The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-03-25
"Symptoms"
o0
BY ALDEN CHAPMAN
Copyright. 1913. BY the Western News
paper Union.l

Young Doctor Bellows felt that he
was on the high road to success when
that acknowledged leader of the rul-
Ing social set, Miss Marcia Druse, sent
for him. He was a newcomer in the
village and had located there upon
learning that the principal physician, !
Doctor Morton, was about to retire
from practice.
Bellows understood that Miss Druse
had been a source of regular profess !
sional income to his predecessor. He
was in the drug store when the tele-
phone message arrived and it's pro-
prietor grinned expansively.
Il hope you diagnose Miss Druse's
case on the basis that Doctor Morton |
followed" he observed. "Miss Druse
Is a good patient to nurse along, and
you mustn't oppose symptoms. They
comprise the pet frailties of her life.
She has been that way ever since an
Observation-Disclosures faddist dis
covered that she had about everything
under the sun. Why, do you know
that she actually broke OF the engage
ment with Col. Leo Dysart, the richest
man in town. on account Of the pre-
dicted near approach Of dissolution"
The young physician made no COM
ment, and realized that it was policy
to act on his own initiative. He spent
a full two hours with this new patient.
Miss Druse had a long list Of symp-
toms to present, a whole library OF
medical works, q miniature drug
store in her cabinet, and Bellows at
once analysed the situation. She was
physically sound, but with her idle
whims and the arrant nonsense in
jected by the faddists she would, he
foresaw, ultimately degenerate into
a chronic hypochrondiac.
Bellows was serious Of visage and
sympathetic Of mien, but this he at
fected in order to gain time to think
over matters and possibly rescue his
patient from her fanciful terrors and
infuse into her some comomn sense.
II did not sleep at all last night, doc
tor" declared Miss Druse dolefully.
For several days there has been a
singing sensation in the left shoulder
blade, dangerously near to the heart.
I a feel a distinct lump there. Don't
alarm me too greatly, doctor, If there
is still any hope, but l very much fear
that it is the beginning of the end"
Doctor Bellows diagnosed a vicious
mosquito bite and feigned to ponder
gravely. He had Intercepted his pa
tient as to diet and habits of exercise,
and a quick idea suggested itself and
he illuminated it to the full.
Miss Druse," he said, do you wish
to become a perfectly well being, in all
the fullness Of your youth and
beauty?
"Oh, Doctor Bellowsl you are fiat
tering me-" she simpered. "But-yes,
Of course I desire the restoration Of
my health above all things"
"Then you must absolutely follow
my directions. I will leave you q
simple lotion that will speedily elm
mate the swelling on your shoulder
We must arrive at a point where there
is more elastic action to the vasa mo-
tor nerves, and for this l am going to
give quite drastic directions. You must
arise as early as five O'Clock every
other morning, and walk in the dewy
grass a full hour, ~barefooted."
II know I am too delicate to sur
vive the harsh ordeal" she walled
'but If my niece Muriel Will sustain
me, I will try"
Her niece Muriel Alleni Doctor
Bellows met that bright, lovely youni
girl at the next call, and from tina
moment his life seemed warmed b!
new sunlight. Somehow a mischievou'
twinkle in those intelligent eyes tolt
the young physician that Miss Allel
shared his opinion as to the trivia
character Of the ailments Of her aunt.
Three mornings after that Docto
Bellows purposely came upon tn
twain tramping across the greenswar
Of an Enclosed pasture. The SHAPED.
pink and white feet Of Muriel twin
killed. in and out of the dewy grasse
with bewitching gracefulness. Mis-
Druse was grumbling a tri1e, but al
ready showed the salutary effects o
? the new and needed exercise.
"Ah! I would like to Join you," de
clared Bellows animatedly. VI JUS
mEt Colonel Dysart, Miss Druse, VIII
, had caught sight Of you in tie dis
tance. What a poetical being he is
t He dilated upon NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. O
10 vclincss and like enraptured sent!
I m.nts," and Miss Druse fushod II
like a sensitive schoolgirl and Murie
i. directed a quizzlcal glance al tn
. young doctor. fully apprising him tina
7 she was able to analyze his tactics.
. At the end of two months Miss l)rus
WIS a new woman. Her vagaries wer
di,sipating one by one, and Colone! D,
sart was again a hopeful suppliant q
the altar Of love. doctor Bellows,
spoke Miss Druse n day. II hop
there is no danger of illness with m
: dear niece. She just ran out Of tn