The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1915-03-12

I1aroio- she began. ft
10 see me? No, haven't dared to
nope that" answered the doctor. II
have simply come to see a patient"
Silently the girl opened the house
cor and the doctor ascended the
stairs until he came to the room In
which his son was lying, racked with
teVer and delirious, upon a bed.
He must be moved at once" said
the doctor. Il am going to take him
away to the hospital in my automo-
| bile"
1t was all he could nerve himself to
do to utter the words, for a son, even
though lost tor years, is still a SON
at least, to most of us.
Wrapped in rugs the patient was
transferred to the automobile, which
made its way at a slow pace into the
suburban district where the doctor
lived
The story that Mildred told was
painful one For years her husband
had been working for the company;
he had started at the bottom and was
just getting fair salary when he was
attacked by mysterious disease.
| After a months absence he mad lost
his position; that was two months
ago, and the disease which no doctor
could diagnose, had made inroads upon
his system until his life seemed about
ended.
But this isn't the way to the hos
pital!" she exclaimed, as the machine
turned INTO pretty lane and stopped
before a comfortable-looking house.
ut is my house-my private hos
pital," answered the doctor.
And half an hour later Harold was
comfortable in bed and feebly con-
scious.
He looked up and recognized the
face Of his father. Now, according to
all rules of literature, father and son
ought to have fallen into each others
arms. But, oddly enough, the moment
his son recognized him the doctor felt
the old pride tie his tongue and re-
strain the hands that were so anxious
to enfold the young mans.
You told me never to let you see
me again." said Harold weakly, "and
tried to keep my promise"
You are here as patient, Mr. Car
ter" answered the doctor. "You owe
me no gratitude; it is my duty to heal
with all the means in my power"
The young man averted his face. He,
too, had pride.
Nevertheless, IN the days that fol-
lowed the doctor found it difficult to
conceal the love that came into his
heart Mildred was just the little
daughter-in-law that he had always
pictured to himself And little Harold,
blissfully unconscious of anything but
loving kindness, was creeping into his
heart daily more and more until it
seemed impossible that he could ever
let him go.
And, despite his years of practice,
the doctor was unable to diagnose his
sons disease until the famous ply
stefan for whom ne had sent to New
York came down and saw him.
1t was very rare disease, hardly
known in America, and, until recently,
incurable. There was a remedy now;
1t consisted in an extremely difficult
operation. Only five cases were on
record where the operation mad been
performed; three had died, two had
recovered completely.
Mildred, standing dry-eyed beside
the famous physician. listened to his
explanation. Doctor Carter turned to
her.
my DEAR" he said softly-he had
never called her that before-"the de.
cision rests with you"
Operate" said Mildred firmly.
And an hour later the house was
filed with the fumes of the anesthetic.
Doctor Carter could not bring himself
at the last moment to assist. He had
sent instead for an anesthetist from
the city hospital
Little Harold, dimly conscious that
come terrible issue was at stake, chung
to his mother, whimpering, in the doc
tors Office. Doctor Carter paced to
and fro distractedly An hour had
passed since the operation began, and
stin the house was filed with those
nauseating fumes. At last he entered
the room softly. The operating ply
sician looked at him and shook his
head.
Doctor Carter, very grave, very
white, went slowly downstairs and
shut himself in little room. He knew
what that look meant, he who had
seen it SO often in the hospitals. His
sons chances Of recovery were hope
less. In that moment the remnants of
his pride fell from him like tattered
garment. He went out into the Office
again.
Mildred" he said. III Harold lives
want him to come back to me. / want
you all to be my children. want my
son toto forgive"
Nobody knew the effort II cost him
to utter that last word. Mildred looked