The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-07-11
HIS FIRST
 PATIENT


 her presents. Nevertheless she would nsten to none of them when they spoke of love. The reason for this was that Henry Brownel, the son of a retired banker, who lived near her home, had' long before he had a right tO think Of marriage. asked her to be hls wife. Then he had gone east to college and lfter that had studied medicine inPhil- ldelphla. Henry had written Ethel regularly during his first year at col leee. irregularly the second year and only occasionally after that While he attended medical lectures he did not write at all.
 Henry had shown fair ability in col lege. but when he became student of medicine it was plain that he possessed a remarkable aptitude for that profes- sion. The fame of his great promise spread abroad. and, having relatives In the Quaker City. he became a fayorite socially. The girls he had met while in college began to seem very plain people to him compared with the high bred James of Philadelphia, while his for ner country sweetheart seemed a very low order of being. A marriage with her seemed out Of the question. But what could he doJ He labst return home for awhile after finishing his medical course and must meet Ethel Before being graduated he received very datterlng offer 10 become the as- distant of noted surgeon and wrote bis father that he would remain m Philadelphia. entering upon his duties as soon as he had taken his degree.
 While be was mlngllng with the elite of an aristocratic city Ethel remained the same plain country girl, with the same sweet. unprctcntious bearing the same true heart. She was beloved by every one who knew her and would still have been sought in marriage had she consented to listen Co proposals. Such girls do not give their hearts and take them back easily. Ethel was much troubled by her lovers treatment and when he did not return after hay- ing been graduated she realized that he had passed beyond her. She neither wrote upbraiding him nor spoke a word to his dlscrcdlt. She told her parents that Henry was right His social sta ton had always been above hers, and' now having met the refined people of a great city, she could not hope that he would prefer her Co her more refined rivals. Then she burst Into passion of tears and ran away to her room.
 From that day she was changed. The olor faded from her check. and she grew thin aud was troubled with a hacking cough. The village doctor was .alled. but reported that he could do .otlirg for her since her maiady was ,ccasioucd by some mental trouble.
 Mir. Browu,il. ST, was an honorable man. He knew of his sons course, but made no comment Intending to walt nntll Henry had taken his medical de rec. Whcn Henry wrote that he ex- lcctcd Co settle in Philadelphia, hls fa- ,her sent him telegram Co come home tt once. Henry had no choice but to obey or suffer his fathers displcasure. From the latter he shrank aud rcluc- antly took a train for home.
 It was spring morning when he reached the station. where he found hls father. who had come Co drive him over several miles to their home.
 Henry" sald the father, 'l desire that you begin your medical he right here. After year of work among your old friends, if you desire it, you shall have my consent to return to thc city"
 But can never advance here," said the son. "The field Is too narrow
 "You will have my influence to sc- cure patients"
 Henry leaned back in the carriage with a frown.
 'To prove that I can help you con tinued the father CT am going to drive you to the house of one who has been failing for long while. You. a recent graduate, should be far in advance of the foglcs about here who have failed to cure the patient, and you will have a good opportunity to show your skill"
 There was something in the tone with which his father spoke that Hen ry did not like, but the enthusiasm Of youth stepped in and suggested that. after all. he might show his old friends, the country doctors, how little they knew. Glancing out of the carriage, he saw that they were approaching the Woodbridge farm. He cast quick side glance at his father but the elder man wore an imperturbable though serious expression. They turned Into the gate and allghted at the door. Hen ry was led upstairs, a door was thrown open. and there on a bed lay his dls- carded love.
 The windows were open and the odor of flowers was borne Into the room by the south wind. A vine climbing about the easement was twisting and turning to thrust It's latest sprouts Into the chamber. Ethel. in the midst of this revival of life, was unreviyed She lay looking over the fair scene without, un. responsive to its freshness and beauty.
 There" said Mir. Brownell to his son, 'is your patient Cure her.
 For a moment it seemed to Henry that the past seven years had been ob- liberated. It was at this season that Ethel had given him hls first kiss ln the garden below, which was now sending up It's perfume. He forgot the girls of