The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-10-31

nthNcu CoiiNulSNtly dS hne uttered tleSe
words.
Poor mother" she sighed. "She a
witch because she cured some sick people
whom the stupid physicians of Mar
seilles had given up"
1t was an abominable outrage" muir
INJURED NJ. De Couras.
at was, Antoine. My own life was
in danger You saved me, and con-
cealed me herel And then think of who
you are The only son of wealthy
counselor to the Parliament. Your
father would disown you"
| have modest fortune in my own
right" interposed Antoine.
"A modest fortuneW she exclaimed,
almost scornfully. How happy you,
the petted child of opulence, would be
with a slender income"
81 would be with you. Bat tell me,
Sephronia, is your decision irrevocable p"
She hesitated. Then she passionately
drew him to her heart.
ono! MOI" she cried. "Only give
me a weeks time. | have a strange
foreboding that startling events are
going to happen"
One startling event has already
happened" said NJ. De Couras. "The
plague has broken out in Marseilles."
"The plague" she echoed, with dis
tended eyes.
Yes; everybody is alarmed"
"And well they may be-" she said,
sOlemnly. "Few cures can be effected
where the plague appears in its most
malignant form"
" Many people have died this after
noon, SephrOnia."
"Then God have mercy upon Mar
seilles. You must forthwith leave the
city, Antoinew
He laughed.
why? | am not afraid" he said.
DO not laugh, Antoine. was born
and brought up in Aleppo.' and my
whole family would have been swept
away by the plague if my father, who
was very learned man, had not pos
sessed an infallible remedy for the
epidemic"
" Have you got that remedy~ An
tome asked, eagerly.
~ have" she replied
" "Why, then. do not you give it to the
authorities, Sephronia W
"And be broken on the wheel as
witchr' she exclaimed, bitterly. "No!
mol And what good would it do? They
would never apply it."
." must go, then, Sephronia,' ne
said. II shall be back in week and
get your final answer"
"Stay minute; shall give you some
Of my fathers plague arcanum."
She went into an adjoining room and
returned soon afterward with large
crystal bottle, 4 jar, and two small empty
vials.
One of these vials she filled with the
yellow fluid which she poured from the
crystal bottle The other vial she filled
with an oily substance, soft salve,
which she took with an ivory spoon from
the jar.
"If you should get the plague" she
said, rub your body with this salye,
and drink few drops of the fluid. You
will speedily get we'll"
lhey parted most 'ehueriy, ana An
tome lett the house
He had passed on but Il few steps
Whcn ne was attacked by TWO desperate
fellows, VINO knocked nm sensclesS.
Is 1t not curious that. when all good
people shut themselves up in their
houses in order t. escape the pcstlence,
desperate criminals prowl about fear
lessly, bent on murder and robbery
They rihed the pockets OF the mani
mate young man. They found IN them
a well-hlled purse and two VlalS. Inc
latter they flung away contemptuously.
Then they hurried away.
NJ. DE C0uras awoEe ten minutes later:
Inc nlght was very dark, Dut ne groped
his way to thoroughfare, and speedily
reached MS fathers palatlal mansion.
ihere terrible news awaited hlm-hls
lather,, his mother, and his two lovely
sisters mad been attacked by the plague:
All their cowardly servants had fed
from the mouse.
ANTOINE Detnought himself OF the TWO
vlaIs oePhronla had gwen him.. de
was bitterly disappointed when he found
that they were gone
suddenly ne ieit that MS own head
began to reel, and he sunk senseleSs to
the hoor.
lie, too, had the plague!
Iwenty-four hours later ne reawoke
70 CONSCIOUSNESS AV MS bedside @t
oePIr1hla' " , Il,
iea,u . .ha. i you ;,h anu your mnoie
Iahiiiy were uo"i, WIN 'ne Plaguei 80
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AN. anu q, your S's'erS were uy'ng' lou VIII
I'VE M j., . ,, ,,.
III he u'u ieio,.i' I anu W Il 1u meeA laIel IVA was
aple 70 DC apou'' ,: ne pelsuaueu p.:. Ieph,