The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-08-20
Che Doctors ~~ /
GO Fctcll1plice. /
BY C. H. BENNETT. =
M)gg

and wondering. was young, well
qualified, and not wanting in u modicum
afconfdence in my professional abilities,
but for the services of my humble self,
John Hardman, NJ. D., there seemed to
be no demand in all the great city.
My melancholy meditations were cut
short by the din of my front door bell,
and presently gentleman was ushered
into my presence.
| "Dr. Hardman, 1 believer" said the
newcomer. ALLOW me to introduce my
self. 1 am Mr.. Thomas Sharp, of Rose
Villa. 1 live in your neighborhood."
After expressing my pleasure at MAX
ing his acquaintance, l inquired if
could be of any service to him.
"You are busy man, l expect, doc
tor" said he, and then paused, whilst
1 mendaciously limited that such was
the case. "But possibly you will be
able to find me Il little time in Il pro-
fessional capacity?"
l informed him that, of course, l
could do so.
"Well, may tell you at once" he
went on, pleasantly, Il am as sound
as a bell myself, but I wish to engage
your good services for my niece. She
is young, and inclined to be delicate,
l think, and wants little toning up,
and as l happen to know some particu-
lars about you and your career, entire
ly to your credit, l am going to place
her under your care"
l put in few hurried words, eX-
pressive of my pleasure in undertake
ing the charge, and was going on to
make some inquiries as to my patients
health and manner of life, but my vol
uble friend cut Inc short.
you are the only son of the late
John Hardman, of Blankley Hail." he
interrupted.s II used to know your
part of the country, and know that
you are the only surviving member of
that good old Hardman stock. Never
mind how came to know it. also know
that your father came to grief over
the Y bank failure, and that it
has been an uphill game for you since,
in consequence. l am pleased to see
how well you are now getting on"
Mr.. Sharp continued to ramble on
in this strain for some time, giving
me little informa ton about himself,
but to my astonishment revealing no
little knowledge of my history. Our
meeting terminated very cordially, and
he departed after receiving my accept
ance of a pressing invitation to dine
withAlim at Rose Villa on the following
evening.
Rose Villa turned out to be very
charming and well-appointed domicile.
had made few inquiries indirectly
through Polly Polly was my smart
little parlor maid), and it seemed that
Mr.. Sharp was n gentleman of means,
with no ostensible profession, who had
been for about two years in his pres
ent abode. His niece, a young lady
of taking appearance, in Polly's opin-
ion, was the only other member of the
household, and they were not favored
by many, if any, callers. So much for
amateur detective work. My early i'm
pressions of Rose Villa and of Grace
Farleigh, my lovely patient. were dis
tinctly pleasing.
Mr.. Sharp made a capital host; he
was CHEEKY and entertaining, and Miss
Farleigh u fair-haired, blue-eycd, hand
r Is
beautiful. She was an accomplished
musician, playing well and singing
with voice that for tone and sweetness
is rarely equaled in any suburban draw
ing-room. They gave me that pro-
nounced luxury, really good dinner.
and I spent most enjoyable evening
afterwards.
Miss Fairleigh and became friends
almost at once. l was drawn towards
her as much by her half-veiled shyness
and maidenly manner as by her rich
beauty. That which appealed to my
curiosity in connection with my visits
t" Rose Villa was my inability to fathom
Mr.. Sharp's motive in having retained
my services for his niece. She enjoyed
perfect health.
was requested by Mr.. Sharp to call
daily, and did so most tconscientiously;
but that Miss Fairleigh derived any ben
eft from my medicines Gf she took
them). l am not prepared to admit,
: though check, which was forced upon
me at an early date, was very accept
! able, and l could not afford to quarrel
with my bread and butter.
Three months passed away. was alb
surdly happy. suppose 1 must have
been "gone coon" from the first.
know that Twas now over head and ears
in love with Grace, and, although had
not divulged my secret to her by al
open proposal of marriage, she was not
ignorant as to how matters stood with
! me from n cardiac view, neither, as l
rightly gathered little later, was her
uncle.
: was only waiting for "looling up
wards" in my practice, to plead my love
with fervor and all the eloquence could
command. But the practice did not
"look up" Indeed, things financial
were becoming worse and worse with
J me- Bills rained down upon me with
monotonous regularity, and was be-
} coming desperate.
One evening, after had been dining
) with the Sharps, my host invited Inc
J into his study for q smoke. l felt that
something was in the wind, and my
; surmisal was not incorrect.
"You are looking gloomy tonight,
! Hardman." he remarked, after we had
: selected chairs and relapsed into COM
8 Portable attitudes. "You are in trouble
? in trouble financially, eh? know it,
: and you will find it to your advantage
. to lIe plain with me-"
/ hardly knew how to express N.Y.