The Meeker herald., 1913-11-29
by EDWARD L. STANTON

/ believe that the two most desirable
blessings one can have are youth and
health. There b third that 10 equal
~ Important. though much more apt to
b. ignored-that In. absence Of worry.
l have had an experience In the last OF
the three. or its reverse. which u the
subject of this story.
II ever q child was born into the
world in a perfectly normal condition
was that child. ! grew to manhood
without an ache or pain. and seeing
Others taking medicines and consulting
doctors l would say to them: "Get your
mind away from your aches and pains.
Don't worry and you will be AZ well a.
I am. As for the doctors. they are only
good for serious matters; in small sick
nesses they are humbugs." ~
One morning when taking my bath l
discovered small lump on my right
side. rubbed It and pulled At 1t. and
/ didn't like 1t at all. For three days ]
tried not to think about 1t, then gave
up the task and went to doctor ia
NOUS for the treatment Of all sorts Of
.growths." l waited two hours for a
consultation. during which time was
In an increasing state Of terror.
Doctor" l said when admitted to
the consulting room Of the great spe-
cialIst. "a little lump has come In my
side. fear It bodies something sefi-
GUS"
The doctor directed me to remove
sufficient clothing for him to make an
examination. After he had finished
be spent ZONE time putting away the
implements he had used, but said moth
ing. I inferred the worst. and 1t was
the worst that he finally communicat-
cd to me.
"That lump" he said. 'is 4 malignant
growth which we medical men calf
be gave a long Latin name which !
didn't remember nve minutes-'and
my duty ID to tell you that II you have
any affairs that need to be settled you
had better 60 to work upon them"
l sank down in q chair and covered
my face with my hands. The doctor
remained silent. Presently. notwith.
standing the shock under which suf-
fered. remembered that an anteroom
was full Of patients who were waiting
b consult the great mas, lp( ~,
cssded to make certain inquiries.
GLOW long have to i've. doctoer
asked.
II don't know. The records Of such
cases Az yours have usually proved
fatal within three to four months"
"Shall l suffer muchf''
mo; the disease will eat into an ar.
terry. when the end will b painless"
could think Of no other information
that I would need, so, rising from my
chair. staggered out Of the room. CIV
ing place to the next patient. who was
to gain comfort or despair from the
eminent specialist. He sent me bill
Of 500 for telling me that l had but
four months at most to live. but under
the circumstances the money was moth
Ing to me. and since the doctor was
living at the rate Of $4,000 year II
was a good deal to him.
For the first week after learning my
doom gave myself up to meditation
upon my fate, At the end Of that time
I made up my mind that 1t wouldn't
need a malignant something or other to
kill me or four months In which to do
the work. was preying upon myself
at II mich more rapid rate. resolved
to throw OF the mental octopus that
had me In its clutches nnd make ths
most Of the brief period that remained
to me.
I had 100000 In Q per cent bonds,
worth 100000 There was no relative
who needed the money. and I resolved
to spend the most Of 1t in purchasing
whatever would keep my mind OF my
coming demise. would need company
some one to be with me most of thu
uine-and cast about for an associate.
! would spend part Of my time with a
man friend and the rest with woman
friend. For the man chose Arthur
Anterior and for the woman Adele
SturRis, with both Of whom was on
familiar terms. told them that I pro.
posed to spend 10000 within four
months and That in consideration OF
their devoting their time to me for that
period would divide the remaining
$4,000 between them. Anterior waa
out Of business at the time and had nc
fortune. He looked very sympathetic
when made my proposition. but
thought he was trying to conceal 4
good deal Of happiness. In third Of q
year he would earn $4,000 besides en-
Toying Injuries that wouldn't cost him
anything.
Al to Adele. she said she would thinl
the matter over. After doing 70 She
told me thAa she would accept my prop
osition with an amendment that tht
amount ! would spend should be 70
duced by $4,000 and added to thu
amount Of her portion. Furthermore
this portion was not to be given to her
but left to charity by will.