Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-09
The Argus Daily Short Story
A Proposal-By Jane Pinckney Burnett.
Copyrighted. 1910. by Associated Literary Press

reclining on Il lounge beautifully and
becomingly dressed. Mrs. Whiting was
born with a fine sense Of harmony IN
color and had chosen a shade for the
lamp on the little table beside her
with q hue contrasting with her COS
tune. Being light shade Of rose. 1t
also gave her complexion the warmth
1t needed.
Leaving his satchel in the hall, DR..
Pttman entered the room with the
encouraging smile that was his in
variable preliminary tonic in visiting
a patient The widow gave q feeble
return Of the smile and extended her
hand. displaying to the elbow a shape
u arm. The doctor ciasped the hand
lightly In his own and placed the tips
OF the fingers Of his other hand on
the wrist.
Slightly above normal" he said.
''but no fever"
: The physician then gave the patient
q professional look with his large
handsome eyes, which meant tell me
your symptoms" It was not usual
with him to ask questions Of his lady
patients. He left them to give their
Information themselves.
"I was sitting in the library after
dinner" said Mrs. whiting, when q
singular feeling-well, 1t IN best de-
scrfbed as loneliness-came over me.
feit the need OF q stimulant ana drank
O glass Of wine. It did me no good
Indeed. the Requirement was not q
physical but q mental or rather spirit
ual one. ] have never suffered any
symptoms Of melancholia. but should
fancy my feelings were Of this order"
ANY unusual action Of the hearth
asked the doctor, his finger tips still
on the lady's wrist.
"Yes; q slight futtering.- ~
-So'a 'u' -: :
"Disagresable in any respectf"
Rather pleasant"
"Hm!" said the doctor. Withdrawing
bis touch upon the wrist, and. bend
ing down, with an apologize EEK
euss me-" placing his ear over the
heart, he listened for several minutes,
then, rising. looked at the patient with
an expression that was more than pro-
fessIonalIy sympathetic.
'T suppose" he said. that there ts
no one very near or dear to you-that
there 10 a void which needs to be
flled. 1t is this that is affecting the
action Of your heart"
ST am sure your diagnosis is right,
doctor. / am lonely. have the
means to acquire anything I wish ex-
cept love-"
This statement commended the lady
especially to the doctors delicate SEN
sibilities Another woman might have
put 1t bluntly. zone OF the advanta ges
a man. especially a poor man, may de-
rive from marrying me is my wealth"
Instead of this harsh announcement
Miss Whiting had said. Il have the
means to acquire anything ! wish ex'
cept love" And another man would
have made bold 20 interpret this al IT
was intended. Not SO the refined Pit
man. He ignored It, except In a pro
feSstonal- sense. Go.
'I think. dear Mrs. whiting ne
said encouragingly. that what you
need Is not drugs. found slightly
accelerated cardiac action when lis
tened to your heart beat Just now and
could give You a sedative, but doubt
that 1t is necessary. You need rather
to mingle more with the world. We
medical men are now inclined to build
up the whole system rather than an
affected part the part deriving benefit
from the whole and being thus
strengthened to throw or the trouble.
I wish you to cultivate such associa-
lions as are pleasing to you. II there
is any one whom you wish 70 be with
you a great deal yield to the longing.
1 need not say that in the case Of so
charming a woman
"Oh, doctor, how good Of your