Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-05-09
A RUSE THAT LOST.

one. She is now a buxom wife with
some four or five rosy, romping children,
and I am still a bachelor. But time is
great healer, and can now tell the story
of my luckless suit with Dora Rudgwick
without pang.
Dora was the only daughter of re-
tired London medical man. At the time
I first made her acquaintance her father
had retired from practice and was a
widower. fell head over heels in love
with the girl-though can hardly be-
lieve it when look at her today-and
she consented to marry me if the old
doctor gave his consent. She never pro-
fessed to have any deep affection for me !;
she liked me, however, and was willing
to become my wife if her papa approved.
But the eccentric old man would not
hear of it. l remember how detected
was after he had told me, with consid-
cradle vigor, that could not become his
son n-law, and how indignant I felt at
his declining to give me any reasons for
his decision. The following day met
an old college friend in Bond street.
Douglas Bligh
"You are not looking very bright, " he
said. "What are you worrying about?"
Bligh also was doctor. He had walk
ed the same hospital as old Rudgwick,
only many years later.
ga love affair."" I confessed, with a
forced smile.
"Ah 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 a pig headed old doctor-I beg
your pardon, but suppose a doctor may
sometimes he pig headed like the rest Of
us?'
Undoubtedly. Do know him?''
CDR. Gordon Rudgwick."
ooh, yes. am acquainted with him.
l also once met Miss Rudgwick. 1 con-
gratulate you, old fellow. A charming
young lady. 'pon my word. But the old
man-ha! ha-no wonder he rejected
you'll"
"Why?"
"You are too healthyW
'Too healthyv'
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 forefinger.
"You don't mean it?''
"Yes. He is mad Oh one point He
has 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 law riddled with disease. You
must get some internal growth orr
Good heavens, Bligh!'
"Come with me and l will coach you
up in all the symptoms of most inter
esting malady. Everything will then
turn ont according to your best wishes. "
"But how did you discover you were
2" possession of this striking disease?"
aid DIR. Rudgwick in state of ecstasy.
"Well, have had suspicious for a
long time" replied, "that something
was wrong, but I kept the opinion to
myself. A few days ago, however,
tried to insure my life, and the medical
officers of half a dozen companies reject
ed me. then went to first class man,
was thoroughly overhauled, told exactly
what was the matter with me and in
formed that l 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. have not been SO interested for a
long time. 1t is certainly very curious
case, unprecedented in its complexity."
'Do you really think it is SO serious?"
"Oh, hope So l think may safely
assert that the man you have consulted
is absolutely correct i'll his diagnosis, if
the symptoms are as you say. -
''Do You think l shall survive it?''
"Not 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" said
despondently.
"Not at all. With care, the thing may