The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-07-25
THE DOCTORS PERIL
BY nrnDsAL1 JAMES.


she was a man who did not know
what fear was" We read Of this mex
pefienced individual every day without
q N0ught Of cavil. Did anybody ever
really know such a man? am for one
firm in the belief that he never lived.
The brAvest man / ever knew was a
doctor, His heroism had been proven
IN -four years OF war, and, all about the
country side, his courage was pro
verbal. He had.been known TO risk
his life with such hardihood that it was
a question as to whether heroism or
folly was uppermost in his character.
Yet this hero had not only had a knowl-
edge Of fear, but had felt it himself.
He had been literally scared out Of his
senses, and, worse than that, the dan
ger was only the shadow of a danger
and had no real existence.
This is the tale of it as he told 1t to
me: 1T was a good many years ago.
] had quite a practice among the coun-
try people outside town and used to
drive nearly every day over the rock
road that runs south into the river val
ley. -Four miles out is the Hanson
place, a neat cottage, close to the road,
IN a large yard, where there was much
shrubbery and many trees. The house
had been vacant for some time, and one
day I noticed people moving in. They
we're northern people, a gentleman and
his wife His health was delicate, and,
he had come to try our milder climate.
She vas a slight, frail, sunny-haired
little woman, very young and girl-like.
II saw them often after they had
settled down, They evidently loved the
open air, and seemingly spent the whole
day outside the house. 1 have often
seen her working with garden tools
among the shrubbery while he looked
on, leaning upon his cane. Again /
would sec them at lunch or tea upon the
gallery or under the trees. They were
q pleasant sight, Tor I love to see hus-
band and wife so unconsciously fondof
each otter.
Severed months wore along and the
winter drew near at hand. With its
approach there came a spell of miser-
ably cold, wet weather. Good weather
for a doctors practice, but very dis
turbing to his convenience. The gen
timely sick are more numerous and
then there is a vast increase in those
who think they are sick, which amounts
to the same thing in the wear and tear
of a medical man.
Zone raw night I had just returned,
tired aud sleepy, from a far visit to an
exasperating old woman, hoping L
might be at peace for the rest of the
night, when my hopes were shattered
by a ring at the door. I.opened and
found a negro standing shivering in
the drizzle.
"'Well,' l said, as he stood dumb and
unmoved, what's the matter? Who is
kick?'
Boss he answered, finding his
voice, you is wanted out to Mistah
Wimanses right away. He's been
tuck'n down bad, and de missus sont
me to git you to come quick as you kin. ;
" sWimans2 1 don't know him.
Where does he lIve?'
why, dey is de new folks what's
took de ole Hanson place on de rock
road. Me an my ole woman been a.
working fur 'em since dey fust come
Il knew then where and by whom l
was wanted. Iroused my own servant,
had my gig brought around, and in a
very few moments the negro and / were
on our way. The trip did not take more
han half an hour, as the good, firm,
macadamized road was unaffected by
the weather. 1t was well after midnight
when we reached the Hanson cottage.
The negro took charge of my horse and
vehicle, leading it around to the stable
in the rear and telling me to go right
up to the front door and ring the bell,
which / did. There was an immediate
noise of some one inside hurrying in
response. The door opened. There
stood the little sunny-haired woman,
her face all drawn with the cruel marks
of anxiety and distress. She spoke
rapidly to me in a nervous half whisper
as / took of my hat and great coat in
the hell.
Doctor, I began to fear You were
never coming. lam so uneasy about my
husband. Come, follow me at once.
'She led the way along a hall and into
a large bedroom. In the center was a
solid, heavy oaken table, and over OPP
.posite the door a bed in which lay some
one, my patient, evidently. His face
was turned TO the wall, and one hand
lay motionless outside the bedclothes
upon the counterpart. He seemed to
be asleep. His peculiar quiet did not
impress me at the moment. Bringing
a chair close TO the bedside, / laid my
medicine case on the floor and proceeded
70 make an examination. The little
woman stood close by, holding q lamp
50 as to assist with It's light.
= felt for the pulse. The hand and
wrist were as cold as ice. There was
pulse. I hurriedly passed my hand
beneath the cover TO find If there was
any hears action. There was none. 1
tuFned TIE aead toward me, The jaws