The Monroe journal., 1922-10-13
A DOCTORS SON
BY MARY LOUISE CORNER
SIScStScS1SISIScS 1S5SoS1Sl
Il IN Mcl,-nrs N.Nsr.u.r :. .-aa..tA

The old Garrick house d:s firmly
and impressively on the very summit
Of Fox Hill When IL was first built.
this square. red brick domicile with
the quaint colonial portico was the
show place OF Merrlmac Mills. Be
meath its hospi;able -aof Doctor Gar.
rick. then a man ~ twenty eight, and
distinguished graduate Of a leading
mental school. introduced his bride
TO the 'ownspeople. There. a few
years later, was born his cEly son,
Dan Garrick.
The doctor, true father that he was,
ldoiized that boy. In due course, Dan
graduated with honors from the medi-
cal school-the same school that had
given his father degree. Bursting
with pride and plans for the future.
the doctor brought out his new read.
s'sr and drove 10 the station 10 meet
his son.
I'm the proudest man in Merrlmac
Mills, my boy" he coniided. happily.
rs they headed for the red house on
Fox I'm, Ever since You were Il lit.
tie shaver no bigger than Aunt Chloe's
Sam I've dreamed of the day when you
could step into my shoes and carry on
the good work"
Dad, Dan explained. 81 don't want
to become a doctor. Il doesn't appeal
% ne. ! think III try journalism"
Journalism" echoed the doctor he
tween his clenched teeth. "lIang jour
nalsm :"
II Dan did not inherit his fathers
taste for medicine he was heir to
something just as Characteristic
stubborn will. In vain did the doctor
plead cajole. rage and threaten. Dan
was firm. He applied for reporters
job on the Merrimac News and got II.
But he left the Garrlck house. and
when he and father met on the street
they did not speak.
These meetings panied Dan almost
as much as they must have pained his
father. He had to struggle with all his
force of mind to keep from surrender
ing 10 the doctors wishes. when he
saw the lines Of sorrow and diSap-
pointmpnt in his fathers face. They
recalled To him the doctors parting
words, uttered as the two Of them
faced each other III the study on the
night Of their alteration.
"lou We're born 10 hc doctor" he
had declared hotly. "Some day heaven
Is going 10 call upon you To do your
duty. Maybe youll believe that"
The words burned themselves into
Dams brain. often they came between
him and his Wurk, He was thinking of
them on certain stormy night IN De
cemher as he waited for an assignment
In the local" room. Suddenly Cnrson's
thin metallic summons brought him to
his feet and sent him scurrying into
the editors office.
YOU'RE doctor. aren't you, Gar
rick questioned Carson, anxiously
"l-yes, in way" admitted Dan
reluctantly. "rve got degree but
1ot much parctice to sprae Of"
Your father is out on case in
l!adley. Nick'S wife needs a doctor
right away Think you could"
I'm very sorry Dan began firmly.
~ can't"
You can and will :" snapped Car
son. This is an assignment I'm civ.
ing you 10 help the wife of one of lhe
finest men that ever set line Of type
Now get out and don't come back
here until you've covered
Dan went He dragged Lem Parks
out of bed and they drove in Lens
rusty little car to Merrimac Bridge
"Iingo'" calculated Lem. as he
pulled down the snuw-clotted wind
shield. THE bridge Is gone
I've got to get across that river,
lem Dan muttered, grimly. "Nick's
wife is in agony over there and I've
got to help her"
You'll have to swim, then, retorted
Lem, dryly. "a boat couldn't get you
across in water like that"
"All right. I'll SWIM" said Dan.
"Strap the kit on my back. Lem"
strap the kit" repeated Dan. Lem
obeyed him without further protest,
fastening the little black valise to the
doctors back.
Dan slipped into the icy waters and
the battle was on lie made straight
for vicker'S Mill. but the force Of the
current and the binding snow and
sleet carried him a good mile beyond
his destination He crawled NJ the
opposite bank and made his way
through the storm. Nick met him nj
the door and uShered him into a room
where lis wife lay on cot, moaning.
4 dozen eternitieS might have passed
before Dan placed a tiny, red, sduall-
ing atom of life at the unconscious
womNn'S side and went out 10 find the
troubled father.
Fine boy" he announced, smiling
iy. "lor're in luck. Nick
"Thauk heaven, mumbled Nick.