Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1900-03-15
: DR.. DOVILAND'S PATIENT s
L~~N~~~~~N>A
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

doctor. ne is determined not to get
wellr'
Determined. Ell?
Doctor Doviland uttered low. med
itative whistle as he stood with his
hands in his pockets. apparently in
tently occupied in scanning the pat
tern Of the tesselated marble floor in
the vestibule.
1t was a pretty Gothic cottage, mile
or so out of town, with terraced lawn
tiny circular fountain. all fringed
with water-lillies. and IL great walnut
tree, whose dropping boughs formed
a sort of natural tent above rustic
seat; while in the deep veranda can
airy birds warbled in gilded cages, and
stands of eXotics tossed crests of pearl
and crimson to and fro in the sweet
scented summer wind.
Mrs. Dilthrope, little rose-complex-
Toned woman, with shady brown eyes,
hair like the satin shell of Il chestnut
and sort of mouth red, and curved
and dimpled-that suggests an over
ripe strawberry in the woodland dell
stood looking at Doctor Doviland in n
troubled way. Doctor Doviland look
ed at the floor
Determined to die. is he?" said the
doctor, rubbing his nose. Wouldn't he
sit up little yesterday. according to
my directlons?
No, doctor" sighed the lady.
Nor eat a little chicken and wine
jelley?"
No" with tears glittering i'm her
shady hazel eyes-"not a mouthfull of
anything
Hes an obstinate donkey.'' cried out
Doctor Doviland, impetuously. AT
least y as he marked the effect his un-
premeditated words produced. he is
a very opinionated person. I'll go to
him al once"
And the doctor sprang up stairs two
steps ut a time, breathing very short
and fast, as his fashion was when
much excited.
The room was darkened: the lozenge-
shaped easements tightly closed. Not
breath of sweet summer air stirred
the eau-de-colOngne scented atmos-
phere of the apartment: not a cheer
full sound broke the brooding silence:
and for a minute or two, Doctor Dovi-
lands unaccutomed eyes could scarcely
penetrate the artificial dusk sufficient.
~ to perceive yellow. unshaven face
lying among wilderness of ruffled
pillows and two restless hands moving
over the coverlet
well, Mr.. Dilthrope," said the phy.
stefan, cheerfully. 'how do you find
yourself this morning?"
very poorly-very poorly indeed,
uQctor!' groaned the patient.
mo better, eh?"
Doctor" sighed Mr.. Dilthrope. 81
dare say you mean well; but it's mis-
taken kindness on your part to delude
me with further hopes. | know al
ready that l cannot get WE'LL
You are convinced Of that?" said
the doctor, thoughtfully. stroking his
chin, as he sat down i'm an easy-chair
beside the bed.
Externally so, Doctor Doviland."
The doctor was silent for some Sec
onds; then he suddenly burst out:
"Dilthrope, my good fellow. I'm glad
you have discovered this sad state of
things for yourself. 1t is one of the
most disagreeable parts of our profes-
sion to be compelled to tell people that
there is no hope for them.'
Mr. Dilthrope raised his head rather
apprehensively from the pillows.
You agree with me then, doctor. in
the diagnosisf' said he, family.
Il am compelled to do So" said Doc
tor Doviland, solemnly. "You and I
are both men of sense, Dilthrope.
There is no use In longer continuing
the farce Of medicines, diet and pre-.
scriptions."
And with his cane, the doctor whisk-
ed two or three walls off the stand up-
on the carpet as he spoke.
IL am not sure but that the tonic
might strengthen me little" remon.
strated the patient, winclng somewhat
mt the clink and crash of breaking
glass.
What Is the use Of artificial stimuli
us" brusquely demanded the doctor
mo, no, Dilthrope; leave Nature to
herself. II you must die, you must
and all the drugs In the pharmacopia
will not postpone the fatal moment
In the meanwhile, will go and breal
the news to your poor wife-widow,
may as well say"
And without waiting for further ar