The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-12-20

Al Macmillan approached the door
Of Langdale's private office be was
surprised 10 meet physician with
whom he Ind slight acquaintance. a
man Of some distinction In the medical
profession Macmillan uttered hasty
word OF salutatlon. but the other pass
ed him without glance
Langdnle's aversion 10 doctors was
well known. and Macmillan had no
thought that the visitor had come upon
a professional errand. but al sight or
l.angdale the incredible became proba
bic An uncanny change had taken
place In the mans aspect The lines
In his strong face were not only deeper,
but greatly different In their slgnh-
canee He looked III In body. as IN
mind.
Surprise was instantly succeeded by
sympathy In Macmllan's mind, and
the conventional How do you dof"
had real import.
"Oh, I'm all right" answered Lang
dale. Never better"
We'll, that's good news" said the
! clergyman. II was bit anxious, hay
| Ing met Or. Haywood in the hall"
"Dr Haywood? who's he?"
'Why, he Just went out"
"No, sir" responded I4angdale; "you'll
tee no doctors here. | can bunko my
twn stomach for nothing Do you
mean the tall man In the gray sultT
Yes"
That's seventeenth cousin of mine
from Omaha He's looking up the fam
| lily. Going TO write n history of us"
Macmillan was perfectly sure that
the man was DR.. Hayward, but he
| supposed that Langdale was ashamed
Of having called in a physician after
all the abuse which he had heaped
upon the profession.
Macmillan turned to his real errand
But he had made scarcely more than
n beginning Of the story when Lang
dale suddenly required TO their last
Interview.
You didn't approve Of me then
said he "What do you think Of N
nowT
Macmillan would gladly have po
poned the ordeal for few mlnut
He had decided ito lay Amy's affairs
before Langdale as simple matter OF
business. just as II he had been dealing
with an officer Of bank, to ask Lang
dale TO consider 1t and give an answer
on the following day and, having thus
put off the decision, to lead the conver
sation TO the precise point which Lang
dale had reached Mt Il bound.
Before the two mm could come to
gether upon any common ground the
arrival of important visitors broke off
the session. Langdale excused him.
self courteously and gave his hand TO
Macmillan
I'm glad you came TO see me-" he
said. You've done me considerable
service"
"Well, really don't see"-
"You have, Richard; you have In
deed And won't forget 1t. ! always
keep you in mind at this time Of year.
Goodby, goodby."
In daze of disappointment, perplex
lty and self reproach Macmillan de-
parted He had bungled the interview
in all ways. He had accomplished ab. |
solutely nothing for Amy, for Lang
dale, for his own conscience. The ac- |
count of the occurrence which he gave |
TO Amy had no clearness to his own In |
teligence, but seemed quite satsfac
tory TO her.
"You must see him again." she said. |
"You have influenced him. He feels II
and is grateful. OF course you can't |
know Just what 1t was that you sald
that gave him light, but | am sure that
he saw a way TO carry out his plans
more honestly That's what he meant
when he spoke Of your service to linn
"Amy, that Is absurd"
"But, my dear Dick, Is there any 9th
er possible explanation? Try to be rca
sonable. He said you had served him
How else could you have done ItY'
The next day was Thursday and bust
ness practically ceased for the week
There was really nothing OF Importance
that Macmillan could do TO avert the
doom that would fall on Monday. yet
he went TO town about noon and forced
himself to face several dlscosraging and
useless interviews At 3 o'clock he
went to his little Office, beaten apd dis
heartened
There was n letter on the floor and
he recognized Langdale's envelope. II
gave him shock, but no real hope, for
he had not even succeeded In telling
I.angdale what he wanted. He would
not have been surprised 10 find check
for $50 Under the circumstances
man OF Iangdale's peculiar notions Of
humor might have found amusement In
such n gift.
There was check In the envelope.
but not for $50 Five thousand was
the sum, A thrill went through Mac
mlllan's vitals. and he unfolded the ac-
companying letter with trembling
hands II was very brief. as follows:
Dear Richard-Inclosed you will find my
mite. In the inscrutabis ways Of Provi-
danee even the self righteous may 10
brought 90 repentance and be made the
Instruments Of good. am very glad you
came 70 see me Cordially and with
Christmas wishes yours
CURTIS LANODALE.
The awkward wording OF the letter
left some doubt As 10 who was tile
self righteous" and who had been
brought 10 repentance" but Macinii'
Ian WAS not in critical or sensitive
mood He was merely glad and crate
ful Thrusiing the letter Into biz ,
packet and holding the check IN hts
biad. be strobe on, TO the bank just In
time % cash the check.
Good luck attended him At every
step. Though the hour was 10 late.
b. found the men OF whom be went IN
tearch, and by the strength Of bis new
hope be- was enabled 10 accomplish
whatever he desired.
Among the millions Of the great city, ,,
with all their feyerish desires and vass