The Western outlook., 1915-04-17

AOPO tA9t, dASNCICu tAC uUCtUI. i
have simply come to see patient"
Silently the girl opened the house
loor and the doctor assembled the
stairs until he came to the room In
which his son was lying, racked with
fever 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 son, even
though lost for years, is still 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 a
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 months absence he had 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 a pretty lane and stopped
before a comfortable-looking house.
1T 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 1t 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 he had sent to New |
York came down and saw him.
1t was a very rare disease, hardly |
known in America, and, until recently, |
incurable. There was remedy now;
it consisted in an extremely difficult
operation. Only five cases were on
record whore the operation had been
performedi three had died, two had
recovered completely.
Mildred. standing dry-eyed beside
the famous physician, listened to his
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
flied 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
some terrible issue was at stake, chung
% his mother, whimpering, in the doc
.or's Office. Doctor Carter paced to
md fro distractedly. An hour had
passed since the operation began, and
still the house was filled with those
fumes. At last he entered
he 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 1t SO often in the hospitals. His
sons chances of recovery were hope
ess. In that moment the remnants of
lis pride fell from him like tattered
He went out into the Office !,
again.
Mildred" he said, eff Harold lives
want him to come back to me. want
Tou all to be my children. 1 want my ,
ION TOTO forgive" IL
Nobody knew the effort it cost him
o utter that last word. Mildred looked ,
It him speechlessly. She understood
he meaning of his words.
Suddenly there was a fresh drift OF
'ther fumes through the house as the
Ioor upstairs was opened. Carter
leard the operating doctor come down
he stairs. With one arm supporting
dildred he braced himself to bear the
Iews he feared.
The doctor came up to him. well,
,arter. it was touch and go more than
nce-but he will live now" he said.
"Live!" In an instant the old man
ad caught up little Harold upon his
boulder. And, as the child crooned
oyfully. and Mildred wept tears of c
appiness, he knew that he, too, was Q
ust beginning to live. Z
Words and War. ~
You Americans are always talking p