The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1909-11-11
Barriers
Broken
How Physician Acted the Good
Samaritan and Reunited
Husband and Wife.

Husband and Wife.
Jack Remnant and had been chums
from our early schooldays. Onleaving
college he had entered the navy and of
his advancement and record none was
more proud than l, while he seemed
equally delighted with my success, and
though by himiL was affectionately
dubbed Sawbones by others was known
as plain DR.. Charles Stuart. Our friend
ship had always been that of one brother
for another and it was therefore with
feelings of great sadness that grad
ually perceived an entire change in his
disposition and noticed listlessnes SIS
where before there had been an intense
activity of mind and body-give place
to an utter disregard to all amenities of
life and a gradual decline of health
which either denoted the rapid progress
of an insidious disease, the undermining
of a constitution through neglect, the
yielding to secret sin, or remorse. L
had known of differences having oc-
CURED from time to time between Jack
and his wife, of whom he was inordl-
nately proud and passionately fond, but
/ had dismissed her from my mind as
a factor of his decline because it had
been his invariable custom in the past
to make me his confidant in all his mar
ital troubles, but Of this more anon.
With the desire to be of practical service
| urged Jack to undergo a thorough
medical examination, either by myself
or some other doctor who would be
competent to diagnose his case. 1t was
my belief, from casual observation. that
he had contracted while abroad IN his
country's service. some disease un-
known to science, but how far astray
we're my surmises the subsequent events
will explain. 10 all my entreaties up
ON this matter my friend only turned a
deaf ear and with a wan smile he said
81 guess, old boy, with all your clever
ness you cannot work a.cure when you
have no knowledge of the ailment.'
Whenever circumstances permitted it
was my custom to spend my evenings
with Jack and as our likes aud dislikes
were so similar it was always pleasure
to look forward to these few, but en-
joyable houFs of recreation.
On the evening upon which circum,
stances of this story have beginning
had been enjoying cigar OF excep'
tional flavor and silently watching Jack
while he finished letter upon which he
had been engaged when first entered
his study. It was while thus engaged
with feelings of great astonishment
that l perceived several tears chase one
another down his cheek and fall upor
his writing. Tears which are hard tt
witness from q woman, how sad anC
pitiful when wrung from the heart Of
strong man, to me it was apparent
that the psychological moment hat
probably arrived when I might safel!
broach the matter of his apparent de
cline and I was much relieved wheI
with 8 smothered moan-after hastil!
pocketing his letter-he swung arount
and asked me abrutly if had eve
known anyone to die of broker
hearth Replying to his query | statet
that while had been present at man!
autopsies could not say that [ hat
actually seen broken heart, yet coult
recall instances where it was Difficult
to assign death other than from grief
swell, Charles, ,'he said "when L am deat
/ desire you to make post morten
over my body for l assure you, mos
solemnly, that such will be the cause o
my death. My wish in this respect ha
been known to my attorney and if 20,
promise to do as I ask shall be trul,
grateful and your verdict will be con
firmation of that which l stated in tn
letter you saw me writing" 8 8.
What could say to such an appea
made in all seriousness endeavore'
to laugh away his assertions and dill