The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-10-22
ADoctor' sIast
Remedy
By JOHN TURNLEE

IVY sly, loul CCCl anu LhC 6AAA oOooS
thirteen.
am country doctor One Of my
patients was Mrs. Baxter, widow
with one child, boy. When called
to see her this little fellow, Alan, and
a little neighbor, Fife Barnes, were
usually playing together either in the
house or outside.
The town in which we lived was
really very small village; conse-
quently had many opportunities to
observe the children for the next
few years. during which they were
most of the time together. Then
when Alan was seventeen he went
away to college wished that Effie
could go away to some educational in
stitution. too, for l knew that while
Alan and she would remain the same
persons they would differentiate. Alan
would be developed, polished, mentally
and in manners. while Eftie would be
the same plain little country girl.
After Alan entered college saw no
more OF him except in vacation. but l
continued to see Etiie every now and
again. She was the same demure lit
tie body she had always been, except
when Alan came home: then she would
brighten up. But this Frightening last
ed but or year or two. Alan at each
return showed himself different from
what he was the time before. There
was a constant shedding Of the farm
er's boy. putting on Of the educated
gentleman. Yet he found Eftie the
same except in bodily development
Her speech was no more artificial, her
manners no more studied than when
he had first left her.
There was the same innocence in her,
the same depth Of feeling, the same
love. But how could these count
against the training mentally and the
more polished manners of the girls
with whom Alan was being thrown
every day? l judged that love had
never been spoken between them. 1t
had only existed. Alan on returning
to his mothers farm always spent
some time with his former sweetheart,
but not as he had been used to doing
tween them. noticed it and knew
the cause. Effie had fallen behind him.
My heart bled for her, but couldn't
blame, Alan. Indeed. fancied that
while he did not analyze the facts as
did he regretted them. l think he
would have liked to see Eff1e lay aside
a certain plainness there was about
her and put on something Of finer tex
tLre.
All the time Alan was in college a
separation was going on between the
two lovers. not visible to their friends
generally, but very plain to me, who
had learned the secret they did not
know themselves-their child love
Then Alan came home after being
graduated and talked to me about
studying the profession Of medicine.
He decided to do so and went away
again, not to return except once, to bid
farewell to his mother. who was dy-
inG-
lie could get on-or. at least. be
thought he cOuld-without Efie. but
she could not get on without him. Aft
er he left for the medical school she
seemed to me to be as one who had
suffered a great grief. Then, during
several years after he had graduated
and was practicing his profession in a
distant city, she seemed to me to be
gradually wasting away. Finally her
parents thought she should have treat
ment by doctor. was called In to
see her-l, who could diagnose her case
on what had observed years before.
l went through the usual formula
partly from habit. partly because did
not consider it wise to tell the truth.
I l felt her pulse, looked at her tongue;
then. taking out my prescription blank.
| wrote an order for mild tonic.
charging her to take it regularly three
times day. Then l left her, wonder
ing what might really do for her.
She gradually sank away till at last
made up my mind that if the cause
of her malady could not be removed
she would die. l resolved on an expe-
dent to try to remove that cause.
wrote Dr. Baxter that | had pa
tient under my care whose case was
puzzling me. / was aware that as a
country doctor was in STATUE quo.
while he. having recently been gradu-
ated from one Of the best medical
schools in the country. was on higher
plane in the profession than l. Would
he run down to his old home long
enough to give me the benefit OF his
diagnosis?
He came immediately. l told him
| that l would take him 10 see my pa
tent. but preferred that he should see
| her alone. make up his mind concern
| ing the cause Of the trouble and the
treatment and report to me. took
him to the home of his old sweetheart.
He looked at me in surprise, but with
| out word went in to see her. drove
away. realizing that | had used my
last expedient to save my patients
life.
A few hours later DR.. Baxter came