
"Of course everything must now be
at an end between us. 1t would be mad
ness to talk of marriage. l shall always
think of you as a very dear friend, and
want you to believe that you will have
my most sipcere sympathy"