The Red Cloud chief., 1884-10-10
Only a bit of lace.
A CHOLERA SCARE.

a.
NJ. Timothy Fox was an old bachelor
of comfortable means and unsOcial
ways, who for many years past had
lived entirely for himself and by him
self. He was even more selfish than
old bachelors usually are; and he had,
as they invariably have. a monomania.
His monomania was TIE ear of disease.
Though brave enough and sensible
enough in other respects, nothing could
persuade him TO go nea any one suffer-
ing from TN infectious disorder. Or con-
vince him If he did SO he could possibly
escape the inc ,tion. He would walk
u mile out of his way 10 AVOID passing a
house where there was sickness; and he
admitted that he would rather suffer
penal servitudc than venture into those
Sums where fever and smallpox add
10 the misery OF vice and poverty.
Accordingly, when in the early sum
mer he heard that smallpox was be-
coming epidemic i'm London. he imme-
diately determined to leave town. At
first. as certain business matters neces-
STATED his being near London. he only
went TO q western suburb; but directly
these matters were arranged and there
remained nothing TO interfere with his
freedom. he decided TO 90 TO some sea
side place. After a good deal of care
full consideration he chose Dover; but
he had not been there three weeks
when TO his horror the cholera made its
appearance at Toulon. To most per-
sons it would appear that the distance
between Toulon and Dover is such rs
10 preclude any serious chance OF con-
tagion; bat to Mr.. Fox it did not seem
30. On the contrary. he was firmly
> convinced that before hong that seaport
must become a hotbed of the fearful
epidemic. 1t was. he reflected. on the
high road between England and France;
what could he more likely. therefore,
than that some Frenchman, flying from
the plague-stricken towns in the south.
should carry the contagion 10 Dover:
This thought made him feel extremely
uneasy. If he had not contracted for
his lodging for the whole summer he
would have left at once; but having
done this. and being of rather q parsi-
monious disposition. he resolved not to
leave until the cholera reached, at least,
Paris. But n it appeared there. no
matter what it might cost him, he de-
termined that he would take refuge in
some quiet country place.
While he watched with anxiety and
alarm the progress of the disease in
France, and traced each day its move
ment northwards, he thought it would
be as well TO make az necessary prepar-
atoms for an immediate departure
cn>,l1f lot II, .nn,a Ia-frahl, Th:y Z, va
him but little trouble, for At Lilyburn-
q little village about fifteen miles from
Dover resided a nephew of his, a
farmer with a large family, who on ac-
count of his poverty and children, was
very deferential to Mr.. Fox. in view of
his wealth and childlessneSs. To him
MIR. Fox wrote that probably before the
summer was over he would pay Lily
burn a long o visit. The nephew
replied by return of post that he would
only be too happy to have the pleasure
of bis delightful company. Then. hay
ing settled this 10 his own satifaction.
Mr.. Fox awaited the approach of chol.
era with more equanimity.
One morning. when wandering u
and down the Admiralty Pier he en-
l. COuIittlCu StiSt-SN ASIhlSSS-S Ntuue
Acquaintance of his, and the son of an
old friend. In reply 10 MIR. FoX's in.
quiries, Charley. who was 4 medical
student, told him that, having been
.~.pluckcd" at his last examination, he
and a friend who had suffered the same
fate had come down 10 Dover to spend
the summer and to study for the mex,
attempt. 1t Immediately occurred to
MIR. Fox that, a medical students. they
were likely to know more about the
great sub ect of his thoughts cholera =
than ordinary persons; and SO. though
he was not fond of young mems com
pany, as il generally entailed expense
he invited Charley aud his friend, MIR
Bold. to spend an evening at his house
They at once accepted the invitation.
When they came they 500 ~discovere,
the a OF the old gentleman's hos
pitality: but rs ne gave them free run
of his wines and spirits they did no
object to the position. and toll al
they knew about the cholera ~
deal more besides 1he1 khsO
blood run cold :udshisl ar stand<
end by the terrible Ana (0tes they re
lated to him about e. IsuHerings and
misfortunes of chole6T patients. all o.
which anecdotes vs. Of course evolved
from their own 3 liant imsginations
Mr. Fox was boz bed, but still he was
fascinated by accounts. He agaii
and aSeln INV The youths to sup Will
him, ard q time they came insisted
on fnrplDa conversation on the old
young men were equal Il
>ccz =. and they seldom left him