The Opelousas courier., 1897-06-26

u : 9 6 &: & | !: {" E: IS: !: !; ! !: I: !: 81: 6 6 || + I ! !
M new apartment. "A wee
N 81 "a short time-and we
81 it seemed in the retro
SeeNN spect like an endles
: ~ succession Of days, eacl
ILL., one of which contained
~ the dreams and hopes O
an entire lifetime. For a whole weel
the white porcelain sign of a practic
ing physician had shone in splendo1
at the street entrance and upstairs or
the glass door of my neat little fiat.
For q whole week my small recep
ton room, with its dark curtains and
its straight backed chairs, had waiteG
for patients to avail themselves of the
advice and help of CDR. Max Err
hardt."
1t really did not surprise me- at all
that my Office was empty for q few
days, because, as I told myself, con,
solinely, the neighborhood must be-
come familiar with tho fact that it had
good medical advice right here in its
midst. After I had sentaway my first
patient completely cured, things would
assuredly be different. Then-after
my growing reputation had been an
nounced to the neighborhood, or
better still, to the whole city by a
crowd of patients in Office hours, as
we'll as by a neat little coupe, which a
dignifed coachman would drive
through the principal streets then,
yes, then And sol came to the dream
which occupied me most. I fancied my.
self again with my cousin Mary, who
certainly would fit the role of a doc.
tors wife most delightfully."-.
was in love with my little golden.
haired cousin. As a boy I had shown
her all those little knightly attentions
which are possible from the stronger
p~layfellow in the house and on the
playground. As a junior I had dedi.
Gated to her my first poem,. and as a
senior I had nearly ruinedm my uniformed
baritone voice by continually singing
about the "aaxen haired maiden"
When / came home, after passing my
first examination, the young medical
student became sure that the "aaxen.
haired maiden returned his love with
all her heart; yet not q word was
spoken.
Ny university course was finished.
Whenever I was working unusually
hard or fighting successfully the tire
soma battle of a final examination, in
spite of my preoccupation, my dear
Mary's eyes constantly in my
thoughts and seemed to be taking the
liveliest interest in the results of my
efforts. When my little cousin, greet
ing my homecoming. whispered softly,
"Doctor Erhardt," 1 looked deep into
her dear eyes and whispered, just as
softly, "Mrs. Doctor Erhardt." Then
I saw a bright blush pass over her face,
as she drew quickly back into the win.
dow niche.
In the following days I had oppor-
tunity to talk with Mary about all the
air castles which a young physician in
his empty Office has abundant time to
build ; but / did not venture yet to
discuss my dream of the future doc
tors wife. There lay at times in my
s~weetheart's blue eyes an expression
which drove the words back even when
they were trembling on my lips. Not
that 1 doubted in the least that Mary's
heart belonged Internationally to me ;
no, it seemed rather as if q lack of
confidence in my professional ability
lay in her glance, and my pride in
duced me to keep silent. until a re-.
port OF my first Independent case
shoald call forth Mary's full approba-
ton and unlimited confidence in my
chosen vocation.
l sat in my consulting room buried
in such thoughts as these on the after
noon of this dull November day., I
had barely heard the timid ring with
which some one begged admittanceaaI
rose to open tbs door in pla9o of the
little page whom I had seat on an
errand. During the few steps that I
had to take, I confess that I was over
whelmed by q flood of the widest
fancies. Here was a caller WIS needed
my help. OF course, it was an aristo-
cratic patient, with ringing praise,
and fame, and-ah, there I was again,
thinking Of the doctors wife.
I opened the door. A poorly.clad
woman stood before me in the dim
light of the late fall day. A pair of
great dark eyes looked b~eseechingly
ct me from q face thin and streaked
with coal dirt.
Doctor" she said, in a trembling
"oh, Doctor, be merciful. I
beg you! My little Mary is SO SICK"
That name atoned, TO some extent,
for the disappointment which the
woman's poverty-stricken appearance
had caused, for it did not harmonic
my recent dreams.
"Who are you? Who sends you to
me 2" I asked.
mo one sends me-" replied the
woman, softly and rapidly. "Oh,
do conc! Ever since morn
ing I've been carrying coal from the
Eagoa TO tho next house. I live over
,pposit. in the court. My child has
sick since yesterday. and I found
les So much worse when I hurried
homo fo- a minute just now"
! heEitated somewhat, tie disap.
'ointment was SO great. The woman
siped viii, her griny hand a face that
.l1oady showed the traces OF tears. |
The eobGcd painfully.
- suppose ! ought 10 ca!l In tho
doctor Int yoIr servant is d
on q the eoba!ss IN orr court, and