The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1903-12-16

lHaC was very clever cure
you effected In my friend Russel's
case"
"Thnt was nothing" l replied. "I
discovered that my predecessor In the
case had made mistake In his dag
nosis and was treating the patient for
an imaginary disease, thereby aggru-
vating the one from which he was real
~ suffering. l simply reversed the
treatment, whcrcupon the patient, who
Is Il man Of excellent constitution, be-
gnn to mend directly"
"You arc modest, dcctor," he said
laughlngly. "IIowcvcr. | have sul1i-
Client confidence In your Judgment to
ask your advice In Il somewhat deli
cate matter. The dcl!cacy lies In the
circumstance that the patient must be
kept in ignorance OF the fact that she
Is being observed. 1t Is my wife, Mrs.
SpringthorpC, to whom | refer. She
has been in failing health for some
time, but from what causc | cannot as.
certain. Our family physician. DR.. uol-
lister, in whom l place implicit trust,
rontcSScs himself entirely nt fault and
would BE very glad Of your opinion,
but Mrs. Springthorpc IS firm In her
refusal to see another physician. There
fore, you will have to conceal the real
object Of your visit under the guisc Of
friendship"
'Can you give me any idea Of the
symptoms" | asked.
Nothing but wasting away, fad
Ing from day to day, Il mysterious sap
ping OF the foundations OF vitality"
"lias DR.. lIolliSter formed any opin-
lonT"
"l1c IS inclined to believe that the
trouble is mental; that she has some
brain disease, or that she has Solnr-
'ninG on her mind the anxiety Of
" 'hich is killing her. Eut that, Of
course, we know to be imruSSiblc."
Il must confess that you have urous-
nj my professional curiosity" said,
III I shall be happy to SEQ Mrs.
1nEthOrpc and compare notes with
llolliStrr."
rhank you, doctor. As I have al
I,hdy intiAnatcd, 1t would not do for
yfH to come openly I'm your profcsson-
capacity, but shall be entertaining
NV friends Christmas week ut GRAY
Grange, my North Carolina coun-
plncr-you know we I've in Il very
let way, rs Mrs. Sprlhgthorpc does
s!rt care for town lifcrSe@ | shall he
~ glad if you wovtba Wake ono of
,.rm.'
Nothing could better .fs&Sain with my
own idras," replied. "F Nc ease pre-
s"iis any difficulty, l shRll be more
likely to arrive at Il correct opinion
from random obscrvntlonS.v
Every we'll, then, doctor; we shall ex-
pt tyou OH Monday"
Grnvclly Grange was II rcd brick cdi-
ficr faced with stone, In the style
kn. IN us colonial. Upon my arrival
had scarcely time to change my dress
when knock came ut my door, ana
Springthorpc entered.
II believe we tacitly agreed not to
discuss the real object Of your visit,
but / must express my great anxiety
for my wfc's health. l am afraid If
this mysterious disease Is not promptly
checked Mrs. Springthorpo Is not long
for this world. ! must tell you that we
arc an exceptionally airectionntc and
devoted couple, although + am nearly
twice her age, and the separation would
l." cruel blow to mo. AS we grow old
cr our attachments become stronger or
our ScnSibilitiCS more keen. Come; |
Will introduce you to Mrs. Spring.
thorpe"
One glance told ne as much as l
should probably ever know Of Mrs.
Springthorpc's case. In the cmaclatcd
lines OF her face read phthsis, and
there was q furtivc, hunted look In the
hat nj, i,,lx, ,>p IoI
trouble. | saw, too, that she WAS no
ordinary person.
l was surprised to detect q hccting
expression Of recognition at sight Of
me, but it passed 50 quickly that
should have thought myself mistaken
had not SpringthOrpc, also observing
1t, asked:
"lIAvc you two met hcforo?
"No," I replied; "at least not to my
recollection"
She smiled sweetly and extended her
hand.
"No," she said. "Dr. Norris and I
have never met"
At the sound Of hcr voice I started,
for there was tone which struck my
ear rs familiar: but. although | scrr-
" " ''i No"'''I'lllce, certainty ulu
not remember having seen that face.
Nov 1T is your turn to appear sur /
prlscd," said Springthorpc.
"Pardon me-" ] said, "but It seems to
me that | have heard Mrs. SPRING
thorpc's voice before. though under
what circumstances I have not the re.
motcst idea.' |
"llow singular!" said Springthorpc.
"rcrhaps DR.. Norris will presently
rccollect whose voice 1t Is Of which
''ilhe reminds him." Mrs. Sprlngthorpe