The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-05-08
THE
PROPOSAL
By LAMOTTE BkEE.

TALE way up the hill, on the main
road, crossing the small town of
Pertuis, stands the plain, comfortable
house of DR.. de st. Leonard, an old
country physician, celebrated miles
and miles around for his learning, his
zeal, his inexhaustible kindness, his
hump and his gig. The gig, an old-fash-
toned vehicle, is drawn alternately by
two venerable animals, Cocotte and ia
Vote, so much alike that were it not
that Cocotte's hair is grayish yellow
and Javotte's grayish brown, one could
not distinguish the one from the other
Going at their usual jog trot, that no
obiurgation, no castigation, can acccel-
crate, the doctor, who knows the use
lessness of his efforts, resigns himself
to the inevitable; once on the road he
rolls the reins around the whip, takes
out book and reads.
If you meet a hunchbacked little
man in an Anticipated gig drawn by
prehistoric animal, you have seen DR..
de St. Leonard. He has devoted him
self for more than forty years to the
arduous duties of country physician.
Plain featured, it is true, but look at
his eyes; they reveal a superior intel
lect, keen spirit, and above all di-
vine kindness that eliminates his
whole countenance.
John, the only son of the doctor, is
neither hunch-backed nor ill-fa-
vored; quite the contrary, indeed.
Having completed gloriously his med
ical studies in Paris, he renounced the
brilliant career opened to him in the
very capital, and preferred to assist
his father in his humble work of devo-
ton and charity. Tender-hearted, his
only ambition is to continue his
fathers mission of perpetual abnega-
ton, untiring and discreet generosity.
For John, the supreme glory is to
double, in this small place, the aztec
tion for the honored name he bears,
and to prolong, by the exercise of the
same qualities Us the old man, the
grateful popularity he enjoys.
So John came courageously and
cheerfully, burying himself in Pertuis
to attend patients at two francs a Wis
1t, following in everything the example
of his father, who never claimed a fee
from the poor, and often left a silver
coin under the prescription.
Thenceforth there were two Drs.
de st. Leonard at Pertuis. Everything
went on as before.
Javotte and Cocotte were at first
rather jealous of pretty Blanchette,
the young doctors nag, who in a most
reprehensible juvenile ardor dared to
pass them on the road.
The people had thus-happy people
two learned doctors and two good
men devoted to their welfare.
Happy people! l repeat it, for, be-
sides these two emeritus practitioners
they possessed the most active, the
most charming the most generous vol
unteer Sister Of Charity, Isabelle Du-
plessis, who resided in the sumptuous
villa on the hill. Her father, multi
millionaire, had gone to America when
quite young man and identified him
self with the country and advanced
business habits of the Americans. Re-
turning to France after a long absence
he introduced innovations and i'm
provements in the iron industry, and
amassed an immense fortune. His only
daughter, Isabelle, born and reared il
the United States, rode here and there
through the country, with American
independence, in her light phaeton
drawn by fleet ponies and accompanied
by little groom.
What a contrast with the old doctors
creaky vehicle!
Isabelle's drives took the direction
of the neighboring villas when polite
ness required it, but very often she
wendell her way to the poor's stray cot
tages on the road where she was
anxiously expected, giving abundantly
to everyone, conSoling the unfortun
ates, nursing the sick. They called hel
"Our Angel" There was JOY at Per
tuis and for many miles around wher
she returned from Paris for the sum
mer season.
She often met DR.. de St Leonard in
her charitable visits. Between the ole
doctor and the young girl in the bloom
of youth and beauty, their sprang, al
the bedside of the sick and the dying
a mysterious charity alliance, a friend
ship that amounted almost to adora
ton. Isabelle revered the humble
learned, devoted man who lived only
for others; he worshiped the golden
haired young girl, all sunshine ant
grace.
An old admirer of the classics, HI
compared her to a goddess descended
from Olympus to charm and assmag,
mans suffering at Pertuis.
When John began his medical cali
with his father what should naltur
ally happen, happened.
Meeting everywhere the young cir
who came to him as friend, sis ter--
admitted to the villa in perfect init
macy-hearing at home the eulogie
OF the old doctor in honor of the God
dess of Pertuis, John de St. Leonard
fell passionately in love with Isabelle
Deep love, the immense love of true