Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-11-03

"Of course, MT Royce, he said hnal- 1 ly, Miss Holladay was perfectly free to choose another physician If she thought best"
 But would you have thought 1t prob able?" queried our junior. '4Ten minutes ago I should have thought 1t extremely improbable" an swered the doctor emphatically. "Still, l women are sometimes cratic, as we doctors know to our sorrow" MT. Royce hesitated and then took the bull by the horns
 'Dr. Jenkinson," he began earnest ly, don't you think it would be wise to see Miss Holladay-you know how her father trusted you and relied on you-and assure yourself that she's in good hands? I confess I don't know what to think, but I fear some danger is hanging over her. Perhaps she may even have fallen into the hands of the faith curists."
 Jenkinson smiled. 1 "The advice to seek rest and quiet seems sane enough" he said, ''and ut terly unlike any that faith curist would give"
 But still, if you could see for your self" persisted Mir. Royce.
 The doctor hesitated, drumming with his fingers upon the arm of his chair 1 Such course would be somewhat i unprofessional," he said at last. "Sull I might call in a merely social way. l My interest in the family would, I l think, excuse me"
 l Mir Royce's face frightened, and he i caught the doctors hand
 Thank you, sir" he said warmly i Tt will lift great anxiety from the firm, and, I may add, from me person ally"
 ! The doctor laughed good naturedly. | T knew that, of course" he said. "We doctors hear all the gossip going ] I might add that I was glad to hear 1 this bit If you'll wait for me here, I'll 1 go at once.
 ! We instantly assented, and he called his carriage and was driven away. ] felt that at last we were to see behind one corner of the curtain-perhaps one glimpse would be enough to penetrate i the mystery. But in half an hour hs ] was back again, and a glance at his ! face told me that we were again des- tined to disappointed.
 T sent up my card" he reported briefly, "and Miss Holladay sent down word that she must beg to be excused" l MT. Royce's face fell. l i And that was all?" he asked. That was all, Of course there was nothing for me to do but come away. I couldn't insist on seeing her. "No," assented the other; mo. How do you explain it, doctor?' 1 Jenkinson sat down and for a mo- ment studied the pattern of the car pet.
 Frankly, MT. Royce" he said at last, q don't know how to explain it. The most probable explanation is that Miss i Holladay Is suffering from some form of dementia, perhaps only acute pri- mary dementia, which is usually mere i ly temporary, but which may easily grow serious and even become perma- nent."
 The theory had occurred to me, and I saw from the expression of Mir. Royce's face that he also had thought of it.
 ''Is there no way that we can make sure" he asked. "She may need to be saved from herself"
 "She may need it very badly" agreed the doctor, nodding. Yet she is of legal age and absolute mistress of her actions. There are no selatives to in terfere, no intimate friends even that know of. I see no way unless you, as her legal adviser, apply to the au- thorities for an inquest of lunacy."
 But Mir Royce made an instant ges- ture of repugnance.
 ''Oh, that's absurdr' he cried. We have no possible reason to take such action It would offend her mortally."
 "No doubt" assented the other. 50 fear that at present nothing can be done. Things will just have to take their course till something more de- cided happens"
 There's no tendency to mental dis ease in the family" inquired Mir. Royce after a moment.
 Not the slightest" said the doctor emphatically. Her father and mother wereIboth sound and well balanced. I know the history of the family through three generations, and there's no hint of any taint Twenty-Five years ago Holladay, who was then just working to the top in Wall street, drove himself too hard--it was when the market went all to pieces over that Central Pacific deal-and had a touch of apoplexy. It was just touch. but l made him take a long vacation. which he spent abroad with his wife. It was then, by the way. that his daughter was born. Since then he has been careful. and has never been bothered with a recurrence of the trouble-in fact, that's the only illness in the least serious l ever knew him to have
 There was nothing more to be said. and we turned to go.
 'If there are any further develop ments." added the doctor as he opened the door. will you let me know? You may count upon me if I can be of any assistance"
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