The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-12-10
THE FATAL QUESTION.
BY Leopold Jacobsen.
(Copyright 1904 nv w p ueor

thoughts.
, Edward" he finally said, let me b
, perfectly frank with one another. 70,
> are my Oldest and dearest friend, ant
> as a friend 1t Is o u duty to tell m,
: the naked truth. What do you thinl
of my condition?"
The physician smiled.
Theodore" he said, you are a fool
You are perfectly healthy and the
Is nothing at all the matter with your
heart, but you must be careful. Yor
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. l know o too we'll. You are
too cheerful and kind In your way OF
speaking to me, and If I were really
perfectly healthy you would not speak
that way at ALL"
We'll, II you want me to abuse you
to make you believe in your good
health, l am ready to do that any min
ute. But really you have nothing to
fear
Il do not ask your opinion as a
physician, but as a friend. and I ask
you once more: tell me the truth. 1
know that lately there Is something
the matter With my heart. You say
yourself that l must be careful, and I
tell you l have the feeling that 1t may
all be over any minute"
"oh, YOU are only nervous"
There, you have given yourself
away You know as we'll as l do, that
L have nerves OF steel. so YOU may as
well tell me how long I have to live"
Il really begin 10 think that a little
abuse would do you good. l have
known people With q heart disease to
grow s hundred years DID,
Sc Il Is a hundred now. Two min
utes ago it was only eighty. Is it real
~ as bad as that?"
"Theodore, If you keep on like that
I shall feel like giving you q sound
thrashtng."
7 should like that immensely, 1 am
sure, but viii and must know exactly
where l stand. You have the eputa
ton OF never having made a mistake
In Your diagnosis of q case. and | will
nos 50 home until I know everything"
My dear Theodore. / really begin to
think that your mind is a little unbal-
~oh, no, not at all. 1 was more
sane or rational or more in earnest
than now, and l tell you I Will know"
II Is for the sake of a woman that
are 50 anxious, isn't lit"
And you love herr"
Higher thar my own life, and since |
You have now guessed my secret be
rra2k with me. Not alone mine. but
ner happiness depends on your word,
50 IoE once forget the ethics OF your
because he Is vorr f~ian5 Ths,e - 49,
cases when Il is ha-+a1 81 go as
irons enough 10 hear the worst"
41s race OF the physician became
very srzys I will examine you once
For e+-esn minutes Sa Jss+s.a5
heartbeat Of his 6As-aet s-Isn5 80
he said 9t
Do vcu really love tb.-
YES -sTa rotS -, 10 woman:
ana I VIII make fnsr NV 80 - : boE.
-rE- 70 % n - n - ! nave
80 -I7-r ao" 90 you md
I cz ozir repest wharf,
@E=z= srop bss~f-p ahon- -.
I ral you that faaI That : shanT r uus
again l= val and lust low VIA
should Eeva 81 ~ - 80
tze hs--f-ess rGs.E - ossia 20
ne 5e<1-a rs-s- AZ
IS u have % de -ov1
Tou ara q great child T~bao5o-a
Ecu I've ycc brea1ha. vou are <aT +ror
6@1g dad Why than take this mas
sE-Es1e -se- ~
Tor NJ 10 avzSa -~ or,az+,o,
Ia zcz want Ia teTT ne tea- 80 ~
Eozs- tT--e--1 ! "a ! ma drop
IA 10 n ge sE19 5ars % q gty a. m any : tine line
A. -ar - - eAs1 me q year
go = T--- -. AoL ehough
= sazzzf@l wfer > ffr-5a csnhoS
TaeT--a r. 80 Z #or1an to
=ve- hgur rzzt I Tf~a eaar-s us ~,
Tor reTE FFI-a eeSa "asLed-
Possibly Z bv +Ee- - ~ .oLs
81 nv ss-rf-e-+s ~ IS - .aat
m IN Lrre "a 4Ez 80 IN me-,
her il does -1+ 49, = Lty eLs'
nee whether one is Trtaen ~ -
I carr1r $3.50 80 or IhlrIy-
-@A1 aroe-n1 alive and still give her no.
,ot enc dzy; rot eTeu n hour. viii
az How tel ne the truth7"
LAe eoctdr said, and 2 hard
49, S INTO MS face. Go