The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-07-02
AnExtinguished
Love
BY OSCAR COX

" scientific they sometimes fall into
the hands Of quacks, who make money
out of them by practicing them on the
credulity of the public. Years ago SO
called phrenologists charged fees to
tell persons by feeling the bumps Oh
their skulls what occupation they
were fitted for. Since that period real
scientists have taken up this question
Of the protuberance of the brain and
have formed certain conclusions which,
though less sweeping than the former
phrenology, are at least based on sci
entific Investigations.
When Clochette Chatteroux said good
by to Alphonse Brisson on his depar-
ture for the war Of the nations he
seemed almost broken hearted at part
ing with her.
When Alphonse and Clochette met
again he was in hospital recovering
from wound In the head. Clochette.
hearing Of his condition, went to him
that she might assist In his recovery
by nursing him and that it might not
be retarded by his pining for her. Be-
fore entering the ward where he was
she asked his surgeon Of his condition.
He told her that Alphonse was doing
very well. He had been brought in
unconscious, having received a shrap-
mel wound in the head. After a bit of
bone had been removed from the skull
he had recovered consciousness and
had begun to improve at once. Clio
Ghetto asked IL he had seemed depress-
ed and was told that, on the contrary.
he was in very good spirits. Then she
entered the ward and, passing down an
aisle formed by cots containing sick
and wounded soldiers, stood before the
one on which her lover lay, expecting
the moment he saw her that his eyes
would light with joy.
What was her disappointment to see
only friendly recognition. Neverthe.
less she advanced, bent over him and
kissed him. He received her caresses
with Indifference.
Clochette was not girl to reproacb
Alphonse for having become cold to
her. She depressed her feelings Of dis
appointment as well as the exuberance
natural to her reunion with the man
she loved. Alphonse inquired about
those at home, talked to her of the
and the excitement of SOL
dier's life at the front. but made no
reference to the tender relationship
that had existed and was supposed
still to exist between them.
Clochette soon ended the interview,
leaving Alphonse without even kiss.
But as she passed out Of the ward she
gave vent to her feelings In tears. The
surgeon In charge Of the ward, seeing
her come from the man she had visit
ed weeping, was surprised, for the pa
tent was in fair way to recovery.
He asked her the cause of her distress
The poor girl told him that the
man had been her lover, but
since he had been absent from her his
love for her had evidently died. The
doctor seemed much interested in the
matter and when he next visited AL
phonse questioned him as to his treat.
ment of his fiancee. Alphonse told him
that up to the very moment of his
wound Clochette had been constantly
on his mind and he had been so dis
tressed at his separation from her that
at times he had been almost tempted
to desert and go to her. AS soon as
be had recovered consciousness, after
the operation on his head, naturally
his first thought was Of her. But he
was surprised to find that all yearning
for her had vanished. d.
When the surgeon left Alphonse he
sought Clochette and said to her:
"Do not blame your lover for having
become Indifferent to you. I perform
ed the operation of removing a bit of
bone that was pressing on the BRAIN
The bone had become embedded in a
little protuberance of the brain, and l
was obliged to cut into this protuber-
ance. Our bodies are mechanical con-
trivances. The patients love for you
had its seat doubtless in this little pro-
tuberance, and when / removed the
I removed the love that
you had inspired"
Clochette looked at the speaker in
horror.
"Do you mean, DOCTOR" she said,
that Alphonse's love for me was moth
ing but a lump Of fesh?"
"Naturalistically considered, that is
4 fact"
Clochette was not competent to I'M
a distinction between the
words material and spiritual. All she
Knew about the change in Alphonse's
owe for her was that 1t was due to
1othing more than little lump Of
brain matter; that it had been removed
ind that the love had persisted with it.
She stood before the surgeon turning
he matter over in his mind.
"There Is no reason" said the doctor.
why you may not win him again.
You have every opportunity. A man
8 prone to fall in love with his nurse.
have little doubt that by kindly
attention you may bring him back to
lis former feeling for you."
Tho GIRL stood nnndnrinn FOR. n fn1u