Purple Springs

oughts he hardly heard the older doctor's incessant conversation. But that did not in any wise discourage Dr. Brander,

uncertainty of the delayed train, and his patient's condition. But all had gone well, and his patient's reaction had been satisfacto

, and the mate of it over the seat, the two doctors drove home in the purple-

team of glossy chestnuts of whom the young doctor was extremely proud. But tonight, a strange lassitude of spirit was upo

he had no desire to enter politics. He loved his work-the people he served were devoted to him-he could read it in their faces and their stammering words. He knew what they wanted to say, even though it w

s ago; Pearl, with her contagious optimism and quaint ways, who had the good gift of putting every one in good humor. He smiled to himself when he thought of how often he had made it con

his clumsy way, when he met them on the road-"Nothin' like pic

dering words. "All the same, I wish Pearl were older"-he had admitted to himself that day. "If she

it was that attracted him so. There was a welcoming gladness in her eyes that flattered him, a comradeship in her conversation that drew him on to t

she is getting-that makes all the difference in the world ... of course her father and mother may object, but I believe what Pearl says, goes-what Pearl says will go-with all of us

nder rasped through his brain

ard a word I said, you young scamp, in the last six miles-and

t into a drowsy habit on my long drives-especially when I am coming home-when the day

w you interest me, Clay. You are a sort of popular idol with all these people, and I have been wondering how you do it. A man must g

mes," the young man confesse

hat I approached this subject the last time you were in the city. I want to give you the report on the examination I gave you at that time." There was a quality in his voice which gave the young man a momentary

un, though long since set, still threw spikes of light upon the western sky and caught the

indows, and in front of the doctor's leather chair, were his

comfortable room, and the city papers lay, still

or exclaimed

e, Clay-surely there's a

the young doctor,

d. I'll bet you get dozens of bedroom slippers and ties and mufflers at Christmas. Women are like cats-the

n the big chair and warmed his

type, with your impulsive temperament, clear skin and tapering fingers. But what I have to say to you would have been said easier if I did not know you so well

sat down suddenly

ander", he said, "I am ready to hear

doctor

e live for years with it, as you know-a cracked plate sometimes outlasts

nd his voice rose and fell with the motion, as the

age on your business-a heavy mortgage-and yet one that the business can carry-with care, great care. Many a good business man carries a heavy mortgage and pays well too, but of course it cannot stand financial strain or stress

toes all the time, with its brilliant sunshine, its strong winds, its bracing air. You need a softer air, a duller atmosphere, a sleepier environment that

broke from the

panic all the time-losing time by the fear of losing time. The delights of mediation are not ours-we are pursued, even as we pursue; we are the chasers and the chased; the hunter and the hunted; we are spending and the spent; we are borrowed and lent-and what is the good of it all? I have always wanted to be an Oriental, dreaming in the shade of a palm tree, letting the sun and the wind ripen m

seemed to roll from his lips without the slightest effort, and apparently without causing his heart on

y. We are obscessed with a passion for material achievement! We are hand-wor

m the young man, "activity does

pened suddenly, and two

Doc,-we are going to organize, and we w

city doctor, whom

n't get on without Dr. Clay, he's t

he Doctor, "but you'll get on all right. You are gett

s had gone, Dr. Clay

in crazy, foolish degrading stories-absolute degenerations-now see them-on the tail of a blizzard, they dig out their lacrosse sticks and start the game on the second fine day. From the time the hockey is o

shook his

rt-so is he!'-that is the secret of triumphant living. As a man thinketh. These fellows of yours-for I know this lacrosse team has been one of the many ways

apping like lazy collie dogs, just thinking," said the young doctor heatedly.

is great new country-this big west is new and crude and distinct-only the primary colors are used in the picture, there are no half tones, no shadows, and above all

or's first words-the dreadful, fateful, significant words. He had said it-said the thing

ance that you might be mistaken. It is hard for me to believe this. I am so strong-so well-so much alive,

he throng of boys and girls who raced past on th

will be better tomorrow. No, I am afraid I am not mistaken. You know yourself the theory Clay, of the two sets of microbes, the builders and the destroyers. Just at the present moment, the destroyers have the best of it-they have put one over on the builders-but that does not say that the good microbes are n

suddenly and threw back his h

e nothing to fire man's heart. I won't fight for life if it means just breathing and scraping along at a poor, dying rate, cheating the undertaker of a nice little piece of legitimate business-I can't grow enthusiastic over the prospect of always thinking about myself-and my rest-a

the old doctor, noticing them, wished

of the night, setting bones and pulling teeth, or ushering into this wicked world sundry squalling babies who never asked to come, and do not like it now they are here. You have been as strong as a

r surveyed him

"how simple. Send word ahead,

me very inconsiderate for people to get sick in the winter, and certainly it is no time for infants to begin their career.... Now, see here, Dr. Brander, I appreciate all you say. I know why you are talking this way to me. It is out of the kindness of your heart-for you have a soft old h

hist of yours that no on

, he passed on, as the scientists say, last Fall, passed on in a blaze of glory t

id it

h him alone. The snow came on when I was half way there, and that made the going bad-to add to the difficulties, a strong wind drove the blinding snow in our faces. But the old boy ploughed on like a wrecking engine-going out in a storm to clear t

r. The men had put him in a box stall, and had done all they could,

st there was the same proud look in his red eyes, and he gave me a sort of wink which let me know it was all right-he didn't blame me or any one-and so I kissed

ooking the lake, and the little girl

f the hou

our moth

in peace

memory in

mind went back to the one overwhelming

said slowly: "If what

gladly change p

he said quickly: "be glad you are not married. A wife and children clutter up a

live in the East, all able to look after themselves.

d the grind of domestic life. Marriage would be highly successful were it not for the fearful bore of living together. Two houses, and a complete set of servants would make marriage practicall

y laugh, the laugh which his devoted patien

e, wearing an eighteen inch collar, finding fault with a wom

an interr

r and those big eyes of yours, with their long lashes. A man is built for work, like a truck. Gold and leather upholstering do not belong there. Women are different; it is their place in life to be beautiful, and when they fail in that, th

way of looking at marriage. Marriage is a mutual agreement, for mutual benefit and comfort, for sympathy and companionship. Family life develops the better side of human nature, and casts out selfishness. Many a man has found himself

man smil

e and gives them the instinct to dress in a way that will attract men. Makes them smaller and weaker than men, too, which also makes its appeal. Why, if I hadn't watched my step, I'd been married a dozen times. These little frilled and powdere

time go? Isn't tha

g, "it stops at the water-tank,

came gliding through the moonlit valley. The train seemed to be slipping in to t

in a week-we'll talk things over, and see what is best. You have my bag, don't bother coming on-all right then-here's

-the rows of books-the Fathers of Confederation picture on the wall-and his college group. Everything was the same as it had been-only himsel

d curse and cry aloud? He could not think clearly-his mind seemed to avoid the real is

ll of the office-so strong and lasting-what chance had an army of microbes against it-the heavy front door, with its cherry panels and brass fittings, had no fear of draughts or cold. It had limitless resistance.

n he opened it, the station agent wa

o I thought I had bett

" he

put the box down on the table. On a white label, in

t feel akin. He opened the box, with detached interest. A sweet breath of roses proclaimed the contents.

s brought to him. Pearl's roses! The roses, with which he had hoped to say what was in his heart-here they were, in all their exquisite love

e over which the roses lay scattered

with a tender hand, while his mind sought in vain to rea

ng, with fascinating brilliance. Long he sat, watching it, while the sounds outside in the street grew less and less, and at last whe

alling, cying out and swelling with eerie rhythm; a soft spring wind,

the dispensary and brought out two graduates filled with water to put them in; but when h

ough the long night, he held them closely to him, for kin of his they surely were-the