The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-04-22
MRS. LAURENCE
TRIES HER
HAND.
BY KATE TUCKER.

Town OF Crawford was cases thnt are |
generally known as nervous" He |
was courageous and versatile. as most |
small-town doctors have to he. lie |
would go his rounds fourteen hours
out of the twenty-four during epidem- |
les; would go with steady nerve
through operations that would have
tried n more celebrated surgeon: he
would listen patiently to the queries
of young mothers over their infants
teethlng dlflculties--all that sort of
thing. But when a patient said
"nerves" Doctor Laurence wished to
give up.
Mrs. Laurence, however. had been
reading up on modern methods OF
treating nervous disorders in the doc
tors medical journals and In the
popular magazines. Psychopathy was
her la-est hobby, and somehow. In spite
of the five little Laurences. Mrs
Laurence always had time for some
hobby.
II really feel" she told the doctor
one evening while the mothers help
er. Vera. was patiently putting the
younger two Laurences TO bed and the
older two were dancing an Indian war
dance as preliminary 10 putting them
selves TO bed, II really think that I
would have a positive talent for psy-
chic healing. You know reputable doc
tors are taking II up now. There Is
wonderful future for II. | don't see
why you don't 60 In for that sort Of
/ Al hA 1Atnn
II. Take Robert Ludwell, for instance.
His case is purely psychopnthic-per
fectly absurd for you TO look at the
case In any other way. What you
want TO do is to get down deep at the
root of the matter. He doesn't sleep.
and he's losing weight. not because he
has overworked on that book Of his.
as you tell him, but because of some
fear image that turks In his mind. II
is your duty to probe down till you
find It, and then, through the force OF
your mentality over his. to dispel that
fear image"
$50 you said" commented Doctor
Laurence. and then-"perfect bosh,
perfect bosh" He paced back and
forth before the living room open FIRE.
~ wish I could do something for Rob-
ert, however"
There was suddenly an unusual
note of pleading in Mrs. Laurence's
voice. "will you let me try?" she
said. and apparently Doctor Laurence
agreed, although IL he did agree II
was surely not because he had any
interest in his wlfe's theory Of psy-
chic healing.
The first step In Mrs. Laurence's
campaign TO cure Robert Ludwell
took place the next evening. when
the doctor asked him to spend the
evening at his house. without, OF
course, suggesting 60 him that Mrs.
Laurence was going to administer her
first treatment In psychic healing.
There was considerable confusion.
Vera. the mothers helper, bad been
away on her very rare afternoon Off.
The twins refused TO be put to bed
by anyone else and their rebellion
gave the cue to the older child to
fall downstairs, with considerable in
Jury to his tired feelings. but no
great bruis'ag. SO dinner was late
and the CO nfislon still was discern
ible when Robert arrived.
There were intermittent walls from
the nursery. n slamming Of dishes In
the kitchen and glimpses Of the rather
fiush-faced. distracted Vera as she pur-
sued the older children through the liv.
Ing room In her effort TO pack them on
| Al..s n a.f
one to be much rufiled by such mild
domestic confusion, and eventually she
managed TO sit beside Mr.. Ludwell
alone before the fireplace and make
the first probing.
She discovered one thing. He had
a horror OF boarding houses. Ht
dlsllked boarding house coffee. Hs
likewise had horror of any sort OF
confusion. He intimated when Mrs
Laurence asked him polnt-blank VIII,
he had never married that possibly 4
was because he was a recluse by ma
ture. He had 10 have quiet for hi,
writing.
SO Mrs. Laurence decided TO invit,
Mr.. Ludwell TO leave his boarding
|
renee establishment. There he woul,
have no more boarding house coffee
there would be no more confusion, sh,
was sure.
She was surprised when he &C
cepted her and the doctors invita-
tion. She hadn't expected he woul,
come so willingly. And the docto
was even more surprised.
"He says he wants TO he away iron
confusion?" gasped the doctor.
II am sure you don't think ther
is ever any confusion here" said Mrs
Laurence, "and the coffee Is certainl
better than the kind one gets In
boarding house." Mrs. Laurence wa
planning now for her system OF psy
chopathlc treatment on Mr.. Ludwel
IL she succeeded with him, she nigh
take the work up as career--sh