Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-06-23

he spoke, gave a start, stopped sud-
denly, and then looked inquiringly at
the others, who maintained an omi-
nous silence.
Heavens u he exclaimed, lis it
so! And so young y
"What is so?" rather seriously in
quired Bassett, on whom the manner
Of the whole group had begun to
make a marked impression.
81 was about to tell him" said
Wheatley to Giles, in a confidential
tone; shut seeing your approach, |
thought | would wait and see if your
observation confirmed it.
"a clear easel saw it at glance =
replied Giles. "What pity And
he is in such apparent health!"
Then the five students drew back
and mysteriously conferred together.
"Does he suspect nothing?" the
farmer overheard Giles inquire.
"Nothing whatever, and even an
nounced himself as feeling in his
usual good health" answered Wheat
ley.
Giles lifted his hands, with look
of commiseration, and muttered, as
if to himself, poor fellow-poor fell
low! 1T will be hard blow to him
and his family! p
Nothing of this was lost on Bassett,
who began to grow restless and un-
easy.
"What's the matter?' he again in
quired, looking from one to another.
"Do you see anything queer about
me?''
''Tell him yourself, DOCTOR said
Wheatley.
"Some one should, returned Giles,
ssbut | wish the task had not devolv-
ed on me. One must do his duty,
however.
He then went up to the young farm
Ell and solemnly asked him if he felt
well-perfectly well, and if he had
any particular fear of death?
.'What do you say all this to me
for?'' returned the other, turning
somewhat pale, and looking frighten-
ed.
ssBecause we see seeds of death in
you," said Giles, ssand know you
cannot live over week from to-day
from this hour, in fact
ssGracious heavens what is it F.:
What's the matter with me?' cried
the other in real alarm, turning still
more pale, and beginning to tremble
in every limb.
ssYou have that secret but fatal
malady known in the olden time as
the plague-a disease again revived.
and now going about the country,
battling all attempt of the most scien-
tific physicians to master it. 1t is al.
ways proceeded by peculiar spots OF
the skin, such as we see on yours, and
kills on the seventh day, if not soon
er. You will further be assured oi
it by certain pain about the regior
of the heart-such as, if | am nor
mistaken, you feel now. How is it
Am | not right"
II believe I do feel kind of queer
pam here,' replied the frightened
farmer, putting his hands to his
breast and shuddering.
'sOf course you do. Come, gentle
men. take pity on him and purchas,
his apples, so that he can get home
and arrange all his affairs before h
has his fiji st attack of delirium.'
Cant you do anything for me
Amt there no hope?' whined tn,
now terrified fellow, with big drops o
perspiration, wrung out of menta
agony, standing all over his face ant
| brow.
"We can't do anything for you now,
said Giles; "but DR.. Copple, of ou
hospital, fancies he has discovered :
cure. We shall know to-morrow-fo
he is, in the meantime, to try tn
remedy on patient not far from here
and should he succeed, we will com
to you On the day after to-morro,
with his secret. Meanwhile 60 home
and if you feel weak go to bed; ant
if cold see that you are well covered
Do not apply to any other physician
or take any medicine of any kind til
/ see you. | will come at the tim
set, and let you know your fate for
certainty. Try to keep up your spll
it's, and hope for the best p
The students bought the poor fel
lows apples at their own price, an
he offered Giles all he was worth !
he would come and cure him. FL
drove off in great alarm, feeling yer
weak, and complaining that the pal
in his heart was increasing.
On the road beyond the village b
met some more students, who locke
at him in surprise and alarm, inquil
ing how he felt and assuring him b
was very i'll and threatened with th
plague eff, in fact he had not got
already.
He finally reached home more dea
than alive; informing his parents {
what had occurred, he took to bee
and gradually grew worse. In spit
of his protestations they sent for
doctor; but it SO happened that I'll
latter was away on consultation in
neighboring town and did not retul
in time to see him the next day. III