The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-05-04
The Loyalty of Dr.. Penrose.

the class for his cowdrdly assault on tlG
new boy Phil Penrose, the two had
been the stanchest OF friends, albeit they
were quite unlike in temperament and
| disposition. Philip was quiet, studious
reserved, and somewhat delicate. whils
John was big, athletic. impulsive. and
although naturally bright. impatient OF
study Each found in the other some
quality to admire and emulate. Both
youths fitted for Harvard, and were loya
chums throughout their university course
That finished, however, their paths in life
separated. Philip studied medicine and
became successful practitioner in MS
native New England town. John adopt
ed business career, connecting himself
with a Chicago firm of which his uncle
was a member. But their friendship di1
not end with their separation. They cor
responded regularly, keeping each other
in touch with their affairs. John fell in
love with the dearest girl in the world
and married her. but Philip, who for
some reason had always disiiked and
avoided women, remained a bachelor
the despair alike Of maneuvering nam
mas and scheming spinsters.
About two years after Johns marriage
Philip was stunned at receiving q letter
from his friend, apprising him of the fact
that his wife had left him for no other
reason than that they had quarreied, and
that John, in a moment of temper, had
said something for which ne was after
wards sorry. The shock to Philip was all
the greater for the reason that, UP to
that moment, he had believed Johns
marriage to be as ideally happy as any
marriage could possibly be, and the
news had the effect of deepening his
constitutional dislike and distrust for wo-
men
It was about six months after learning
of Johns marital misfortune that DR..
Penrose called one day 10 attend pa
tient on a neighboring street 1t proved
to be a young widow named Mrs. FELTON,,
residing with Their mother, and evidently
a newcomer TO the neichborhoou. He
saw that she was seriously i'll, and show
ed marked symptoms of pneumonia, and
also that she was laboring under strong
nervous excitement. II was needless to
say that DR.. Penrose treated her to the
best of his professional skill, and with
such success that by the next day there
was a marked Improvement in her con-
dition. He found his new patient and
her mother to be extremely reticent
about their affairs, yet during his at
tendance on the former he learned that
she formerly lived in a western city; that
her husband had died recently, leaving
her in straitened circumstances, and
that she had come asst in the hope OF
obtaining employment as q teacher or
governess. He decided, however. that
her illness was aggravated by some Sc
rious mental trouble. Of The net'ue of
which he was ignorant
It is possible that Mrs. Felton's reciv-
cry was less rapid and less complete
than it should have been, all things con-
sidered; at all events, Philip continued 20
call on her long after one would have
supposed there was any need OF his pro-
fessional services. Perhaps II was be-
cause the doctor was but a man after
all, and therefore could not be blind 20
the fact that his mysterious patient was
a handsome young woman With a pecu-
liar charm of manner; yet greater beau
ties than Mrs. FELTON, had smiled uIon
him without ever quickening his pulse.
Perhaps it was the appealing sadness in
her large. dark eyes that attracted him;
perhaps 1t was the unwavering reserve
and dignity Of her manners and tne fact
that there was not a trace of coGuetry
about her. for the doctor had a horror CT
coquetry, and until recently had believed
it to be a dominant feminine trait.
The upshot of the matter was that Or.
Philip Penrose, without having airy GER
tain knowledge of Mrs. Felton's past life,
asked her to be his wife, and was firmly
refused. Pressed for reason, she an
swered that she did not love him. To
which he calmly replied that, as she was
the only woman he ever would or could
love, he intended TO win her affection,
and was willing to wait years. If need
be, to attain that result. Philips deter
atf 81
ply from Mrs. FELTON,, and che finally adj
mitted that there was an insurmounta-
BILE obstacle TO their union in thataher
husband was not dead. but living.
Quivering like a stricken deer under
the blow, Philip began involuntarily
piecing together in his mind certain
ideas, the chief of which was that Felton,,
had been the maiden name Of Johns
wife, and of a sudden the awful truth
flashed upon him. John Carleton-he is
your husband?" he said, huskily. For
answer she burst into uncomfortable
weeping. When little calmer she told
her story: of how John had begun 10
entertain an unreasonable Jealousy of
her; of how they had quarreled, and that
he had said words TO her that her pride
could not brook, and OF how, in a mo-
ment of madness, she had gone away
determined never to live with him again;
of her subsequent repentance Of her
rash act, and Of how pride and shame
had kept her from returning to him.
Whatever may have been the state Of
Philip Penrose's mind that night as he
sat in his study his pen newell faltered
in the message IL was writing 10 John
Carleton. The answer that came by re-
turn post was to the effect that John
Carleton utterly reDudiated his wife; he
never would forgive her desartion Of him
and was about TO seek a divorce.
And so there came TO Philip Penrese
the greatest temptation of his life. All
through the long, weary night he wres-
tied with it. and when morning came IL
found him aged and worn. but with
grim, determined look on his face. Into
the letter that was 10 plead for the honor
and happiness Of the two Beings he
loved best on earth he threw all the elo-
quence and passion OF which he was ca
pable. With what magical power he
wrote may be judged by the reply:
"Dear Old Boy: You have conquered.
You have shown me plainly wherein 1
was wrong and the way 70 happiness
again. I long 10 clasp my wife in my
arms. God bless you, Philip"
And Philip? Well. be is one Of the
ablest physicians OF the day and aas
amassed a fortune. His hair and shaggy
beard are quite gray now, and he IS stu
a bachelor. But, standing on his desk
in a heart-sAaQe6 frame. there is a pic
ture Of a young girl whose dark eyes
bear a singular resemblance u those OF
Joint wife. Il may De that & Is while
gazing abstractedly at the counterfeit
presentuert Of Miss Carletou's ri-lish
beauty, and sometimes pressing & fondly
to his lios that he finds Inspiration FOR
the brilliant and learned tree'ises wltA
which he challenges the admiration ~
the medical md scientific wor5d--Bozton
Post.