The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-09-02


IN genial place for a city bred man ;
and John Vaughan, Phi. D., rue
fully admitted the fact to himself as he
hurried along in the direction of the hotel.
The storm, however, was not to be baked
of little sport. A spatter OF heavy drops
caught him just as he was passing charm
ing little garden with handsome country
house for back ground. His look of dis
may caught the eye of young lady on the
porch, and q movement on her part was
quickly interpreted as an invitation to
come under shelter There he found with
the young lady, one we'll on in middle life
and presumably the mother.
care you wet, sir" inquired the elder
lady, with some anxiety, after due saluta-
ton on his part and introductions.
''Not at all, he replied but | am
very grateful to you for the kind invitation
to come in out OF the rain
"Such experiences are apt to endauger
ones health continued She rehectively.
81 am sure my heart would not for the
occasional exposure l suffer il attending
my daily duties. Are you a professional
man, may ask %
81 am sometimes addressed as Doctor
Vaughan" lie suggested, with Il modest
smile.
''Ah then l need not tell you how to
care for yourself Have you given any
study to special lines Of medicine?'
"Er-well, heart troubles have been my
chief concern" yentured Vaughan, feeling
that an explanation would be awkward,
and wondering how far he would get into
hot water through lack OF it. 'Confound
it," he reflected, ''all doctors are not ply
sicians l've made break, and now I'll
have to see this thing through. AT any
rate it is worth a little embarrassment to
meet that divinity over there"
"Indeed, Pm glad to know that" Mrs.
Dorrack said with a degree of enthusiasm,
leaving Vaughan to wonder whether she
meant to answer what he said or what he
thought 81 have suffered several years
have the opinion of specialist All the
physicians who have examined me hitherto
assert that am laboring under delusion !;
but know better
Vaughan at this point yentured glance
at the younger lady. 1t was not the first,
by any means, since his arrival, though no
chance had offered to address her. Now he
caught quizzical smile on her face as she
half turned away. 1t was not meant for
him, but it gave him a slight clue to the
situation one he was not slow to take.
With q show of interest he turned to Mrs
Dorrack.
at would give me great pleasure to ex-
anime the state of your heart" he SAID,
speaking to her while he glanced at the
daughter. "Permit me to ask a question
or two: Are you sleepless at night? Does
the constant fear of something indefinite
weigh on your mind? Are you always
conscious of your heart beating?"
These questions, to ali of which his host
ess gave ready answer, were, as nearly as
he could reoolect, usual quack medical
questions, of any rate, certainly safe. As
sured that she had all of these symptoms
and as many more as he could recall and
depend upon, he felt her pulse, commented
upon that and the general state of her
health in strictly technical terms and then
said
81 must admit that your heart needs
treatment, though the trouble is not of q
serious nature. You will need careful at
tendance. | should advise you to retire
and rest while this thunder storm is in
progress. The atmospheric conditions are
not at all suited to your state of health"
Mrs Dorrack turned to her daughter
with complacent smile.
81 told you, dear, that the doctors were
wrong and that needed specialist. |
shall certainly put myself under the care Of
Doctor Vaughan. Then, assuring herself
that the doctor would call on the morrow,
she went upstairs in happy mood, pleased
with the thought that her disease was no
myth.
After she had gone Vaughan, with feel
ing of mingled relief and dread, looked
cautiously in the direction of Miss Dorrack
That young lady was certainly worth q
specialist study, and he felt his specials
tic tendencies coming to the front. Finally
she broke the silence by asking
"Are you a divinity doctor, Mr.. Vaug
han? 2"
"No," said Vaughan, with little ner-
vousness and malediction on her acute
ness.
"Have you ever been in love?" was her
next startling question.
"Well," he replied cautiously, II don't