The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-02-20
4 MIR ELOUs CURE,

s8 SllsA S1ullcAeIneETe was SAD that day.
Seated alone before the fire he was
warming his trembling hands, glancing
every moment toward the little avenue
that led to his house.
No one" he murmured sadly, shak-
ing his head.
For fifty years Guichemerre lad
been the health officer Of the village Of
saint-Leon. Although not very learn
ed, he was an honest man, and had
treated his patients successfully, and
being the only doctor in the neighbor-
mood the village people had venera ted
Gu1chemerre. But now he had fallen
upon evil days. First druggist had
established himself in Saint-Leon,
thereby @depriving the health officer Of
the right Of dispensing his own medi-
c1nes. The druggist, not stopping short
at pecuniary injury, had lowered the
health officer in the eyes of the people
by sneering at his prescriptions, pro-
nouncing them to be unscientifc
To add to his misfortunes young
doctor had tablished himself at
Saint-Leon and taken the place Ly
storm. The villagers would gladly
have become sick to be cured by a doe
tor who from his learned mouth let
fall pompous and imposing words TO
describe maladies that Guichemerre
had wounded their dignity by describ-
ing by humble and every day names.
They gladly bought expensive .nedi-
cines for the diseases that DR.. P..av:lle
described by such new and conDli-
Gated names, whereas they learned to
COO 1ln cir In, 80 ~
MERE. Indeed, the poor health officer
was unable to struggle against the i'm
posing DR.. Preville, his most faithful
patients even abandoning him one by
one, and he saw poverty and ruin
threatening his old age.
That winter day Guichemerres sad
ness was mortal Among the few pa
tents who had remained true - him
was the forester, whose son Robert
had been i'll for the last four days.
-Four days, and the health o1fl.cr lad
not yet called to prescribe for him.
Twill he also abandon me?" thought
the aged doctor, warming his hands at
the fire.
Suddenly his daughter entered.
''Listen!' she exclaimed growing
pale.
The trot Of a horse was heard on the
road, a we'll known trot
"Yes, yes, it is he," exclaimed Gut
chemerre. s'He is going to the forest
er's.''
Ten seconds later, in truth, DR.. Pre-
vile passed the end of the ravine Oh
his spirited horse and turned to the
left toward the forester's house.
Old Guichemerre let his head fall on
his hands in silent prayer, realizing
that with the desertiOn of his most
faithful patient his career as a doctor
was ended.
Two weeks after Guichemerre expe-
rienced one Of the greatest joys Of his
life The forester, with tears in his
eye, came to him exclaiming, "N1y wife
and implore your pardon. We made
great mistake. Our child has been
worse since Dr.. Preville has been at
tending him. We are both anxious
that you should take charge of the
case
.Guichemerre bore no malice but for
the sake of professional dignity he OBJ
served, What you propose, my friend,
would be unprofessional-''
ooh, have no scruples,'' interrupted
the forester. HE knows now that we
have more faith in you and will never
set foot in our house again.
s.'Very well; will be at your house
in quarter of an hour" replied Gui-
chemerre.
It was only when the health officer
reached the childs bedside that he
realized how very sick little Robert
was. He regretted most bitterly the
fact that he was not more learned,
though he treasured the weeping moth
er by exclaiming, eyes, yes, he will re-
cover"
Guichemerre had grave doubts upon
the subject himself. One remedy after
another was tried without success. );
he administered all the old formulas
tina had been successful in his youth.
but now there seemed no virtue left
in them. His unaccustomed lips re-
cited a rosary, but his prayers were as
inetticacious as his medicine.
All the inha bitants of Saint-Leon fol
lowed every phase of the sickness. the
most extraordinary rumors being in
circulat ton. Every evening Robert was
said to be dead and every morning he
came to Life again, while the old doc
tor felt that his success or his ruin
was hanging by the thread of the
child's life.
one day-the second OF January
Guichemerre entered the sick room
with a present he was taking to his
grandson, a splendid brass locomotive
that went by steam.
He happened to be alone with the in
valid and moved by certain curiosity,
took the splendid toy out Of it's box
to examine it. "Thats fne,'' muir
INJURED Robert, whose hollow black
eyes actually showed a CLEAN Of in
terest ''Oh, yes, it's fine"
Guichemerre started, and took the
engine completely out Of it's wrap
pings while Robert flushed with pleas
ure, and whispered feebly:
Does it go?''
Indeed it does, . replied the old
man, almost weeping for joy.
When he left the sick room that day,
with his locomotive carefully hidden
in its case he smiled hopefully upon
the patient, exclaiming, HE is better,
much better. will call again this
evening"
He came back that evening, the next
morning, always with the mysterious
box under his arm and his private in
tervieWs with his patient became long
er and longer.
The narnnts from n,1tcidn tho door.