The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-05-05

bne dreams ana hopes o
an entire lifetime. For whole weel
the white porcelain sign OF practic
ing physician had shone in splendoI
at the street entrance and upstairs OIL
the glass door of my neat little fiat.
For a whole week my small recep
tion room, with its dark curtains anC
its straight-backed chairs, had waited
for patients to avail themselves of the
advice and help OF CDR. Max Err.
hardl."
1t really did not surprise me at ali
that my Office was empty for q few
days, because, as told myself, con,
solingly, the neighborhood must be
come familiar with the fact that it had
good medical advice right here in it.
midst. After l had sent away MP FIRST
patient completely cured; things would
assuredly be different. Theu-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
well as by neat little coupe, which O
dignitied coaohman would drive
through the principal streets then,
yes, then And so came to the dream
which occupied me most. fancied my.
self again with my cousin Mary, who
certainly would fit the role of doc.
tors wife most delightfully."-.
l was in love with my little golden.
haired cousin. As boy had shown
her all those little knightly attentions
which are possible from the stronger
playfellow in the house and on the
playground. AS junior I had dedi-
Gated to her my first poem, and as q
senior | had nearly ruined my uniformed
baritone voice by continually singing
about the "haxen. haired maiden. y
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 a word was
spoken.
My university course was finished.
Whenever l was working unusually
hard or fighting successfully the tire
soma battle of final examination, in
spite of my preoccupation, my dear
Mary's eyes were 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," looked deep into
her dear eyes and whispered, just as
softly, "Mrs. Doctor Erhardt." Then
1 saw bright blush pass over her face,
as she drew quickly back into the win
dow niche.
In the following days had oppor.
tunity to talk with Mary about all the
air castles which young physician in
his empty Office has abundant time to
build; but l did not venture yet to
discuss my dream of the future doe
tors wife. There lay at times in my
sweetheart's blue eyes an expression
which drove the words back even when
they were trembling on my lips. Not
that l doubted in the least that Mary's
heart belonged uuconditionally to me
no, it seemed rather as if a lack of
confidence in my professional ability
lay in her glance, and my pride in
duced me to keep silent, until re.
port of my first independent case
should call forth Mary's full approba-
tion 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.
had barely heard the timid ring with
which some one begged admittance. /
rose to open the door in place of the
little page whom l had sent on an
errand. During the few steps that 1
had to take, L confess that l was over
whelmed by flood of the widest
fancies. Here was caller who needed
my help. OF course, 1t was an aristo-
cratic patient, with ringing praise,
and fame, and-ah, there was again,
thinking of the doctors wife.
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 beseechingly
at me from a face thin and streaked
with coal dirt.
Doctor" she said, in trembling
voice; "oh, Doctor, be merciful, /
beg you My little Mary is so sick. 4"
That name atoned, to some extent,
for the disappointment which the
woman's poverty stricken appearance
had caused, for it did not harmonic
with my recent dreams.
"Who are you? Who sesilg you to
me?" 1 asked.