Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-03-09
ACardiac Affection
[Original.l

Dudley Noyes was not stage struck
In the ordinary acceptatiOn of those
words, but he was struck fat a-back,
as sailors say, with an actress, Lenore
Levere, whose real name was Hannah
Piggatt and had just made her great
success at the Olympic in How to
Catch a Lover" and it had been run
ming a hundred nights when Noyes
went to see it. After that he went
three nights a week till the play was
taken off. He frequently sent up flow
ers when Miss Levere was called be-
fore the curtain, and she soon per-
ceived that she had made conquest.
Noyes had an intimate friend who
held the appointment of physician to
the Olympic A seat was reserved for
the doctor, and he was expected to oc-
cupy it at every performance. He had
done so till ''How to Catch a Lover
had reached the hundredth night, after
which, tired at the repetition, he occu-
pied it occasionally, giving his ticket
mostly to Noyes. Miss Levere received
several baskets Of flowers from the
man sitting in this seat and, desiring
to know who he was, had after per-
Torrance looked at the number, then
gone to the box Office and inquired.
She was told that it was always re-
served for the physician.
Now, after half dozen lots of flow
ers had come to her without card or
a note attached Miss Levere conclud-
ed that the donor simply admired her
as an actress and had no desire even to
form her acquaintance. For awhile
she was quite "miffed' and refrained
while on the stage from glancing at
the doctors seat, into which latterly
Moves was accustomed to sink when
be came to the theater But pique
finally decided the actress to commit
an overt act. If Mr.. Noyes would not
seek her Of his own accord he must be
forced to seek her. One evening after
she had gone off the stage, having fin
ished her part, though the play was
not yet closed, supernumerary tap
ped Noyes on the shoulder and said:
Doctor. you're wanted behind the
scenes
NQyes found himself on the horns Of
a dilemma If he admitted he was not
a doctor he would betray his friend,
who would lose his position If he per
sonated a doctor-he knew nothing of
medicine-he might do a great deal Of
harm and get into trouble. There was
another objection to his going-he
would be recognized not as the regular
theater physician.
Anything serious?" he asked.
81 think not. Miss Levere has faint
ed, but think it is from Overwork."
This decided Noyes. He would go as
doctor and say that the regular man,
being indisposed, had asked him to
take his place for the evening. He
arose and followed the super.
He found Miss Levere lying on 4
lounge in the greenrOom. She had
washed the paint from her face, since
It Is not becoming at short distance,
and so arranged her drapery as to look
very charming. The manager and
stage manager both stood over her.
The first thing Noyes did was to
mention that he was sorry the regular
physician was not on hand, the second
to take the invalid's wrist and note her
pulse. 1t beat very quickly, but, for
that matter. no quicker than his own.
Then he put his ear down and listened
to the beating of her heart and from q
gentle spasmodic heaving of the chest
knew that it beat in consonance with
his own.
"H'm!' he said addressing the man
ager and calling to mind the few med
Ical phrases he had in his knowledge
box. There is a slight cardiac dis
turbance in the thorax, and the pulse
Is quicker than it should be. How long
has the piece been running?"
This is the one hundred and seven.
ty-eighth night
"How many matinees?'
1.-TWO a week"
"This lady, it seems to me, has not
the physique for such a strain. / fear
she will have to lie off for awhile"
"Can't you brace her, dOctor?'
''I'll give her a tonic"
Feeling in his pockets, he brought
out pencil and, being furnished with
bit of paper, wrote:
3
Aqua pura.....e.....2 ounces
Spirits cognac.........M pint
"This simple stimulant will do fol-
this evening, and tomorrow will visit
her and either order a rest or perma-
nent tonic"
The interested parties took the pre-
scription away, and NOyes was about
to retire when the patient gave him a
glance signifying that she would like
him to remain.
Doctor" she whispered, bend low
er. have confession to make"
Noyes put his ear near her lips.
'I'm no more i'll than you are.
want a vacation. Can't you manage it
for IneF'
'H'm!' said the pretended physician.
zone confession deserves another. I'm
not DOCTOR"
SSNT0f d0otoPp,