Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-06-30
sked il 1t was the precursor Of stone

asked II 1t was the precursor Of stone
deafness.
"Um! UNI! Unit" muttered the
doctor; and then recommended cotton
and weak solution OF laudanum-
He was followed to the door by the
solemn but motherly Mrs. George who
asked:
Doctor, do you regard the case as
serious"
mot at present" was the reply,
"but 1t Is one that needs watching"
Two hours later as the patient was
down the lawn. Miss Helen stopped
the sport for a moment to say:
II wouldn't have new symptoms
tomorrow II -yere you. You are
getting so many that DR.. Harper for
got to put on neckt1e this morning. !"
II wasn't going to have any, you
mean old thing' was the reply.
AS luck would have 1t, there was
none, and the doctor was SO encour-
aged that he invited Miss Fanny to
ride with him in the afternoon. It
was a social, ont professional ride.
Nothing whatever was said about the
patients ailments. 1t was general
talk.
"Oh, I'm so glad vent" the girl
exclaimed when she returned. Do
you know I almost feared was los
ing my mind, but found could un-
derstand everything the doctor said
and talk back to him. Isn't 1t an
awful thing when girl loses her
mind"
Next day the doctor dropped in, un-
professionally. He came to chat for
an hour. 1t was SO on the next day
also, but on the third there was more
than social chat that awaited him.
Total loss of appetite and a feeling
OF general lassitude were troubling
the girl. With tears in her eyes, Miss
Fanny admitted that she couldn't eat
broiled lobster If it were placed be-
fore her, and that she was dis
couraged she didn't care how soon
the grave closed over her.
DR. Harper started out to feel her
pulse, but only got to the palm Of the
hand and stopped. He held that hand
all of five minuets while he talked.
He didn't talk about mustard plas-
tiers, but about girls getting morbid,
and the effort they must make. to
shake it of.
did you tell him." asked Miss
Helen after the doctor had departed
'did you tell him the reason you had
lost your appetite was because you
ate so many pears yesterday? 1t was
all of two Dozen
.It's for doctor to find out such
things was the calm reply.
Mother thinks the doctor doesn't
know much"
"He doesn't have to. That Is he
has cured me, and he won't have to
wrinkle his brows any more, thought
had lost my appetite and that l
didn't care to live any longer, but I've
changed my mind. Let's go out and
see il any more ripe pears have
fallen"
There was one more attack, and
that didn't come until the doctor had
paid a dozen or more social calls
Then the pain came back on the
heart side. He didn't write pre-
scription, but telephoned for his auto
and ordeded his patient to accompany
him on twenty-mile ride. When 1t
was well under way he said, and said
1t professionally:
Miss Lisle ! find yours com
plicated case-very compn ate1."
"You don't think 1t may result in
my losing my mind, do your" she
gravely replied.
well no. On the contrary, after
I have been up to Sc your father,
think your mind will be much clearer
"Why DR.. Harper, what can you
possibly mean? Are you going to tell
my father that-that-"
"Just so. l shall tell him that he
needs a son-in-law who Is a doctor
and understands your symptoms
I've also got bit of heart trc BILE
and think both can be cured at O. -e.
And when Mis-, Lislie returned
home the staiG Helen gave her long
look and then said:
$50 that's what you were up to
Ell? Well, you behave yourself for at
least "a fortnight now"