Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-03-02
case, too. why did you not send for me ear

case, too. why did you not send for me ear
lier ~
because he would not have you," said th'
old gentleman, bluntly. "Only his being light
headed gave me chance to do what I knew
was right"
CDR. Stanley laughed-for doctors can laugh
in sick-rooms-and then proceeded to write 8
prescription. ''It's pity it takes so long tc
get things here from town he ought to have
this at once However, we must do the best
we can. Who is to nurse him ?"
81 will" said the Captain.
"Will you? That's satisfactory; no one
could fill the office better. One man is worth a
dozen fdgety women. By the way, little So
ply May is a famous nurse. I haven't seen
her mother in the last FIVE days. Can you tell
me how she is ?''
''Better this morning, Sophy says"
"Queer case, hers; a complete complication
of the nervous system. can't for the life OF
me make out whether she is going to get well
ornot. I'll 60 up there for a minute or so,
and see them," said the doctor, drawing on his
gloves, have servant ready to follow me to
town, to get the medicine. don't know how
soon I may be able to return, but I'll try and
get over here some time tomorrow. Be sure
you look sharp after our friend here, Captain,
till I get back"
The Captain promised, and DR.. Stanley pro-
ceeded to Mrs Mays.
"Your mother seems to be improving" he
remarked to Sophy, who followed him out into
the porch when he was taking leave. keep
her spirits up, now, and don't let her get re-
lapse. You've got a pretty sick neighbor,
down yonder."
SIS he worse to-day P" asked Sophy, anx-
iously.
''He's not got to the worst stage yet it's
just coming on. I ought to have seen him
sooner. However, your old friend, the Cap
tain, has treated him very sensibly. am glad
he has undertaken to nurse him."
"What is the matter with him, Doctor 20
"Typhoid fever Goodbye" said the doc
tor, and he was off in a hurry before she could
ask any more questions.
Sophy remembered her father having an at
tack of typhoid once, when she was quite a
little girl, and that his life for some days had
been despaired Of She knew that it was often
fatal disease, and her heart sank with mis-
giving when she recalled the doctors words.
It was no wonder that MI. Erskine had fall
en- i'll. He had ridden over to Chatham two
days before his attack, had got caught in a
pouring rain, and reached home drenched to
the skin then had neglected to change his
clothes until after giving prolonged directions
to fisherman from the village, concerning his
son, wild young lad whom Mr.. Erskine had
constant source of trouble to all interested in
him. Following up this first imprudence with
his long delay before allowing any remedies to
be applied to him, it was only owing to con-
stitution as strong as his own that he had a
chance of recovery at all.
The chances, for while, seemed slim, in
deed. He had intervals of reason between his
wanderings, or rather of semi-consciousness,
in which his mind would seem to be striving
feebly to grasp at the sense of his surround
ings would arrive at momentary under
standing of his situation, and then float off
into delirium again. One night, as the Cap
tain watched beside his pillow, he suddenly
rallied from what seemed to be a sort of STU
por, and spoke in collected tone.
"Captain, is that you ? Are you sitting
there still %
eyes, I'm here still," said the Captain.
"How do you find yourself ?"
81 can't tell. Have been sick long ?"
IA pretty good while.''
cts fever, isn't it p
eyes"
''Of what kind %
"Typhoid, the doctor calls it.''
''The doctor Has he been here ?'
''Of course. I couldn't undertake the re-
sponsibility alone"
''Is there any danger %
The Captain hesitated. His hesitation was
significant or at least so it appeared, for Mr..
Erskine said
II understand you. When is the crisis ?"
''To-morrow or the next day."
"Ah Thank you for telling me-"
s'I'm not sure at all that I had right to
tell you," said the Captain, "but you ask such
downright questions there's no getting off
from answering you. Keep quiet now, and
don't talk any more, or won't answer for the
consequences"
"But, my friend, I must talk. There is
something wish particularly to say to you" :"
sWait until another time"
"Another time, I may not be able. You
yourself told me that tomorrow would be the
crisis. If it carries me off, it will be too late
for any communication between us two"
s'But over-exertion will increase the danger.
DR.. Stanley will be furious with me if he finds
I have neglected his directions"
"Never mind Dr. Stanley. I shan't do my
self any harm. Tonight I feel wonderfully
strong, and my head is clear-clearer, be-
lieve, than it has been for good while l
could talk for hours"
'No, you couldn't, you'd kill yourself ifyou
tried it. However, go on. BE as brief as you
can I'll listen"
"Well. Know, my friend, that few
months ago made my will fortunate cir
cumstance, as it appears. l want to tell you
now where to find it. In my vest pocket-the
gray one-you will find some keys; one of those
unlocks the secretary down stairs in the back
parlor In the secretary to the left, is a pri-
vate drawer press the spring and it will open,
and in it you will find the document in ques-
ton, tied up with red tape.'
''Very good, "said the Captain. 'Anything
else 20
Eyes. When was talking to Saunders,
the other evening-whenever it was, for I've
lost cOunt of the time-I forgot entirely to