Doctor Jones' Picnic

by S. E. Chapman

  CHAPTER XIII.

  Beauty and the Beast.

  On the following morning all were up early, and enjoyed a long walkbefore breakfast in the park. They did not see the Count until breakfasttime. He was in a very pleasant mood, and, after inquiring how they hadrested, turning to Dr. Jones he said:

  "I have always made a point of rendering credit to whom credit is due. Islept eight consecutive hours last night, solidly and dreamlessly as thedead. I have had no such rest for years, and this morning, but for thestiffness of my limb, should be tempted to challenge you for afoot-race. If this be the effect of your medicine, you are the mostwonderful healer I ever met."

  "I am truly happy to hear that you feel so well this morning, CountIcanovich. But remember that you do not believe at all in myinfinitesimal dose, and should not prematurely render me credit. Yourpresent improvement may be but a simple coincidence," and the Doctor'seyes twinkled mischievously.

  "That is right," said the Count good-naturedly; "I deserve yoursarcasm."

  "Now," interposed Mrs. Jones, "I do not think that the Count deservesany reproach or sarcasm at all. Here we come among you, total strangers;and Dr. Jones, before we have been here two hours, in his usualinsinuating manner, gets you to swallow a dose of medicine for what youhave good reason to consider an incurable complaint. I think it quiteunreasonable to expect you to have the slightest faith in his one littledose."

  "Thank you, Mrs. Jones," said the Count, bowing to her gravely; "but youwill allow me to ask," and he set his great black eyes upon her veryearnestly, "do you think that the Doctor can cure me?"

  "Do I think so!" cried she, flushing with pride and enthusiasm, "my goodsir, _he has done so already_!"

  The Count looked at her in astonishment for a moment, then dropped hisknife and fork upon the table, threw his head back and roared withlaughter. It was so hearty and contagious that all joined it in spite ofthemselves.

  "Excuse me, friends," said he, wiping the tears from his eyes, "but Ihave not laughed so for years. And this lady's vindication of yourskill, Dr. Jones, inspires me with greater confidence than anything elsecould have possibly done. All I have to say, madam, is that I acceptyour diagnosis of cure, and shall throw crutches and canes aside."

  After breakfast the Count said: "I have a stable full of horses whichare at your service. I should esteem it a favor if you would use them asyour own. There are many sights of interest about here. A few miles awayis the town of P----, a nice little city of about five thousand. Nodoubt you would like to make some purchases. I will accompany you anytime and act as interpreter."

  They thanked him, but concluded not to visit town that day. He then ledDr. Jones into his private room and said:

  "Doctor, I am desirous that you should see my daughter. I fear that youcan do little more than palliate her condition, but even that would bevery much for us. She is a great sufferer, and I shall be extremelygrateful for anything you can do for her."

  The Doctor immediately signified his readiness to see her whenever itpleased the Count.

  "That north wind is still howling, and I am only too happy to be ofservice to your daughter, or any of God's suffering children while I amwith you. Keep me busy as you like, Count. My greatest delight is tocure the sick, and the world is my field since I started on this tripfor the Pole."

  The Count touched a bell, and a female servant entered. He gave her someorders in Russian.

  She returned in a few moments and spoke to him.

  "My daughter is ready to receive us. Will you go up to her now, sir?"

  "This is my daughter Feodora, Doctor Jones," said the Count as theyentered her room. A tall, graceful young lady of twenty arose from acouch upon which she had been lying, and extended a thin feverish handto the Doctor. She spoke to him in beautiful English, and Dr. Jonesexpressed surprise in his face so that the Count said:

  "I spent several years in London, and Feodora became very proficient inthe language there."

  They were all seated, and, after a few casual remarks, Dr. Jonesrequested Feodora to relate to him the history of her illness, and asshe did so, he carefully noted her symptoms in his case-book. Heinterrupted her as little as possible, preferring to take down thehistory in her own language. After she had finished he made a physicalexamination of her chest. First, he carefully percussed both lungs; thatis, laid the fingers of the left hand upon the chest and tapped themlightly with the finger ends of the right hand, thus producing a more orless resonant or hollow sound. He could thus detect any consolidatedtissue that might be in the lung, or abnormal resonance where therechanced to be a cavity. He then, with a stethoscope, ausculated thelungs, or listened to the respiratory sounds. He noted the temperature;rate and other qualities of the pulse; looked at the tongue and sputa.Having now a complete picture of the case or what he termed the"totality of the symptoms," he said:

  "I must consult my library a few moments. I will be back within anhour."

  He hastened to the cage, ascended to the cabin, and in a few moments wasoblivious to everything but the salvation of this precious young life.He transcribed from his case-book to a sheet of paper the mostprominent, unusual, and persistent symptoms. They were:

  1. Weeps much, and cannot bear to be left alone. Fears she will die.

  2. Great difficulty in breathing; worse from exertion and aftercoughing.

  3. Dry, teasing cough, more or less day and night. In paroxysms fromtickling in the throat, with tenacious mucus, which she cannot raise,and must be swallowed. Sputa sometimes consists of pus, mixed withblood.

  4. Lower third of the right lung particularly affected. She cannot lieupon the right side on account of sharp, stitching pains through thelung. Sometimes the sharp pains extend through the left lung, withviolent palpitation of the heart.

  5. All these symptoms, cough, pains, etc., are invariably worse at threeo'clock, A.M., and continue one or two hours.

  6. Very profuse night sweats, etc.

  There were other concomitant symptoms that we will not stop toenumerate. Dr. Jones prepared a powder from a vial labeled KaliCarbonicum (cm), and descended and hastened to the castle. His heart wasjubilant within him, for he knew that he should save this lovely girl.He fairly burst into her chamber, glowing with the pleasure he thus feltin bearing the gospel of healing.

  "Praise God!" he fervently ejaculated, "I have found your remedy. Takethis please." She opened her mouth and he shook from a tiny vial a doseof a white granular powder, just as he did the night before with herfather.

  "Now, I want you to cheer right up, and dismiss all thought of dyingfrom your mind. I expect that within a very few days you will experiencegreat relief. These sharp stitching pains will almost immediatelydisappear, I am sure."

  And so he talked to her for a little time so brightly and cheerfullythat the poor invalid seemed to catch his enthusiastic, hopeful spirit,and smiled and chatted in a way that lifted the Count to the very skies.

  "Whether there be any efficacy in your powders or not, Doctor Jones,there is certainly wonderful potency in your sanguine manner of givingthem."

  "Now, to-night," continued the Doctor, acknowledging the Count'scompliment with a smile and nod, "I desire to see you in thedrawing-room. You must have pleasant, cheerful company. No more tearsand sighing in this dismal room. Throw open the curtains and blinds, letGod's sunshine and fresh air in. Take no medicine except what I giveyou. I must bring my wife and Mattie to see you, and you and they mustromp all over this country in a few days--providing a favorable winddoes not set in. For I must hie away to the North Pole at the earliestpracticable moment."

  "Please bring your ladies up soon, Doctor. I desire very much to knowthem, and I am sure that company does me good. I am afraid to be alonea moment. It has been too quiet in this great castle with no one to talkwith but the servants. Do send for them immediately, please."

  A few moments later they appeared and were introduced to Feodora. Theywere shortly upon very good terms, for each of them was exceedingly wellbre
d and possessed of purest womanly instincts.

  "I heard your beautiful singing last night, and how I did wish to joinyour company. And do you know that yesterday I had been sufferingterribly with stitching pains in my side, and I was so tired andmiserable that I asked God to help me or take me home. Just then yourgreat silver ship sailed across my window so that I could see it as Ilay upon my couch, and do you know that I believed, for a time, that Godhad sent his chariot for me. I did not seem the least frightened, thoughI could hear the screams of the servants in different parts of thehouse, and my nurse had crawled under the bed. I just closed my eyes andawaited the summons. I confess that I felt really disappointed when theytold me the truth of the matter. But now, do you know," grasping thegood little Doctor's hand, "that I believe this to be God's messenger,and through him I am to be restored to health again."

  "The Lord grant it," said Dr. Jones. "But now we must leave you a fewhours. You have had quite enough excitement for once. I expect to seeyou in the drawing-room to-night."

  So they withdrew, leaving her smiling and happy. Count Icanovich joinedthe Doctor a few moments later and asked him to sit with him in hisprivate office.

  "You will understand, Doctor, that I am exceedingly anxious to know youropinion of my daughter's condition. You have inspired us with a degreeof hope that we have not known for a long time. Indeed, Hope spread herwings and left this castle long since, and it has been little betterthan a charnel-house until your appearance. Now I ask you to tell mecandidly whether you entertain any hope of my Feodora's ultimaterecovery. You may lay your heart open to me, for I should receive her asone raised from the dead if you save her. Do not, as you love your ownsoul, attempt to deceive me."

  "Count Icanovich," answered Dr. Jones, "I am hardly prepared to give youa definite answer. I certainly see great reason to hope all that couldbe expected or desired. A certain remedy is so positively and clearlyindicated in her case that I shall be greatly disappointed if the mostdistressing of her symptoms do not immediately disappear. After that, somuch depends upon the hygienic and dietic management that I do not feeljustified in making an absolutely favorable prognosis."

  "What if she were under your immediate supervision for a certain lengthof time?"

  "I should, under such circumstances, feel quite sure of restoring her toperfect health."

  "Then, Doctor, if money be any object to you, you shall have your ownprice for remaining until you pronounce her well."

  "I am extremely sorry, Count, but that cannot be. My Government hasbuilt yonder aluminum air-ship at enormous expense at my express desireand instigation, with the understanding that I sail with it to the NorthPole. My obligation is to do so with all possible dispatch. I will leavemedicine and explicit directions, so that in all probability you will dojust as well as if I remained."

  The nobleman said no more upon the subject, and they joined the companyin the drawing-room. Will, Fred, and Denison repaired to the stables,selected saddle-horses and rode to the town. There they were objects ofgreat interest to the inhabitants. The news of the great silverglobe--for they all believed it to be of silver, and the strangers to befabulously rich--with its load of voyagers that came so suddenly andmysteriously among them the day before, had spread rapidly. Thesuperstitious people were half inclined to regard them as celestialvisitors, and looked upon them with awe and wonder.

  The Doctor and the Professor, with the ladies, took a long walk throughthe park. They met many of the natives, who were coming from everydirection to see the marvelous silver ship.

  "I declare," said Mrs. Jones, "that I can hardly realize that all thiscan be true. I have to pinch myself sometimes to see if I am notenjoying a long beautiful dream."

  "It is romantic to the last degree," replied Professor Gray.

  "The wind still holds in the north," remarked Dr. Jones, scanning theskies and treetops. "I see that it has veered a few points to the west.We will surely get a favorable wind before many days."

  "Isn't it a pity that you cannot stay with that lovely girl until she isout of danger?" sighed Mrs. Jones.

  "Yes, it grieves me exceedingly to be obliged to leave her, but I haveno option in the matter. If that globe were my private property, I wouldnot leave her until she was out of danger. But, under the circumstances,I cannot do so. After all," said he, brightening up with the thought,"she will probably do as well without me."

  "She is the loveliest creature I ever saw," said Mattie. "How gentle,beautiful, and patient she is. Much as I desire to visit the North Pole,still I would gladly remain here six months or a year if it would do herany good."

  The day passed away without incident. After dinner all met in thedrawing-room, and the invalid girl occupied an easy chair among them.She extended her hand to Dr. Jones with a grateful smile, and said:

  "Doctor, I have not passed so comfortable a day for a very long time. Ishall get well. Your medicine has done wonders for me already. You are,no doubt, in great haste to reach your destination, but you must notleave me until I am better. If you do, I shall die."

  "O, no! my dear Miss Feodora, you will not die. I shall leave youmedicines that will help you through nicely."

  This the Doctor said with all the assurance and cheerfulness he couldcommand. But she instinctively detected a slight shade of anxiety oruncertainty in his tone. The physician must be a consummate actor whocan deceive a patient whose perceptions are preternaturally acute aswere Feodora's. He saw that he had not deceived her, and cried:

  "Do not let us think of that subject to-night. This unfavorable wind maylast many days, and I promise to see you better before I go."

  She smiled sweetly and gratefully as he gave her this promise, andabandoned herself to the enjoyment of the music, conversation, etc., ofthe evening. Instrumental and vocal music constituted the principalsource of amusement, and the audience awarded unstinted praise andapplause. The singers were in the best possible form, not one of themcomplaining of cold or hoarseness, as is customary. Nothing could exceedthe sweetness and richness of Mrs. Jones' voice. It seemed to fill thegloomy halls and rooms of the castle to its farthest confines. AndMattie's contralto beautifully and nobly seconded the soprano. The tenorand bass could scarcely have been better, and altogether it was aconcert worthy of the praise of that, or any other, audience.

  "You will never know what a change your coming has made in our home,"said Feodora to Mrs. Jones and Mattie as they sat beside her. "Beforeyour coming, all was so still and dark, and scarcely a sound could beheard in the rooms or halls all day. Now see the servants sitting andstanding about the halls, chatting and laughing as if nothing had everbeen wrong in the house. And look at papa talking and laughing as if hewere not the saddest man on earth only two days ago. As for myself, I amsimply astonished beyond measure. I have really forgotten for a timethis evening that I am not perfectly well. O, what a beautiful,beautiful change! And it is perfectly heavenly to have a respite frompain, even if it be but temporary."

  The two ladies, one sitting upon either side, smiled their sympathy andhappiness, and pressed her poor emaciated hands between their own cool,soft, plump ones in a way that went directly to her heart.

  "Let us help you up stairs," said Mrs. Jones, "for I am sure that youmust be getting tired."

  She assented, bade the company good-night, and retired with the twoladies.

  "Now you must let us do everything we can for you while we are here,"said Mrs. Jones. "You know that we are to see you better before we goaway, and I have so much confidence in Dr. Jones' system of medicinethat I am positive of your recovery."

  Leaving her then to the nurse, they retired for the night.