The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-09-08

trellis; now he would draw all sorts OF
fancies on the path with the end OF
his cane; now he would go down and
watch the river running epdlessly past
the timber landing-place at which he
moored his boat. There was no time,
he used to say, for making theories like
the early morning. II rise earlier than
any one else in the village" he once
boasted. 1T is fair consequence that
know more and wish to do less with
my knowledge"
The doctor was a connoisseur of sun.
rises. and loved good theatrical effec,
to usher in the day. He had a theory
OF dew. by which he could predict the
weather. Indeed, most things served
him to that end: the sound of the bells
from all the netghboring villages. the
smell of the forest. the visits and the
behavior Of both birds and fishes, the
look OF the plants in his garden, the
disposition of cloud, the color Of the
light, and last. although not least, the
arsenal OF meteorological instruments
IN a louvre boarded hutch upon the
lawn. Ever since he had settled at
Gretz, he had been growing more and
more into the local meteorologist, the
unpaid champion Of the local climate.
He thought at first there was no place
so healthful in the reimbursement, BY
the end of the second year, he pro.
tested there was none so wholesome in
the whole department. And for some
time before he met Jean-Marie he had
been prepared to challenge all France
and the better part of Europe for a
rival to his chosen spot.
Doctor" he would say doctor is
a foul word. 1t should not be used to
ladies. 1t implies disease. I remark
1t, as flaw in our civilization that we
nave not the proper horror of disease.
Now l, for my part, have washed my
hands of it; have renowned my laur.
cation; l am no doctor; I am only a
worshiper of the true goddess Hygeia.
All, believe me, it is she who has the
ceslus. And here, in this exiguous
hamlet. has she placed her shrine; here
she dwells and lavishes her gifts; here
l walk with her in the early morning,
and she shows me how strong she has
made the peasants, how fruitful she
has made the fields, how the trees grow
up tall and conlely under her eyes, and
the fishes in the river become clean
and agile at her Observation-Disclosures
tlsm'' he would cry, on some malapert
interruption. 30, yes l believe we do
nave a little rheumatism. That could
hardly be avoided, you know, on a
river. And of course the place stands
little low; and the meadows are
marshy, there's no doubt. But my
dear sir, look at Bourron! Bourron
stands high. Bourron is close to the
forest; plenty of ozone there, you would
say. Well, compared with Gretz. Bour-
ron is perfect chambles."
The morning after he had been sum.
moned to the dying mountebank, the
Doctor visited the wharf at the tail of
his garden, and had long look at the
running water. This he called prayer;
but whether his alterations were adj
dressed to the goddess Hygeia or some
more orthodox deity, never plainly ap-
peared. For he had uttered doubtful
oracles, sometimes declaring that
river was a type of bodily health,
sometimes extolling it as great moral
preacher, continually preaching peace,
continuity, and diligence to mans tor
mented spirits. After he had watched
mile or so of the clear water running
by before his eyes, seen a fish or two
come to the surface with a CLEAN of
silver, and sufficiently admired the long
shadows of the trees falling half across
the river from the opposite bank with
patches of moving sunlight in between,
he strolled once more up the garden
and through his house into the street,
feeling cool and renovated.