The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-25

night was uneasy enough to uphold myself in
calling second physician. The second
ersd himself of the anu opiaion that 0G ms
lara was the cause of the whole
trouble. Again quinine was administered, re-
lleved by Dovers powders. and still SCOTS in
tense fever and restlessness continued undated.
By morning a terrible sore throat had set in.
and shot-like eruption began to appear his
face and hands. This condition of affairs
alarmed me into bringing in third member of
the class. This time there was the satisfaction
of having the disorder named diphtheria with
RASH was the sage decision. But as the case
gave evidence of developing into of great
gravity, the medicine man" deemed it expedient
to call general counsel of the resident physi-
clans. The action Of this body had the effect of
changing SCOTS malady into French measles.
But the next day the disease became unmanage-
able, crossed the border line, was denationaized,
and became Teutonic in nature That was the
final decision. from which there was no appeal
Scott had German measles, the first case ever
known in Brewster
Il can't stand this dallying any longer" said
Mrs. Mason, our landlady, in desperation. Il
will have my doctor and find out what really is
the matter with poor Scott"
So Mrs. Masons doctor was called to SCOTS
bedside. This member of the profession, who,
by the way, had not been taken into the counsel
of resident physicians proved to ba auburn
haired, brown eyed, girlish looking little woman.
dressed in dark gray suit afterward learned
had been granted her, aud then death took her
all The only way she had been able to save
herself from wreck of mind and body had been
by devotirg herself to active work and sacrifices
for others | have often wondered why men
were not more like women in inclining to lives
OF set-abnegation as solace for bereavement.
Society, as we'll as individuals, would certainly
be much better off
do tell me what is the matter with me " said
Scott pleadingly, as Mrs. Woodland, or Doctor
61-r DIV ION fnlu
took one of his swollen hands in her tender grasp
''Y gu have an eruptive fever" she calmly re
piled IF you will lie still and take the drops
leave you, will come back pretty soon and tell
you more about it"
won't you doctor me all the timer" he asked,
until get well? l would rather have you then
any Of the other doctors You seem so much
like -" and then he began to mutter some
thing could catch only one word of; that was
'Lida' With fanting heart followed Doc
tor Alice out of the room.
How long since you we're vaccinated?' was her
reply to my anxious inquiry. Her question told
the story, and answered with shaking in my
voice: Five years ago, when l first went on
the road"
Then remembered that Scott was vaccinated
| at the same time, but that his arm did not
work" while was nearly laid up with mine.
She examined my mark and said: IF you
take the disease at all it will be only in a light
form"
Fortunately no one else had been admitted into
our room since Scott was first taken down be-
sides the doctors, excepting our landlord and
wife 1t was late in the evening that DR.. Alice
had been summoned. When she left the house
she at once reported the case to the health Off
GER Without further investigation, the Town
Council was Immediately convened They we're
in session only an hour, but during that time
the population of the Mason House was reduced
from nearly one hured souls to the eighteen al
ready mentioned. If the back alleys and by
paths leading to the depot and adjacent small
small towns had been Intercepted they might
have told Of lines of shadowy forms fitting
around the corners of warehouses and barns,
and of loads of personal possessions transferred
in miraculous ways
When the officers came at midnight and locked
the doors, stationed guard, and hung out the
red flag they supposed they were inclosing, for
the well-beingof the public, representatives from
all over the country. instead of only one small
! family, with their servants, the victim and
nurse The next day word was sent in by tele-
phone from the board of health that shanty
was ready out in the timber to which to remove
the patient, and that two negroes would come
with conveyance for that purpose about mid
night.
The reply our landlord sent along the wire
was
"When Scott Owens leaves my house he
will walk out we'll Or be carried out dead. You
have ruined my business for months to come by
not deciding his case in the start, when his re-
moval would have been safe. Now the case is
too critical, and the house is already turned into
a quarantine hospital.
Several attempts were made to execute Off
cal orders, but no one could be found who cared
to face in addition TO the disease, Mr.. Mason's
threatened revolver. So we were left to our
selves: much that part of the town
seemed the deserted village" Our supply man
at the back entrance and Dr.. Alice were all we
saw of the outside world.
Have You informed your families OF what
has occurred" asked Dr. Alice the next morn
ing, when she came up Are either of you mar
ried men!"
No." replied, with sensation in my throat,
think must have been like what women suffer
with in hysteria; ''but we were both to be on
Christmas"
Poor girls!7 she said. III low quivering voice.
Have you written thems"
''Oh, no." said they mustn't know it.
would not have them for anything"
II am a girl, too" she replied, land have
loved and know they can bear anything better
than to be deceived 1t is a mistaken kindness
to conceal the truth from them, even the short
time that it is possible. You are not permitted
to send out mail from here but / will write for
you at my office. Give me their addresses"
With helpless feeling I obeyed. In short
time she returned with copy of the letters she
had mailed and I felt relieved as one usually
does whenever the worst truth is acknowledged.
AS for Scott, he was already delirious. 1t made
no difference to him.
1t seemed to me as if terrible thunderbot
had fallen out of clear sky and feled us power
less to the earth Scott and | had been so hap
by, since everything was settled. in prospect of
the Christmas gifts that awaited US, that we
could hardly lay aside our thoughts of future
bliss long enough to talk over our business
together. double wedding CD Christmas even
ing--only week ahead. All the arrangements
HAD been completed, the pretty dresses made,
the orange flowers and marriage-bel ordered,
the invitations all out and the minister engaged.
Ida Mcfarland SCOTS love, was a slight,
gray eyed girl. alone in the world, who had had
more than her share of sorrow, but who thought
she had been given than hundred fold
recompense for it all in her grand, noble Scott.
bluest-eyed, lightesthearted, oveliestcreature in
the world. Ida, who maintained herself by
teaching school, was Foy's long cherished friend.
She Floys guest, and was to be married
beside Floy in Floy's beautiful home.
What an awakening from such dream of
blissl Scott oyertaken, in an unaccountable