The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-10-16

self very often. He was doing this
one morning while he was looking
over his instruments in the operating
room; and the head nurse, whom he
believed in the office, escaped by a
side door, to fall, helpless with laugh
ter on a settee in the hall.
But this story, like most tales, car
ries three characters. The scientist
is the third. A quiet, conservative
man of thirty-five was he, a bachelor,
moreover a moneyed bachelor, the de-
light of the men for his keen wit and
his habit of minding his own business,
the despair of the women, not be-
cause he was a bachelor, but because
he elected to stay one. This was hard
on the women because, in addition
to his fortune, he was decidedly good
looking.
In addition to money, wit and good
looks, he had something elsa cough
An inherited one. And this was why
DR.. Jared Wells was called to the sci
entists home, one raw December day.
The scientist, weak with coughing
was on the sofa in his library. The
doctor, who knew him about as well
as any one knew him, made a thor
ough examination, during which the
scientist spoke only to answer ques-
tions. When the examination was
over, the doctor leaned against the
mantel, his face turned from his pa
tient. The scientist spoke first.
'How long. doctor?"
ri do not understand you, sir"
clustered the doctor. you need
care, that's all; care, and skilled at
tention: I should advise you to come
to the hospital. We can care for you
there much better, but if you insist,
can send you a nurse who will give
you all her time and"
'I'll go to the hospital, thanks"
broke in the dry voice of the scien-
list, land. doctor, if you pull me
feather in your cap
He was removed at once to the hos
pital. A terrible attack of pneumonia
followed. and the head-nurse had
charge Of the case. He lived but he
didn't gain strength, and when March
came he was still in bed. By this time
DR.. Jared had lost all hope and had
told him so. The head-nurse fairly
outside herself in this case, and she
could not be brought to admit that 1t
was hopeless. The doctor had stopped
arguing the matter with her. because
she grew so unnecessarily indignant
over it. He was thoroughly in love
with her by this time, and had about
made up his mind that he would marry
her. If only the unforeseen would hap
pen; If she should turn out by some
miracle to be something else than a
nurse, a rich young woman, for in
stance, who was nursing to indulge
p,hilanthropic ideas. How easy it
would be to ask her to share his name,
and his future fame. And though he
could not see it coming, the unfore-
seen was at hand.
DIR. Jared was good fellow, only
he had queer ideas. The scientist came
to like him very much during his long
illness; and one day he took the
young physician into his confidence.
He knew that he hadn't long to live,
and there was something which trou-
bled him, he said; something which
must be settled. Would the doctor help
him? And the doctor all agog with
curiosity, yet sympathetic too, would
do anything In his power for this &C.
centric. interesting patient.
THE sum and substance OF the mat
ter is" said the scientist, that / must
get married" He blushed as he said
It.
Even DR.. Jared was too surprised at
this to speak. His blue eyes opened
wide, and his Jaw dropped a little.
However, he soon recovered. and clos
ed his mouth very firmly which made
him look somewhat like wise old
frog. Also. he soon recovered his
speech.
Married" he gasped, why man
alive"
Exactly and soon I'll be man
dead" went on the grim voice OF the
scientist. Nov. I'll explain, II you
won't stare like that. I'm not crazy,
assure you.
you see," he said. when he had
caught his breath, after a terrible
M OF coughing, my father was a very
peculiar man; he was different from,
me. lie believed I'm getting married,
and he was always madden than hops
because ] refused TO wear the matri-
monial neck yoke. He said he'd cure
me OF that sickly idea. He was an in
genious man, my father" and the
scientist laughed his hand pressed TO
his side.
III I were half as Ingenious, I
shouldn't be In my present predloa-
ment. don't refer 10, my health. But
his will was a diabolical work Of art.
II stated that, unless / married, my
money must pass az my death % GER
tain pcople-diatant relatives-whorn
would rather-rathcr eat, than lei
them have anything or mine. n isn't
that care for the money itself YOU
underataud. It's only that I viii not.
n ! can possibly help ~ benefit those