Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-19


Q am not going to lead up to my story
gracefully, for when you have learned that
my name is George Manning and that was.
at the time the thing happened, visiting my
married sister in one Of the liveliest rough
est and most altogether corrupt mining
towns to which a lady of culture was ever
carried by an adoring husband you know
all that 1t is needful you should know OF me,
prior to my little burst OF notoriety.
My sister was very proud of me-whether
Justly or unjustly am not prepared to say
and Immediately on my arrival began
flooding her house with all the single ladies
for miles around in the hope, l was well
aware, that some one of the undeniably fine
creatures would tempt me to desert my busi-
ness in the east and set up for family man
on some one of the ranches or in some mine
which in the form of doweries hung about
the persons of these already alluring young
things.
| had no intention OF following out her
secret desires but | had not the slightest
objection to making myself as agreeable as
mature would permit, and all went smoothly
until enc day / awoke to the fact that
severe pain was rackng at my lower jaw,
which, finding itself unable to contain this
pain within ordinary limits had swelled
itself up to degree shocking to behold.
sister was perfectly brutal in her comments
my appearance, and made 1t plain
that she expected me to keep out of sight
of the numerous callers with which her
house was always thronged that l skulked
about all that day like some forlorn leper,
large bandage about my head and very
displeasing ointment imparting a pungent
odor to my entire person.
Night came and was no better. Ny sister
became desperate. There was nothing for it
Il must be lanced. The pain had stopped
by this time and | pleaded delay, but was
scornfully refused. | hinted at rebellion and
then my fears were meanly played upon.
Who could tell but that my disorder might
be some deep-seated affection of the bone?
laughed softly at this but was promptly
frowned down. DR.. A. must be seen. He
knew everything.
well, send for him them"
But no-he must not be sent for; he was
in delicate health | must go to him.
What! In this high wind | was in deli
cate health myself
Nonsense There was nothing the matter
with me.
Then why go for doctor?
l will not write down all my pitiful efforts
at logic with woman, and that woman a
sister l went, of course, an unsightly mass
OF shawls in a close carriage, and after a
long drive, during which l went to sleep,
i was admitted into the presence of the most
disagreeable man l ever met--none other
than the great doctor himself who was
eating what smeled like very poor soup,
out of large bowl, and who insulted me
the momentEI explained my business. 1
was pitifully servile, but to no purpose l
abused myself in bitter terms; 1 jeered at
my own folly in supposing my case worthy
OF his notice, but l could not soften his
judgment by "a hairs breadth. / meanly
laid my indignity at my sisters door, and
told him as mirthfully as possible that she
had feared some trouble with the bone.
For answer he drove a lancet in my swollen
jaw to it's very hilt, and stopped my speech
with my own blood.
l could have shrieked aloud but for the
contempt in his eye, and then he called my
trouble gum boil as the most atrocious
thing he could lay his tongue to, and while
the cold sweat of pain was drying on me
] handed him large bill, from which got
no change.
1 should have been gone in a moment, and
what did happen never would have hap
pened, but my bandages kept me. While 1
stood in the cold hall fumbling with them,
another patient, or at least. another caller,
entered. Not meek detected figure this
time, with his head tied up in shawls but
a great aggressive creature in huge coat,
with a heavy stamping step and smell
OF new leather about him, which probably
came from his long wristed driving gloves.
He paid no attention to me; indeed he could
scarcely have seen me | stood so far back
in the shade, but strode on into the presence
of the doctor. leaving the door open and
having a general air of hurry and impa- |
thence.
1T is all going down just as 1t happened so
] may as well confess that l was conscious
of sudden vulgar curiosity as to the recep-
tion of my successor.
,"Dr. A., l beleve!' exclaimed the new
conner in the loud, aggressive tone affected
by the hack driver and travelling Snowman !
and then stopped-which was more than the |
doctor did. for he kept on with his soup,
rattling the spoon against his false teeth at
each mouthful with a vindictive, stabbing
movement. Well" he snarled at length |
setting down the empty bowl and fixing the |
man with savage scowl, What's the |
matter with ou?-Have you got gum boil !
too?' This last with contempt unutterable |
This was too much! OF course the new |
conner knew nothing of me and our trouble
so was ignorant of the creatures meaning; |
but remembering the pain of that boil, II I |
must so call It, l felt that 1t should have
received more respectful treatment, and ri
was on the verge of doing something rash,
when the doctor again surprised me-
"Shut that door!" he screamed but
whether at me or my successor, / could not |
tell. Evidently the man thought that he
was addressed, for, muttering an exclama-
tion not strictly moral he closed the door
with bang that made me wink.
| came TO myself at that, and, little
ashamed of lurking there, / finished my
bundling hastily and withdrew with stateli-
ness. My carriage was waiting for me Just
where | had left 1t, which should have
surprised me, considering that | had told
the man not to wait, as felt inclined for
some exercise after my days retirement.