The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-05-18

Aiou lac career MS glowing anClclpa-
tions had pictured in the happy old
college days. He had left the univer-
sity with a good degree, and his
chances OF ultimate success were most
highly estimated by those professional
friends who knew him best; but he
mad himself almost lost heart. He
looked every day with sinking spirits
and frightening face on his young
wife and son-now rapidly growing
BOY with portentous appetite, whom
ne must soon begin to think of placing
at school-and his heart sank lower
still one morning when the only wish
Tor to his surgery was a ragged mes
senger, who produced from his pocket
a dirty and muchfolded slip Of paper,
which, on being smoothed out, proved
to be only the usual parish order to
visit pauper patient in the poorest
quarter of the town. 1t looked just
like any other such as he was in the
daily habit Of receiving, and he glanced
at it almost mechanically as he an
swered:
Peter Ingram, 8 Paradise Row-ur-
gent Very we'll, shall be there in
about half an hour"
1t was not a promising duty, but it
was at least better than to sit
eating his own heart in the bitterness
of enforced idleness, as he had too Oft
en- been compelled to do of late; so,
waiting only to put his stethoscope and
thermometer in his pocket, he seized
his umbrella and started. The streets
through which he passed to his destin-
alton, each darker and dirtier and more
th!ckly studded with public houses
than the last, seemed to his morbid
fancy to symbolic his own position
and prospects. In one of the darkest
and dirtiest of all he stopped before
house even in such a neighborhood
was conspicuous for its neglected ap-
pearance. The paint had long ago
peeled in great patches off the door,
and more than half the panes of glass
were broken in the window, while the
remaining ones were perfectly Opaque
with dust and cobwebs. Nine out of
ten persons would have passed the
house as uninhabited, but DR.. Falconer
knew better. Finding his knock I'M
answered, he tried the latch, but the
door was locked. Again he raped
sharply, this time with the handle Of
his umbrella, and after a second repe-
tltion key grated in the lock, the
door opened three inches, and a gilt
tering eye, under a red bushy eyebrow,
sharply scrutinized him from behind
it. Then it closed again; he heard a
chain unfasten, the door was opened
just wide enough to admit him, and
closed, locked, and chained behind him
the moment he had entered.
Are you afraid Of thieves, my
friend?" said the doctor, glancing round
the four bare walls as we'll as the
light permitted. you need hardly be
nerovus on that score, think"
NO." said the man who had admit
ted him; lone who has parted with
the very last rag and stick he can
spare has at least that consolation.
Vacuus cantabit, you know. But
have still little pride left, and don't
like every one to see me in this
plight"
''Ah," said Falconer, catching him
by the arm to draw him near the light,
you have come down in the world,
then. Was it drink? Be frank with
me-
81 won't deny that drink began it, %
he answered, quietly. "But don't make
mistake, doctor; drink isn't the cause
of my present illness. I was once a
university man myself, and looking for
ward to a profession. Drink ruined
my prospects, and found myself a
private soldier instead. But pulled
up. I haven't tasted drink for many
years. An old wound received at Abu
Klea, and repeated doses of malaria
have brought me to my present condi-
ton"
Gam to understand, then" said the
doctor, that you are yourself the pa
tient l was sent for to see? Why are
you not in bed, then?"
Because there is no one to open the
door but myself. I am alone in the
house-and in the world. But when
you see my bed" he added, grimly,
you will not wonder that I like to
keep out Of it as long as can
'You ought to be in it now" said
the doctor, and, indeed, as he spoke
the man began to shiver and tremble,
and crying with chattering teeth, "Oh
-h-h! it's on me again!" clutched at
the solitary chair that stood in the
room,a and sat down in such a paroxysm
of shuddering that the floor shook be-
meath him, and the very window rat
tied in its frame. The doctor hastily
produced his hypodermic case, and
looked around in vain for jug Of
water, Opening a door behind him,
he stepped into room almost as bare
as the first, except that a heap Of rags
lay in one corner and a handful Of fire
smoldered In the rusty CRATE. A water
Jug and cup and plate stood upon
the floor close to the wall, but on lift
ing the jug he found it empty. Re
turning to his patient, he found the fit
had terminated in violent sickness.
my poor fellow said he. as soon
as this had subsidized, "you must 90 to
bed and have nurse to look after you
r sha II have ,o,, bon ~, tho IN frnnarv