Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-12-09
THE FATAL QUESTION.
ev leopold Jacob.en.

BY Leopold jacobsen.
copyright. 1901, by w. r. Hearst.)
He looked searchin2ly in the eyes OF
the physician who mad just examined
him as if he would read his. inmost
thoughts.
Edward" he finally said, let me be
perfectly ran with one another. You
are my oldest and dearest friend. and
as a friend it is your duty to tell me
the naked truth. What do you think
of my condition."
The physician smiled.
Theodore he said, you are a fool
You are perfectly healthy and Their
is nothing at all the matter with your
heart, but you must be careful. You
must smoke no more strong cigars,
drink little or no liquor. and you may
live to be eighty"
Edward, YOU are trying to deceive
me. 1 know you too we'll. You are
too cheerful and kind in your way OF
speaking to me, and if I were really
perfectly healthy you woul not speak
that way at ALL"
We'll. IL you want me to abuse you
to make you believe in YOU good
health. l am ready to do that any min
fear"
81 do not ask your opinion as a
physician. but as a friend, and I ask
you once more: tell me the truth. I
know that lately there is something
the matter with my heart. You say
yourself that l must be careful. and !
tell you 1 a the feeling that it may
all be over any minute"
"Oh, you are only
There, you have given yourself
away. You know as we'll as I do, that
I have nerves of steel. 30 o may as
well tell me how long 1 have to live"
Il really begin to think that a little
abuse would do you good. 1 have
known people with a heart disease to
grow a hundred years old"
SO 1t is a hundred now. Two min
utes ago it vas only eighty. Is it real
ly as bad as that?"
Theodore, if you keep on like that
I shall feel like giving you a sound
thrashing."
Il should like that immensely, I am
sure, but I will and must know exactly
where l stand. You have the reputa-
ton of never having made a mistake
in your. diagnosis of a case, and I will
not go home until I know everything"
my lear Theodore, I really begin to
think that our min is a little unbal-
anced."
"Oh, no, not at ali. never was moro
sane or rational or more in earnest
n now, and 1 tell you I will know,
1T is for the sake of a m that
you are SO anxious. isn't it?"
yes"
And you love her?"
Higher than my own life, and since
you v now guessed my secret be
frank with me. Not alone mine, but
her happiness depends on your word,
SO for once forget the ethics Of your
profession and tell your patient a truth
because he is your friend. There are
cases when it is better so, and I am
strong enough to hear the worst"
WI foo0 % %I@
very grave II will examine you once
more" he said, taking his stethoscope.
70 fifteen minutes he listened to the
heartbeat of his dearest friend, then
he said:
DO you really love thai woman%
Yes, l have told you so one before,
and 1 will make her my wife if 1 have
any right to do so. How do you find
me now"
Il can only tepeat WHAT
Please stop beating about the bush.
I tell you that 1 feel tina 1 shall never
should love so 70 live, when I begin to
see the happiness which has been de-
MED me before. Edward, how sad it
is to have to die now"
"You are a great child, Theodore.
You live. you breathe, you are far from
being dead. Why then, take this pes
simistic vieww
You try to evade my question. You
10 not want to tell me tina 1 may drop
dead today, tomorrow, or at any time:
you do not even dare to give me a year.
And l tell you that is not enough.
need a long life to be happy. 1 cannot
De satisfied with a little. With death
in my heart I cannot ask a woman to
become my wife. and knowing this,
ever" hour that live seems wasted"
You talk like a schoolboy in love-
Possibly. if by that you mean that I
ct my. sentiments run off with me, 7
M in love for the first time i'm my life.
md then it does not make any differ
nee whether one is sixteen or thirty
tx: I cannot bear the idea that 1 shall,
lot one day. not even n hour. Will
on now tell ME the TRUTH"
Yes the doctor said. and a hard
IMPRESSION came into his face. Go
bread"
81 thank you. Edward. You have
'cted like a true friend. and now leave
ne. l must be alone. and your pa
tents are waiting for you. Leave me.
and always tell your patients the truth:
1t is better so. There are men who
must give way to make room for others.
and when they know that this is their
fate, they will do so willingly. There
is no egotism in the face of death.
Good-by, my boy, leave me alone."
not give up hope. old fellow.
we doctors often make mistakes. often
may YET
Live t be eighty or a hundred.
Yes, know IT,"
The same evening the doctor re-
ceived q note from his friend. II ran
this: 90
my Dear Friend!
Il have taken you advice and gone
abroad. When o read this nv stu
pid. worthless heart has ceased ia heat
t0rever. ana once more I beg you
always tell your patients the Whole