Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1901-11-28


With this was the perpetual remem-
brance that subtle malady, beyond the
reach of our skill. was slowly eating away
his life. The man l ahhorred; but tie
sufferer, myster;ously linked with the
memories which clunc about my mother'
aroused my most urgent. Instructive com.
passion. Only once before had watched
the conflict between disease and IT'S relii-
edy with SO intense an interest.
1t was day or two after consulta-
ton that l came accidentally upon the
little note book which l had Kept III
Guernsey--a private no.c book. accessi-
BILE only to myself. 1t was night; jack
as usual. was gone out, ana was alone
l turned over the leaves merely for list
less want of occupation. All at once
came upon an entry, made in connection
with my mothers illness, which recalled
to me the discovery believed had
made Of a remedy for her disease, had 1t
only been applied in its earlier stages
1t had slipped out of my mind. hut now
my memory leaped upon it with irresistl-
bit force.
l must tell the whole truth. however
terrible and humiliatng it may be.
Whether I had been true or false to my
self up to that moment cannot say.
had taken upon myself the care and, II
possible, the cure of this man, who was
my enemy, if l had an enemy in the
world. His life and mine could not run
parallel without great grief and hurt to
me, and to one dearer than myself. Now
that a better chance was thrust upon me
in his favor, shrank from seizing it with
unutterable reluctance. l turned heart
sick at the thought of it.
Yes, l wished him to die. Conscience
flashed the answer across the inner
depths of my soul, as glare of lightning
over the sharp crags and cruel waves or
our island in midnight storm. l saw
with terrible distinctness that thcre had
been lurking within sure sense OF salts
faction in the certainty that he must die.
took up my note book, and went away
to my room, lest Jack should come in sud-
denly and read my secret on my face.
thrust the book into drawer in my
desk, and locked it away, out Of my
sight.
1t seemed cruel that this power should
come to me from my mothers death. II
she were living still, or If she had died
from any other cause, the discovery or
this remedy would never have been made
by me. And l was to take it as sort
of miraculous gift. purchased by her
pangs, and bestow it upon the only man
l hated. For | hated him; l said so to
myself.
But it could not rest at that. l fought
a battle with myself all through the quiet
night, motionless and in silence, lest Jack
should become aware that l was not
sleeping. How should l ever face him,
or grasp his hearty hand again, with such
a secret weight upon my soul? Yet how
could resolve to save Foster at the cost
of booming Olivia to a lifelong bondage
should he discover where she was. or 10
lifelong poverty should she remain con-
cealed? If were only sure that she
was alive. 1t was for her sake merely
that | hesitatcd.
The morning dawned before could de-
eide. The decision, when made, brought
no feeling of relief or triumph to me.
AS soon as it was probable that DR..
Senior could see me, was at his house
at Fulham: and in rapid, almost incoher-
ent words laid what l believed to be my
important discovery before him. He sat
thinking for some time, running over in
his own mind such cases as had como
under his own observation. After a
while gleam of pleasure passed over
his face. and his eyes frightened as he
looked at me.
II congratulate you, Martin" he said.
Though l wish Jack had hit upon this.
believe it will prove real benefit to
our science. Let me turn it over little
longer, and consult some of my col
leagues about it. But think you are
right. You are about to try it on poor
FOSTER"
"Yes," answered, with chilly sensa-
ton in my veins.
1T can do him no HARM" he said, "nnl
in my opinion it will prolong his life to
old age. if he is careful Of Aimself. l
will write paper on the subject for the
Lancet, if you will allow me-"
with all my heart said sadly.
The old physician regarded me for a
minute with his keen eyes, which had
looked through the window of disease
into many a human soul. | shrank from
the scrutiny. but | need not have done
So lie grasped my hand firmly and
closely.
"God bless you. Martini" he said, God
bless you.'
went straight from Fulham to Bell
ringer street \ healthy impulse to full
fill all my duty, however difficult. was in
it's first fervid moment of action. New
ertheless there was subtle hope within
me founded upon one chance that was
left-it was just possible that Foster
might refuse to be made the subject of
an experiment: for an experiment it was.
sat down beside him, and told him
what l believed to be his chance of life;
not concealing from him that proposed
to try. if he gave his consent. mode Of
treatment which had never been practic-
ed before. His eye, keen and sharp MS
that Of lynx, seemed to read my
thoughts as DR.. Seniors had done.
Martin Dobree." he said, in voice so
different from his ordinary caustic tone
that it almost startled me. IL can trust
you. put myself with implicit conf
dence into your hands"
The last chance-dare l say the last
hope ?-was gone. stood pledged on my
honor as a physician, to employ this dis