Bond and Free | Page 9

the point at once, to demand justice at the hands of Mr. Templeton.
"That would never do," replied James. "We could gain nothing by so doing; the sum of money we have in our possession would be exhausted, and we should be powerless in accomplishing the desired end. We must fortify ourselves for a conflict before rushing into it."
Three months had barely passed by since Captain Templeton had gone to his final rest, when his two sons stood on the threshold of their sister's home, a pretty cottage in the suburbs of a manufacturing town in Connecticut. Their arrival was anticipated, as the letter announcing their intention had been received a week or two previous, and a heartfelt welcome awaited them.
Mr. and Mrs. Blue were comfortably provided for by her father, who had bought and furnished their home, and purchased a considerable share in a business house, where Mr. Blue had, at the time of his marriage, been employed. The young men were not kept long waiting, for Mrs. Blue opened the door herself; and once more they felt the force of a sister's love in her cordial reception. They talked over the happy days of childhood in Virginia; of their indulgent parents, both gone; and the question arose and remained unanswered, "Where is little sister Letitia?"
"Esquire Munser wrote," said Mrs. Blue, announcing father's death very much in the same manner to myself as he did to you, except that he varied the tone of the last clause, knowing that I had been legally freed. I remember hearing father speak of making a will. I wonder if he ever did; although, if he did, it is not likely he would have remembered me in it, as he had already been so liberal, and probably considered that I had received my portion."
"It has been so many years since we were at home," said James, "except during vacations, and the three last years have been spent entirely in Germany--that the most of our knowledge of father has been through the mails; but he was always so demonstrative in his regard, and so liberal in providing for us, that I should think he would have been thoughtful for the future, especially as his health was so precarious; but it is vain to speculate, we must take the facts as they really exist."
"You are very well settled, sister Mary, and as to brother James, I am sure he has battled enough through books, lectures, experiments, surgical operations, and I know not what more, to be able to put up his name as a practitioner, and profess to earn a living by attending to suffering humanity. I have been studying over what I can do for myself, but my plans being frustrated, it will not be so easy to find business adapted to my capabilities. Have you received any letters from Virginia, sister?"
"Not one. Immediately after receiving Esquire Munser's letter, I wrote to a friend in G--, inquiring about sister, as it seemed so strange she had not written. The reply was that Letitia had not been in town since the funeral. I have written twice since, but received no answer."
The brothers found many of their old schoolmates, visited places of interest near Mr. Blue's residence, and formed new acquaintances. James was introduced to the fraternity of medical men, and looked about for an opening where he could find employment.
At a meeting of the profession in New Haven, he made the acquaintance of an old graduate at Heidelburg, Dr. Weis, who had for many years been located at N--, where he had gained an extensive practice. As may be supposed, the old doctor lived his college days over again in recalling old associations, and insisted that James should accompany him to his home for a good long talk about Heidleburg.
A visit of two or three days extended to as many weeks, and found James still at N--. A patient under the care of Dr. Weis required surgical treatment, and James proved so valuable an assistant, that he could not be permitted to leave. Indeed, the longer time wore on, the more did Dr. Weis feel that his practice was more than he could attend to in his advancing years, and he made a proposition to James to enter into partnership with him.
"You will have to do the young man's part of the work," said the doctor, "for going out at all hours of the night is not the way to cure rheumatism. There are a great many visits you can make to give me rest, to say nothing of the new hooks and crooks you have learned."
So the matter was settled, and James learned to know his title as "Dr. Templeton," and brought into use the knowledge he had obtained.
"You are just the man I have