Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-03


He would have told You. though your pa was
bound you should not be told. for fear it would
be spilin' your visit, until you were ready to
come home, he said; but he has been gone nigh
unto two weeks7-she covered her eyes with her
apron-''to nurse them as is sick with yellow
fever in the SOUTH
Margery fell on the threshold without word
Old Elsie lifted her in her arms, and laying her
on q couch within, dispatched passing
neighbor for her father and mother.
Ibid he leave no word. no message for me?n
said Margery, when she could speak.
Eyes, honey, dear; this letter he said was to
give into your own hands,"
She sat up, and breaking the seal with
trembling fingers. read:
''When you read this. nv beloved. Won will
know that l have gone where duty calls me. in
the hope OF doing some little good to the suf-
fering and dying. have not written you of my
decision because l would not have your pleasure
marred by any anxious thought of me. know
the danger, and am not unprepared- If God
wills, shall come back; if not, there is one
thing must ask you, dearest. Forgive the self
ish wrong did in making you my wife. was
too old and dull to make you happy; but be-
lieve me. darling, 1 would have done it if l
could. My great love has made me blind You
have been good and brave. I bless you now
and ever in my heart. If anything should hap
pen me. Margery. ge to Mr.. Latimer. He holds
my will and knows my wishes. All have is
yours. Think gently of me. darling and may
God hold you in his keeping now and always.
John"
She read it slowly through to the last line
Then she returned: fl
''Father, she said. with the old ring in her
voice, Il start for the south tomorrow! Do not
think to stay me; am going to my husband
Shall sit safely here while he gives away life
worth thousand such as mine? Even now he
may be fighting death alone?"
Arguments, entreaty, command, all were
alike in vain. With the early morning light the
long journey was begun.
She knew no WEAKNESS. she felt no fear. The
rushing, laundering train seemed to her to
crawl along the sand. She would have ridden,
If she could, upon the wings of the lightning. In
the night she seems to hear her husbands voice
calling her-God would not let him die before
he knew how she loved him. Oh, fool and blind
that she had been! Where in all her dreams of
discomfort had there been love and courage like
this? Here was a knight Drawer than Lancelot,
more true and tender than Arthur of the Round
Table, and she had refused his crown.
Closer and more sitting grew the heat and
dust as they neared the fever-infested district.
Long trains laden with flying refugees met
them at stations. Groups of Sisters of Charity
in the black gowns and quaint. snowy head
gear. occupied the car with her. Two physi-
clans from the far northwest sat just across the
aisle. She heard fragments of their converse
ton, calm as if they were bound on some long
planned excursion of business or. pleasure.
Common life had grown all at once heroic: it
was worth while to live-nay, to die-in such a
cause as this.
The quarantine station was reached at last.
through which Margery was to enterthe doomed
city Of her destination.
''My child" pleaded an old officer 81 speak
to you as a father. Go home. You are too
young and beautiful to rush upon certain
death. :"
my husband is there" pleaded Margery.
The early morning papers were brought in
She took one mechanically in her hand and this
is what she saw:
John Butler, volunteer visitor for the How
ards from -, Mass, was stricken yesterday.
1t will be hard, indeed to fill the place of this
marvelously brave and efficient worker, who has
seemed able to instl some of his own indomit-
able courage and hOpeinto every one with whom
he came in contact He lies violently sick at
- hospital.
Margery is in a carriage at last. The coach
man lashes his horses, but she cries to him to
drive faster Stores and shops are passed; here
and there people, black and white, rush out
from the by-streets and alleys, calling for help
''tOr the love of God"
About the great aid-centers hundreds of ne
grOes with their baskets crowded on the curb
ing to wait for the calling of their names
Everywhere they met hearses open wagons
great express carts piled with the dead. their
horses at trot, moving southwark to the GENE
teries.
They are stopped now. She springs from
the carriage unaided. A little girl grasps her
dress.
''Oh. lady, my mother is dying" cried the
girl, through a rain of tears. Margery
loosened the childs fingers gently, but she can
not linger.
"Take me to John Butler!" she cried to an
attendant.
Past long rows of cots. where men and women
and little children groan and writhe in mortal
agony. she follows him. They are taking out a
dead man; her garments brush the stif1enng
limbs as she passes.
Her guide pauses at last. Oh. God in heaven,
tossing in derium. with face discolored and dis
tortcd, and bloodshOt staring eyes-can this
be he?
One moment she shrank upon her knees be-
side the bed; then she arose to battle with
death.
The nurse could tell you how a giants
strength seemed to dwell in her young arms. a
wisdom almost superhuman in her ineXper-
enced brain. Day and night went by but she
replaced by the dying but she took no heed.
The hour came when love had conquered.
John Butler awOke, too weak for speech or
motion. but with the old ray of reason in his
eyes; and whether in the body or out of the
body he knew not. but Margerys face was above
less lips.
Slowly but surely his strength returned. Mar
gerry could leave him at length to care for others
whose needs were greater. He die not keep her
pack. she seemed TO wear charmed lie. and
her face-blight as with light reflected from
the world beyond this-was the last comfort of
many dying eye, the first returning CLEAN of
earthly hope and love to souls who, thrQ ugh her
gentle ministration, came slowly and painfully
back from the gates of death.
They went home together when over the smit-
ten land had descended the healing benson of
the frost. 1t was their wedding journey. The
far hills were blue with Indian summer; sky
and earth seemed bathed in the glory Of mystic
TRANSPORTATION. They talked little by the way.
There are some moods which words, even the
tenderest, but profane.
If they had never come back, what then? What
does it m atter-death or life-tO souls who have
tasted the supreme of existence, perfect love and
sacrifice.
Trailing.
One of the most remarkable features of I'M
civilized life is the power savages show of track
ing men and beasts over immense distances
Many travellers have spoken of this as some
thing almost miraculous, yet it is only the re-
suit Of careful observation of certain well-known