The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-03-24
AnAppeal tothe
Senseof Beauty
BY EuNIcE BLAKE

DR.. WorthingtOn was the physician
Of the upper ten thousand-not a ply
siciaD OF the upper ten thousand, but
the physician of that class. Die was
thirty-five years old and considered the
handsomest man Of the city in which
be lived and practiced his profession.
One night lamp exploded in the
home of a young widow, setting fire
to the clothes of an old lady, n mem-
Der of the family, and burning her so
severely That she lived but twenty-four
hours after the accident. Every doc
tor in the neighborhood was called In,
among them DR.. Worthington. There
was little that could be done for the
patient, who was known to every
doctor there, but there was a great
deal to he done in calming those pres
ent AS soon as the physician of the
upper ten thousand entered practition-
ers earning a beggarly $4,000 to So,
600 year instinctively withdrew into
their shells, and when he spoke in his
musical baritone voice a few words
enjoining quiet a calm fell upon every
| one in the room.
Mrs. Allandale, the young widow in
whose house the accident occurred,
was SO impressed with DR.. Worthing
toms aristocratic bearing, his self con-
troll and that influence he possessed over
his fellow beings, especially women,
that she resolved to win him for her
second husband. Mrs. Allandale had
heard story about the Doctors having
to employ chaperon at his office and
realized that her game must be played
with great delicacy in order to be sue
cessful.
About a week after the death and
burial of the person who was burned
DR.. WorthiDgtOn was called to visit
Mrs. Allandale. He responded at once
and found the lady reclining in her IL
brary, where logs blazed in a gothic
fireplace. She had ON pale blue silk
negligee-she was blond-and lamp
shaded in pink was on little table
beside her The blue was especially
becoming, and the pink lamplight on
her complexion added to the pleasing
effect. DIR. Worthington was perfectly
aware from the moment he entered the
room that the 'ady's Intentions We're
those of women from whom his duenna
was expected to protect him. But, oh,
how different this appeal from the 9th
ersi
The lady did not extend her finger
tips; she did not smile; she simply
said:
Doctor, in the dreadful experience
we have had in this house my nerves
have been severely strained. l sleep
very badly, have no appetite and am
| subject TO a twitching of the muscles,
especially when passing into slumber
a tonic or whatever you think 1 re
quire."
The doctor placed the tips Of his
thumb and fingers on the ladys wrist,
looked WISE sympathetic and respect
ful, all in one glance; then, taking out
blank slip wrote a prescription.
"This is merely a light sedative,"
he said. 81 do not attach much i'm
portance to it, for the shock you have
received must wear off gradually.
would advise diverting your mind so
far as possible--social affairs that are
to your liking nothing that will bore
yOu-amusements and, above all, the
company of those with whom you are
! congenial and who interest you"
"Thank you, doctor. l dare say you
| are right. | noticed how you quieted
nc oil OF ~ nq
rely more on your personal influence
than your medicines. I should be glad
to have you call as often as your other
professional and social engagements
will permit, for feel quleted already.
l am quite sure that treatment by in
fiuence, such as is practiced by Chris
tian Scientists and other like sects,
will do me a world of good But, of
course. do not mean that you are to
give me more of your valuable time
than my share"
There was some desultory chat, after
which the doctor withdrew, promising
to call again in few days. Mrs. AL
landale told him that she required
| soothing more in the evening than In
the daytime and she would be glad
when he could find 1t convenient to
call between and II o'clock p. m. He
promised to do his best in this respect.
A few days later the doctor tele-
phoned Mrs. Allandale that he must
visit patient in her vicinity that even
.Hg and would call IL she thought he
could be of any service She replied
through her maid that she was much
depressed and begged that he would
surely come.
] When the doctor called he found his
| patient sitting on one end of q sofa.
robed this time in commingling of
pink and lace, with jack rose In her
hair, the latter taking the place of the
lamp shade that had before given
becoming hue to her complexion. He
made bold to sit ON the other end OF
the sofa, and when he felt her pulse
he'left his fingers on her wrist longer
than before.
The doctors visits became more and
more frequent. and every TINE he call
al ha fnt1ud Mrc A1IondoIa In N oae