River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-01-02

The spring had been miasmatic, and
all the portents prophesied an IN
healthy summer; but Notwithstanding
these facts, "the times were out of
Joint" with DR.. Bruce Pendleton. His
diploma, embellished with plate glass
and gilt molding, stared dumbly from
the wall Of his office, with nobody to
read It. His smart-loOking sign, on
which the paint was fresh and the gold
leaf very new, volunteered to pilot an
invalid pOpulace to the spot where
he dealt out tablets, powders and
lfnctures, vainly entreating them to
turn in hither" and be saved. For, in
spite of it's persuasiODs, when teeth
ing babies went into spasms, small
boys had green-apple collie, or despond-
ent adults took Rough on Rats or Paris
sreen, the messenger in search of
medical Samaritan, like the priest and
Leyite, passed by on the other side.
Under the circumstances, it is not
at ali to be wondered at that DR.. Pen
dleton fell behind in his rent; that his
landlady gave bin cold shoulder with
cold coffee at breakfast, because of an
unpaid board bill, and that polite but
pressing duns formed the nucleus of
his mail
One day, when his creditors were
more eXigent than usual, it occurred
to him that he would go down to
Litchfield, green country hollow
among the hills, and pay his respects
to his Aunt Penelope.
During his college course and the
struggle with short rations incident
to his medical curriculum, she had
put up for him time and again, al
ways assuring him that this was the
very last time she should do SO. But
what soft-hearted old lady, suscepti-
BILE to the affiliations Of tender fiat
terry, could withstand the compliments,
insinuating and clever, of silver
tOngued youth in whose favor her af
fections were enlisted?
He would go and see, and recon
quer his Aunt Penelope.
Not bad place to go into retreat
for awhile; not at all bad This was
his thought as he lifted the old-fash-
toned knocker Dr. Pendleton had,
until this moment, almost forgotten
the existence of Dorla Hadley-his
Cousin Dorla," he had used to call
her. who answered his knock She
was the orphaned daughter of one of
Miss Penelope STANDARDS early
friends. and had been raised by Miss
Stannard as her own child would have
been, had she ever been a wife and
mother.
Ten years ago Dorla had given no
promise of beauty, but here she was
now, with a color on her cheek,
light in her eye. a grace of contour
and charm of expression that went
Through the doctors ready sensibili-
ties with a shock like the galvanic
current of his own electric battery.
And the air Of her! 1t had the I'M
conscious dignity of a Juno or Diana.
What a sumner she was!
Before he had chance to say a
word. Miss Stannard came and stared
at the intruder for moment before
exclaiming in establishment:
Il declare to goodness if it isn't
Bruce!"
Aunt Penelope was duly embraced,
the doctor and his grip-sacks taken in,
and the hired girl-for Litchfield
knew no maids and the fatted fowl
Immediately had differences to be set
tied Meanwhile the aunt and nephew
talked
Still travelling your web by night,
Aunt Penelope? Still keeping the
sutton crew in uncertainty? You
look as young as you ever did, and are
just as much of beauty"
Miss Stannard shook her head and
sighed a little.
No. Bruce; the infrmities of the
flesh are foes to good looks
"4nfirmities? l believe you could en-
ter as contestant at an Olympian race
and come out winner, this very min
ute
No, Bruce" still more energetical-
". My sleep is poor and 1 have lit
tie appetite; that isn't the worst of it,
either. for have a terrible case of
the blues | had about made up my
mind to call in Dr. Somerset and set
a prescription"
The young man shifted contemptu-
ousIy.
Somerset? He'd have given you
blue mass or jalap, and bled and Bills
tered you in true antediluvian style.
There's been renaissance in the art
of healing since his day. Why, he
hasn't yet admitted the existence of
the microbe, and swears bacteriology
is all CANNON. I've heard him talk.
How fortunate l came in time to save
you from his tender mercies.'
Aud then DR.. Pendleton's finger was
on the old lady's pulse; he was in
specting her tongue, and auscultated
her heart by placing his ear lightly
above it, Meanwhile, having no more
idea than the man in the moon as to
her aiIment, his shrewd glance had de-
tected few tiny pimples on her soft
old wrist. Blood out of order, con-
cluded he.
But. having a point to carry, he
kept his own counsel, and did not,
therefore, declare the nature of the
case. He remembered the maxim:
"Al's fair in love and war;" and added
to it. and when you're down on your
luck
Miss Stannard was startled by his
professional movements.
isis it anything serious?" fall