The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-12-22
The Couple With
The Green Pofches
lOrigiral.1

10 restore udU uldOc HIS weekly call
and passed out. My attendant threw
aside a sliding door and admitted the
next patient for consultation. He was
handsome. healthy looking young
fellow, with eyes as clear as crystal.
l advanced, looking at him inquiringly.
Doctor" he said. II wish you to
take out my right eye"
whats the matter with it?'' asked.
astonished.
Nothing, but wish you to take it
out"
II will perpetrate no such unprofes-
siOual nonsense"
The young man stepped aside to
table on which some instruments were
lying, took up a sharp pointed knife
and. holding it before his eye, said:
IF you will not take it OF pro-
fessionally, will take it out u1pro-
fessionally."
"Holdv' l said, seeing that he would
surely carry out his intention. "Teil
me why you wish to lose your eye and
l will oblige you"
Il am desperately in love with a
lady who has lost one of her eyes-at
least the sight Of it-and she is obliged
to wear a green patch over it. The
Disagreement has made her inOrdinate-
ly sensitive. She positively declines to
infict herself on any man for life.
Instead of irficting herself on me for
life she is running my life. If I have
the same defect she cannot refuse me-"
II see," l said. Nov, my friend,
let me give you piece Of advice. In
stead of cutting out your eye, cut out
the woman you love from your heart.
There are plenty of women who would
be delighted to marry YOU
doctor, fulfill your promise. have
done my part in giving you my reason.
Now do your part"
summoned an assistant, placed the
man on an operating chair, gave him
himself and held glass before him
he saw a green patch instead of all
eye and felt considerable pain.
"Now," 1 said, 'ff you don't want
the loss of one eye to affect the other
and leave you totally blind, don't re-
move the covering on any account.
"For how long? I must change the
patch occasionally. One won't last
forever"
"When it is too much soiled to be
worn longer, come to me, and I will
change it for you"
every WELL Your fee, doctorT'
"Fee? Do you suppose would take
a fee for manning a man? 1 perform
ed the operation to prevent your max
ing it worse"
II am very much obliged to you
doctor"
And the man who wished his sight
impaired followed the man who wish
ed his sight restored.
"Nextv' 1 called to the attendant,
muttering to myself. "What a queer
worldv'
A month later when ''next" was call
ed he proved to be the man who had
wished his eye removed. He was nc
companied by a young lady wearing
patch similar to his. But for the patch
and the saddest face l ever saw she
would have been extraordinarily
pretty.
Doctor" said the man, II have
called to ask you to change the patch,
and have brought with me the lady
on whose account I had my eye re-
moved. We are soon to be married"
"Oh. doctor" she said in a wall.
why did you do itr'
Without noticing her remark turn.
ed to the man and told him that ]
would change his patch, but in order
that no ray Of light should enter the
place where the eye had been I must
darken the room. I then closed the
blinds and changed his patch. When
l had finished l asked the young lady
If it might not be possible for me to
help her with her own eye. She hest.
tated and looked meaningly at Der
lover. l took the hint and asked him
to wait without until l made an ex.
animation. AS soon as he had gone the
girl turned to me and said in despair
ing tones:
Doctor, have ruined his life. When
I met him l was temporarily wearing
patch for some slight weakness in
my eye. In a fit Of coquetry TOLD
him what he told you. never dream
ed that he would-that he loved me so
desperately. I shall never remove my
patch, though l do not need it,"
81 dislike" said. Ito lecture wOm-
an, but confess that women who give
way to such feminine temptations de-
serve the punishment they receive and
often do not receive"
II deserve all and more" she moan
ed. II even wish l were dead"
"When are you to be married.?
I'm two weeks. Will you come to
the wedding?"
Eyes. Your intended will need
new patch for such an important cere-
mony. I will be there In time to put
1t on"
The next day received the cards
and on the morning of the wedding
went to the house where the marriage
was to take place, arriving about ten
minutes before the appointed hour.
The groom's best man on learning my
name took me to back drawing room.