The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1880-11-27
ZERviAH HOPE.
FREI.l DE.

n the month OF August, in the year 1885,
ns steamer Mercy, of the New York and sa-
sann,h line, cast anchor down the channel,
, Va little town in South Carolina which
W S",s tho name of Calhoun. 1t was not q
,sm,lar part Of her "run" for the Mercy
~ make landing at this place. she ha.t
senarted from her course by special permit
toIeaye three passengers, two men anu one
woman, who had business OF grave nature
In Calhoun.
sah. came upon deck as the steamship move
:" N innuire the reason OF the delay. lie
~ss . short man. thin, with nervous hand
.~I neck. His ewes were black, his hair was
Mack nnd closely cut. He had an inscru.
i"hle mouth, and forehead weli.Plowed
ruher by experience than years. lie was
~, an oid man, lie was cleanly dressed in
ssw. cheap clothes. He had been COM
msnted ,,Don as o reticent passenger. lie
Ssd no friends on board the Mercy. This
ss. the IN Il time upon the voyage that nc
Ind heen observed TO speak. lie came Tor.
ward and stood among the others, anu ab'
mptly said:
whats this for"
He addressed the Mate, who answered
with . sideong look, and none too cordl'
1--WE land passengers by the company's
order"
eyes. the men and the lady,"
"Who are theyW
"Phy,ician, from New York"
"Ah.hw said the man, slowly, making
signing noise between his teeth. 1haA
"Volunieers to the fever district" said
Ihs Mate. shortly, "as you might have
Known before now. You're not OF soc'ao'e
III have made no acquaintance, said the
sAort passenger. ~ know nothing OF the
news OF the ship. Is the lady n,rse""
"She's a she. lOctOr. Doctors, the whole OF
tn, There ain u nurse aboard"
"Plenty TO be found, suppose, In this
place ycu speak of"
"Ilow should know" replied the Mate,
with another sidelong look.
One Of the physicians, 1t seemed, over.
heard this last question and reply. IL was
Ne woman. She stepped FORWARD WNnout
VISITATION. and, regarding the snort passe"'
pr closely, said:
hhinp. Savannah and the larger towns nave
been looked after first-as IL natural ana
hsht," added the physician, in q business
like tone. She had u quick ana clear 'cut,
but not ungentle voice.
The man nodded at her curtly, rs he would
70 another man; he made no answer; then
WIN 4 sl,cht Aysh his eye returned to hel
dress and figure; he lifted his hat and stood
uncovered I'M she had passed and turned
irom him. His face, under the influence o.
this 6uctuati0n Of color, changed exceeding.
y, asdimproyed in proportion as it changed
u was q hot day, and the water seemed u
"" b blstering about the 0ory. SO, too
~ stretching sand OF the shore. as ont
nised the eyes painfully against the direc
moonlight, was as II 1t smoked. The low
nay palmetto leaves were curled and faint
Deanty spots OF shade beneath sickly tree
seemed 10 gasp upon the hot ground. Xix
creatures that had thrown themselves dow
toget cool. Tie outlines Of the town beyOn
kd certain horrible distinctness, as II Of
sight that should but could not be veileC
Overhead, anil clean to the fiat horizon
0ashed q sky Of blue and blazing fire.
passengers for Calhoun"
The three physicians descended into th
dory. The other passengers-what thel
were ofthem-glthered to see the little grOu
depart. DR.. Frank offered Dr.. Dare ham
which she accepted, like lady. not needin
In the least. She was climber, with firn
Mhe ankles. No one spoke, a. these peoop
eot In with the negro, and appeared to dri
9own with the scorcbing tide. The woms
looked from the steamer to the shore, one
md back again, northward. The men d
~ look at all. There was an oppression
oe scene which no one was ready to run u
fisk Of Increasing by the wrong word.
"Land Ne here, too" said q low vOic
suddenly. 1t was the glum passenger.
~ noticed him. except. perhaps. the Ma
looking on with the air OF man W
would feel aM individual grievance in an
Ming this person would he likely to dol 81
Ne lady.
"Therc Is room for you," said Dr. Da
The man let himself into the boat at q lle
lound, and thu negro Towed them avn
d Mercy, heading outward, seemed
e9mg her shoulders, ~ II she had thro.
!Aen on. The strip Of burning water. ,
Meen them and the town narrowed rapid
Wlsd. They landed In silence. In sileu
ndsonewhat weakly, the negro pulled
0sy nigh upon the beach. The four
~ ea6ess stood for . moment upon the \
vAite sands, moved toward one another,
IN they separated, by blind sense Of
IN fellowship. Even Rename found III
e1k touching Mis- hat. DR.. Frank asked
Dare II he could serve her In any way:
- thanked him, and, holding out her n
White hand, said, 'GOOd.by."
This Wa, perhaps, the first moment W
y consciousness Of her sex had maze u
IL oppressive to her since she ventured U
~ undertaking. She would have MIN
!eseating herself to the Relief Comm
whom .Is si had no claim. She walked
0ees, In her gray dress and white straw
vtA Der luggage IN her own sufficient h.
Ihe Yeticcnf nassarer had fallen bel
~ wa the negro bOatman, with whom
Woleed slowly, closing the line. :,
~. After q few moments, he advanced
ssstsatlngly Joined the lady, beginning
snsy I ask YOU"
IA Az, ! interrupted DR.. Dare cordially
swill you tell me, madam, the best v
mg To work b offer myself ~ fever q
~ ~, n's p 'acs' lwans the best way i
ri .:.,, K:. l. :, .e }; said, noddins; II
cane from the North for this pur1
~~oel neaos to 70 % 70 Savannah"
de-. ZEE, know. This Il better; they
ssyeaiag u this place."
- looked toward the gasping little
lsusA the relentless noon. Her me-
- syes llled. but the mans look foil
~ adry, exultant light.
1Asrs b no porter" he said. abr
esng at her heavy bag and shawl-'
oald YOU permit me 10 help you"
OA, thaak you!" replied DIR.
ssily, rsllnquishing her burden.
khtaly. this poor fellow Vas not
aaA The lady could afford to be II
know nothing how We shall hn'
eeatted, afably, ''but ! 90 to wo!
presume shall need nurses
atg. m have your address,"
y teok from her gray sacque po