The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-01
It Was Like This:
By Max Brand

who's not in society's blue book. She's been sheltered from the rude world behind hedge of dofar-signs and wall of titles.
 "All of this I didn't find out at once. l met her at tea, which was the most mixed affair the poor girl ever attended. She took me for granted and we had bully time till she found out that I am not Of the Boston Hallidans, and then she lost sight of me completely. She wasn't rude; it simply be- came impossible for her to see me, but didn't take the blow so hard because I'd suc- ceeded previously in arranging couple of little parties with her.
 "So I went to call two days later, but found that Miss Browne, though home, was indisposed. Two hours afterward l passed her riding through the park on a spirited devil of horse. Of course, that should have been enough to stop me, but I was pretty hard hit; decided to fight until the ship went down.
 q hunted through the list of my friends and picked out the one with coin and the position. There was none wso could chum around with Mary Browne, but there were a few who were just in sight of her; sne didn't know whether they were clouds on the social horizon or firm land. At any rate, I managed to see good deal of Mary She was about as conversational as walrus on cake of ice, but her standards allowed her to listen to me, and she was interested. It thrills even queen, you know, to find out that man loves her, and my devotion was open, steady omnipresent. I learned the hours of her daily program and she could hardly stir out of her house without pass ing me.
 (Which was not unpleasant for Mary, but rather hard on me. I lost considerable poundage, law went to pot, forgot how to smile, and gradually reduced my diet to black coffee and cigarettes. With the re- suit that one day when got up from the table the room grew black and I went to sleep with a queer buzzing in my ears. That was what sent me to the doctor Good old Ambrey, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha"
 He passed into uncomfortable peals of mirth at the thought. I said: "You mean Dr. Andrew Wolff Aubrey, the nerve spe- calist?"
 "Correct. The one with the sanatorium at Mount Oaks. His price is beyond me, naturally, but I knew him pretty well at college when I was the yell leader and ne was the ugiest man in the class. He folded his six feet of bones into chair and told him about my nerves. It took him exactly five minutes to find out all about my diet and also about Mary Browne. The only talking he allowed was answers to ques-. tions like this: How long has it been since you ate steak? When did you meet this woman?'
 "When got as far as the description of her eyes he stopped me with: T have made success by simply regarding human beings as so many pounds of flesh and blood with unfortunate nervous organizations and even a Mary Browne has to eat and sleep and have children and get gray. Apparently you have to marry this woman. Your nerves require her.
 q shouted at him: Good old doc! You have an idea? You're going to do some thing?'
 "He said: Yes, I'm going to say good by to you. Come back tomorrow at the same time.'
 50 went away with hope and re- turned punctually on the hour the next day.
 "He said: I've seen the other patient in your case.'
 "'Good Lord, Aubrey! You haven't told her about me?'
 "He disregarded me utterly.
 :" Fortunately, I know her well enough to call I've treated her father
 "Tsn't she glorious?'
 "'At least, she'S free from your fever.'