Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 205, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1917 — A Marvelous Case [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A Marvelous Case

By A. G. Sherwin

(Copyright, by W. G. Chapman.) “It’s hookworm,” declared Mrs. Nesbit “It’s laziness, pure and simple,” dissented her husband.“Wilfred never did take to work,” added the farmer’s wife pathetically. "In the first place, he knew we were reasonably comfortable off and he didn’t have to? Next, we spoiled him by humoring his every wish. When we sent him to my brother in the city, hoping he would get some ambition I was sorely disappointed. He came back disgusted, said the men were all dandified and the women vain, frivolous beings. Tm going to see the traveling doctor down at the village and find out if he can’t give me something to stir up Wilfred out of the rut he has fallen Into.” “Nonsense!” uttered practical John Nesbit. “What he needs is to have some Interest In life. As It is, he just glides through the days, perfectly content as long as he is not disturbed.” The fofkd, anxious mother said no

more on the subject at the time, but the next afternoon she went down to town and held an audience with the, wonderful Dr. Archibald Pettigrew “of the faculty of the Royal Associa-, tion of Scottish Physicians.” The illustrious fakir listened solemnly to the story of his credulous visitor and nodded his bushy head sagely. "Lack of vital salts, madam,” he declared confidently. “Had lots of cases of the same kind; cured them all.” “Do tell!” murmured Mrs. Nesbit hopefully. “You see, If you perfect the chemical equilibrium your son will get back to normal. Here, madam, is a box of my celebrated perfecto vitae tablets. Three a day until gone. In a month the patient will be working like a horse. Ten dollars, please/’ So, In her credulous simplicity Mrs. Nesbit clasped close the magic renovator and sought out her son, smoking and reading in a hammock on the

porch. Wilfred opened his eyes wide as his mother narrated her story. He took the little box of tablets without cavil. . “Three a day, eh?” he spoke. •'You dear, old mother, to go to all of this thoughtfulness and anxiety for my selfish, worthless self! I’ll make a new break, pills or no pills, just to show my love for you.” “I reckon I’m about wasting my -Jlfe," ruminated Wilfred, the next morning. “I’ll take a big hike, think it all over and see if I can’t stir up some ambition. What I want Is an object In life. Where am I going to find It?” Wilfred footed it for ten straight miles. Then he sought the umbrageous shade of some thick bushes by the roadside and sat down to rest. He drew further back out of possible discovery as, just beyond a fence line, he observed a young girl driving a horse attached to a cultivator. In the first place the vim and vigor and accuracy she displayed in turning the furrows caused Wilfred to admire her vitality, acumen and apparent delight In her laborious occupation. Next, as she neared him at every turn on the field, her daintily flushed face, her sparkling eyes, the gentle coaxings she used in directing the horse charmed him. Wilfred lingered In covert for an hour, studying and analyzing this direct opposite to himself In the way of Industry. Then a new figure appeared in the soene —a little child in a sun bonnet, carrying a basket “Come on. Tulip!” she hailed, ‘waving her hand gaily. “Mother says you’ve g6t to take a full nooning and she’s sent you some lunch. What do you think is with it? —Ice cream! I froze it flor her and —” •Tm hungry enough to eat some of

those pork and beans she waa cook> Ing this morning,” spoke the elder girl, Tulip Danvers, with a smile. "Oh, she’ydfent you those, too,” quickly added her visitor. “Mamma says there isn’t anything too good for you. She says that you are our mascot, the busy bee helper who has shown ns how to run the farm, at a profit and get the best work out of the hands we ever had and — “That will do, dearie!” laughed the young lady, closing the prattling lips of her little companion with a kiss. “Now to attack the lunch. I’m hungry as a bear. What do you -want?” added Tulip sharply, turning and confronting two uncouth, rough-looking men. One seized the handle of the basket. The other snatched at n gold neeklace the child wore about her neck. “Drop It, you thieving tramp! and youf’ Wilfred Nesbit was on his feet in an Instant. He snatched the pilfered basket from the grasp of one of them. The other he sent headlong with a blow of his fist As they made off, Wilfred, cool as a cucumber and delighted at the Incident that gave him the opportunity of acquaintance with the star-eyed girl of the cultivator, stood before her, cap In hand, the courteous gentleman complete. “I’ve found it —an object In life!” decided Wilfred as, two hours later he pursued his way. There had been a charming lunch partaken of by the trio, they had become great friends and the young man went home smiling and content

“I declare!” was the satisfied reflection of Mrs. Nesbit somewhat after that, “those tablets are just marvellous. Wilfred is working his finger nails off at the big harvester jlant and they are going to make him department manager the first of the month.” It was true that Wilfred was working hard and initial labor had served as a spur to ambition. His mother never knew all, and. she mourned over extra night work on the books at the factory, whereas Wilfred was In regular tri-weekly evidence at the Danvers farm where he had first met Tulip. He left there thoughtful and serious one especial'evening. A talk as to his sentiments towards Tulip had resulted in some very practical advice from that encouraging, but mat-ter-of-fact maiden. To sum up the same, Wilfred was made aware that he must win his right to take a wife and provide for her independently of his family expectations. But by this time he was fully initiated into the routine of and a liking for toil, and six months later proudly showed to Tulip a letter from the firm commending his progress and naming an advance in compensation, that made the establishment of a modest housekeeping something surer than a venture.

Mrs. Nesbit looked amazed, then excited and then pleased as one lovely June evening Wilfred drove up to the home porch and assisted Tulip to alight. “Mother,” he said expansively, “this is a young lady, Miss Tulip Danvers, whom I have known for some time and who has consented to become my wife —with your consent.” Mrs. Nesbit gazed tenderly at the fresh young face of Tulip. Then she opened her arms in glad welcome. “It’s a surprise,” she said simply, “but a joyful one. Dear! dear! how fast things happen. And all because of the tablets!” “What did your mother mean about tablets, Wilfred?” asked Tulip, as he drove her homeward, and laughingly WUtfred told her the whole story. “I wouldn’t let mother know for worlds,” he said, “but I never took them.” “Why not, If it pleased her fancy?” inquired Tulip. “Because,” replied Wilfred, kissing her, “I met you and forgot all about them.”' But to this day Mrs. Nesbit sounds periodically the. praises of the marvellous Dr. Archibald Pettigrew, whose efficacious medicines turned idleness into the most idealistic industry and

Just Beyond a Fence Line He Observed a Young Girl Driving a Horse.