The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-27
Maybury's Repentance.


uOclofs say ne ftfndfheu df nlS I'M
portanty jovial way. He was tall.
dogmatic, well DRESSED man OF thirty
something. Point OF fact. I've never
had occasion to see one before, but"
You are fortunate. Mr.. Maybury.
Won't you sit down.
doesn't get on In life by sitting down.
My motto is 10 keep going"
Most OF us have 10 pull up now and
again. The human frame"
Look here remarked the city man
truculentfy, you're not going TO
frighten me. Although I've had little
to do with you medical men, / know
there are two sets OF you; the optimists
and the pessimists. Some OF you are
too sanguine. and others are not SAN
guine enough. but none OF you tell the
precise truth"
"A medical man." said the doctor,
trying 10 preserve his temper, has to
use discretion. a medical man who
blurted out the actual truth might well
be doing his patients a good deal OF
harm. You must allow us, my dear
sir, TO know our own business best
That's just what / shall not do"
cried Maybury, with vehemence.
There's more of humbug among you
doctors than--than-"
Than on the Stock Exchange?"
Than in any other profession. Those
OF you who are not sheer quacks-"
Really, Mr.. Maybury," said the doc
tor. offended, "you must allow me to
say"
Are you a specialist in this trHing
Lot. I
No" replied the doctor, shortly,
I'm not"
Then give me-" said Maybury, "a
note 10 the man at the top OF the tree,
and I'll go on there in my cab like
shot"
The doctor was sorry to lose sight so
quickly OF an important client, but Mr..
Mayburys aggressive manner had not
pleased him, and even doctors. careful
as they are 10 cloak the fact, have their
sensitive moments. He scribbled a
note. Mr.. Maybury laid on the table
an admirable fee. and taking the letter
ran out to"his cab.
Two. five, two Harley street" he
shouted.
Right you are sir" said the cabman.
When the cab stopped at one OF the
large houses in Harley street, which
bore. like all it's neighbors, square
brass plate on the open door, he went
hastily through the hall, and, without
going into the waftfng-room, opened
a side door. A stout, fiorid man was
seated at the table reading the adver-
tisements in the British Medical Jour
nal. Mr.. Maybury. banged his silk
hat down on the table and shook hands.
''My names Maybury," he said, de-
livering the note. Here's my card. A
meeting OF directors is waiting for me
at Cannon Street Hotel; i can only
spare five minutes Now, just run over
me. DIR. Jeyeson, as sharp as ever you
can. and give me prescription
First give me your symptoms"
Mr.. Maybury described them. A feel
ing OF depression in the evening; slight
insomnia; absence OF appetite. The
forid man eyed him seriously and held
his wrist for few moments.
II may as well tell YOU" went on
Maybury, with burst OF frapkness.
that i am to be married in few
months to a very charming girl; dare
say you have seen the announcement
in the papers. Miss Tearle. daughter
OF that 1rishman who lost all his money
in the"
"Mr. Maybury!" The stout. Horid
man came round and stood with his
back to the fireplace. Il have an i'm
portant announcement TO make to you.
Your engagement must be cancelled.
"Oh. no." said Maybury, with a ges-
ture OF protest. THAT be hanged.
Shed 20 and marry some one else. and
they wouldn't have .sixpence between
them. / couldn't allow her TO endure
that fate, Dr. Jeyeson."
II have nothing To do with the lady,"
he said with gravity. II am only con-
cerned with you. You are suffering
medical men as" Maybury did not
catch the phrase. "It is my duty to tell
you, sir, that" he coughed and lowered
his voice. "that you have but a few
days To live"
Arthur Mayburs half fell. half sat on
the nearest chair. His face went very
white; his lips moved. but not sound
came.
SERIOUS news to tell a man, know.
but It's best that you should know the
truth. What 1 recommend Ia that you
should 60 10 the Riviera at once" May
bury calculated something in a whis-
per. "Ah, it's Of no use damntng the
Riviera. That won't help you. You get
away by tonight's mall without saying
word about your condition to any
body, and take the few days remain
ing OF your life as quietly and as calm
ly as you can, BE sure not TO talk of
IL; that Will only increase the excite
ment and 'asten the hend-I mean to
say hasten the end
Are you--are you sure OF this, DIR.
Jeyeson9'' stsmmered Maybury.
81 am not in the habit OF making
mistakes"
What II the time now?"
'The hour Is now o'clock. You have
seven hours in which to make your ar
rangements." 54
And cant You give me prescrip-
ton or anythingY"
my dear sir. pray be reasonablel
Yours IN no case for prescriptions.
There was a. pause. Maybury looked
stupdly at a portrait of Sir James Pa
get on the walls without seeing IL; his
adviser drummed At the mantclpiece
impatiently.
''what--whst II your fee. DIR. Jeye-
son? shall give your man . check"
Twenty guineas, n you please. Per-
haps you will leave IL there on the
table. Either gold OF notes"
With trembling hand Mr.. Maybury
counted out the amount.
"Twenty-ohe sovereigns." he said
thickly. Rather lot OF money to
pay for being told that ones not going
10 live q week. isn't H?''
"IiI see you 70 the door myself Mr..
Maybury. And. above all. don't speak
Of this to a soul. Make a.. beg your