The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1912-03-08

OF the druggist and having suspected
that his patient was perfectly WE'LL
he began to see through her little
scheme. Having arrived at the Cum
mings home. he went through the usual
formalities Of professional call and
on departing informed the family that
his own health was breaking down
from overwork and he was about to
give up his practice for at least year.
He would. however write out state
ment of Dorothy's case. so far as be
had observed it, which might be of
service to any physician who should
next treat her. Sitting down in the
library. he wrote:
My diagnosis OF this case Is that there
Is cordial affection. There are frequent
heart 1utterings followed by depression
But since the heart is affected by nervous
conditions ! do not fear organic trouble.
l rather infer mental influences. How
ever. since l may be mistaken in this d.
agnosis | would recommend watching the
action of the liver. the kidneys. the spleen
and other organs
Dorothy kept her room and refused
herself to visitors. DR.. Archibald
Swain-Chichester, whose practice was
among the ultra fashionable set, next
took up her case. read DR.. Treats
diagnosis-or, rather. scanned 1t con.
mptuously-asked the patient great
many questions. gave especial direc-
lions as to her diet. wrote the Gus.
tomary prescription-or, rather. pre-
scriptions, for there were three of them
-nnd do,,nrfod prn,ric;pr En- ro+ur,,
again in a week. Since Mrs. Cum
mings was now much troubled about
her daughters condition Dorothy did
not dare to burn up her prescriptions,
but when the medicines came she daily
poured small portion Of each in a
sink. Since she thwarted her physi-
clans intention In her behalf it is not
remarkable that she gained no benefit
But. on the other hand. IL she gained
no benefit she suffered no injury.
Now, Dorothy In her feminine way
was far better diagnostician than any
of her physicians Though she had
met the Rev. Charles Fordham but n
few times, she had noticed in his eye
that peculiar spark of love which
flashes at times between two persons
Of opposite sex. as we'll as felt 1t in
her own heart. During his first ser.
mon she had kept her gaze fixed upon
him and had several times noticed his
momentarily concentrated upon her.
During her illness-or, rather. her Sc
clusion-he had made repeated inqui-
ries of her family as to her condition
and had manifested the usual solicit.
tude Of pastor for one of his con-
gregation. He even expressed a re-
greet that the rule he had made with
reference to refraining from private
visits to the women Of his church had
prevented his giving the sick girl the
benefit of spiritual comfort.
The statement seemed to have bad
effect when Mrs. Cummings repeated
it to the patient. for the next day Dor
othy admitted to her mother that one
of the causes Of her ailment was a
self conviction Of her own sinful con.
dition, When Mrs. Cummings repeat.
ed this to the clergy mail he threw his
rule to the winds and informed the
good lady that he would visit the in
valid whenever she desired to see him
The next Monday afternoon. Monday
being the rergyman's visiting day,
he rang the bell ut the CummingseS
and was ushered into an upstairs liv-
ing room where Dorothy, whose pal.
lor had been caused partly h" contine.
ment and partly by face powder skill.
fully applied. was half reclining on Il
lounge. She was dressed in a hr"Oin-
ing limono-like gown and parity COW
cred by a silkcn spread with rOlorS
to correspond with the gown. She
was very pretty girl and never looked
prettier than now. AT the same time
enlisting the sympathy OF an invalid
How far the young clergyman stuck
to the subject of that he had come to
talk about is not known to any one
except him and Dorothy When lie
departed the girl seemed to have been
she was supposed to have taken. Mr.
Fordham. having broken his rule once.
found it mucl, easier to break II Il sec
ond time. after which 1t was far easier
to break than adhere to It,
1t was shortly before these visits
began that DR.. Effingtam Treat. meet
ing MIR. Cummings. asked after his
daughter. Mr.. Cummings said that he
had had four physicians and gave DR..
Treat summary of their opinions az
to what was the matter with Dorothy.
Dr. Swain. Chichester thought the pa
tent was threatened with melaDchOlia
The next practitioner attributed her
illness to her liver, the next to the
nerves. the next to Il nonassimilntiOn
OF food. There was one point on
which they all agreed that the pa.
tent gave no response whatever to
the medicines they prescribed. This
was not remarkable since she had
taken none of them. DR.. Treat listen.
ed to these diagnoses, looked wise and
said nothing.
The visits Of the Rev. Mr.. Fordham