The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-01-03
THE SURGEONS
VACATION. vv
Ho Went Away Tor Rest,
but Could Not Stop Benefit
ing Others.
BY:.... 90
w. r. ROSE.
BY,:....
W. r. ROSE.

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The great surgeon had come down to
Marion for rest and forgetfulness. He
had meant 70 20 where there was nci-
ther pain nor sorrow, IL such an Eden
existed, and he had come to Marion.
For one thing, 1t was not on a railroad;
for another, its diminutive size pre-
cluded the idea that the clanking
chains Of business life were about it.
1t was just q lazy little hamlet-a
church, a general store, score Of
struggling white bouses with green
blinds. and that was all.
Here the surgeon meant to bury him
self for his precious four weeks out
ing. He could have gone to Europe as
the guest of q millionaire had he said
the word. He knew he needed Marion
instead.
The great surgeon had been sadly
overworked. All through the summer
months lie had promised himself that
he would stop and rest. 1t was late in
September before he finally started.
He felt that his iron nerves were Civ
ing way, and one September morning
he noticed that the marvellous stcadi-
1883 VI a|i' SCOi IIuu WIS iii
paired. He knew then that he had
enough.
He went away with all the prccau-
tions Of defaulter. He left no ad-
dress. He desired no mail, no tele-
grams to follow him. For month he
meant to drop his professional exist
ence. He picked out his destination at
haphazard from the big map on his Of
fee wall He was influenced, as has
been said. by the fact that the little
village was off the line Of travel. He
bought his ticket for a point beyond
the railway town that was Marion's
nearest connection and then doubled
back.
"And now" he said, as he alighted.
valise in hand, from the mail stage
that brought him over. ''here's an end
to the surgeon shop. For n month Pm
somebody else. somebody who knows
no more Of struggling with human all
ments than he does Of throttling Thra-
clan gladiators."
He hadn't even brought profession
nj card with him.
A half hour later he was comfortably
lodged in the upper front room Of the
Widow Gilette's cOZy cottage, with a
wonderful view Of smiling hillsides
and tinted woods and blue and white
sky from its extremely clean windows.
He had told the widow that his name
was Thomas Brown and that he was n
worn out travelling man who had come
to Marion for rest and quiet. Where
was he from? From Braceville, and
he named the railway town to which
he had purchased his ticket when he
ran away from the big CITY,
"Much sickness in Braceville" in
quired the widow.
The surgeon shuddered
II don't know" he said shortly and,
taking his hat, went out for a stroll.
AS he passed down the maple powered
highway beyond the row Of houses,
kicking the rcd and gold drifts of
leaves rs he family remembered doing
when he was boy in that faraway
Iowa village. he noticed lame man ap-
proaching. The man walked with a
crutch. one Of his legs being bent stifIly
ut the knee. He was CHEEKY faced
old man in faded blue blouse with
brass buttons.
"Mornin, SQUIRE" he said. with true
rural affnbility
"a fine morning." said the great sur
geon, resoluteIy looking away from the
stiffened knee.
"Not from my rheumatism's pint Of
view," .chucklcd the old man.
rheumatism, eh?' said the surgeon.
81 thought 1t might have been a gun
Shot wound" The lame man had halt
ed, and the surgeon felt that he was
called upon to say something.
"N0. sir" said the lame man, with
much emphasis. II went thro' TIL
war without scratch. Got into Il
pitched battles an came out ag'in sound
as dollar. Uncle Sam don't owe me
nothin. No, sir. Mornin." and hf.
sturdily plodded along.
The sugeon smiled ut the old mans
,vatemonce. Then. as ;ie looked Duck
at his pain cramped figure, he sighed.
Somehow the sunshine didn't seem
quite so bright.
He walked lonr enough to win good
not exnctly agreeable to poor ncnz.
Lady Adelheid was to marry again, SO
ran the story, and it sounded in the
young fellows ears like the tolling of
funeral bell. N
Then Heinz locked his house door
and made his way toward the castle
and as lie went murmured all kinds OF
!, things between his teeth that sounded
not like prayer. "A
u When he reached the foot OF, the cas-,
tic hill. where the winding rond led up
ward, he heard hoof strokes and a sil;e I
very laugh that cut him TO the soul like
5a double edged blade, ara down 1hes
way caine the lndy or the castle riding
7x