The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-10-22
THE DOCTORS CURSE.

similar lodgings In tho capital. OF tn,
fashions OF these southern towns he knew
rs yet but little. Paris, London and Ger
IMAM universities had sufhced for on,
whose sole purpose in living was to reaol
the highest science In his own profession
and 1t was but a day and an hour since h
had heard Q strange voice calling, tn
voice which had summoned him south
ward to the shore of that blue, vast sci
by which q CHASTITY plague was stalking
He brushed the haze from his sight ant
tried to find things real. He was strongl,
conscious Of some few trifies; the whit,
window curtain nuttering family in TIT
failing breeze and the morning sun, which
grew pitilessly hot, the twisted draperiei
Of the bed, the silence of the stricken
outer world, his own image In the mirror
ON the opposite wall. He regarded thi
last with vague wonder. 'yh,.t q pale
dszed countenancei How strangely gaun
the shaven facet How thin the dark lock-
upon the templesi
Then he went again to look at the maj
upon the bed, who still tossed In tormen
and moaned necessarily for @wster."
Jsneway had come prepared. HI
opened his case and took out certain rem
edies. He hold the spoon to the lips o
the sufferer; then he stood erect and spok'
one word:
Seymour"
The eyes of the man Enclosed. h,
looked up half-deliriously and grasped a
II death itself lowered over him.
"Heavensi You herei"
The doctor, still looking at him, an
swered calmly:
Eyes, ! am here"
"What have you come forf To kill me
To take her from me2"
"Where Is shef" the doctor asket
slowly, though no culver was preceptibl,
Of voice or feature.
"She Is safe-in Paris-waiting for me,
the other answered In a tone of misery
waiting for me, and l am dying here
without her! 1t is your curse upon US
your cursel Water-give me drink,
am burning up-your cursep
| "Hushp Janeway mOistened his lips
| "YOu are not the one, nor this the hOu
to speak of curses. Only one thing de
mand to know-for the rest be SILENT
you have cherished and been tender with
her. Swear to me the tr nth, as you ma.
meet your God this day"
| The sick man cried out his answer will
desparing agony.
| a swear, swear that I have Away
loved her!" He broke again into bitte
moaning at the pain that racked him IL
body and limbs.
Janeway seated himself and chafed tn,
hands and rms of his patient, constantly
untiring, only pausing at intervals to ad
minister the remedies. There was In hi
face a set look of resolve.
The sufferer breathed more rapidly, hi
| voice grew huskier.
| 81 thought--that you had come to tax,
her back"
"Takc her backS" repeated Janeway
"Ho" ,.,r one take back what one neve
has? never had her; she never wa
mi. AcrpS in name. If she had onc'
loved .',:', 10 you fancy she would hav'
| foI; .nil'n itr' A certain lofty pride
secn..d Tor the moment to round hi!
sperci. "On, no; she never was MINER
He sad no more, but continued to ohafe
the hands o: the foe whom he had fOunC
80 str;0-gely in strange land.
ScyI: II :yrew Quioter; he spoke In
| slow, husky whisper.
"You are right; she never loved you
She loved me, and I her; you can no
blame me for loving her, even thoug
you, yourself, did not"
| I'll not love Amy-not love-my wifer
Janeway's wondering voice swelled with
q strange pathos, when suddenly hi
paused and seemed to recollect. IN,
| matter But swear to me thi
also. That you will never forsake her ;.
II swear" the husky whisper came
And presently Seymour dropped into q
doze.
| The day drifted by. The room was 81
lent and the heat intense The window
curtains scarcely stirred.
A sister of charity came In.
as he living stillis she asked
| "He will live, think" said Janeway
quietly.
The sister took his place, and he went
out into the street. He did not 60 far; he
walked slowly, looking about him witt
grave and sunken eyes He could SET
| Death striding through the city, masked
| with the white and glaring sunshine. HI
could hear the cries of those In NOR
tai agony-and the cry Of his own heart
Patience" he said to his heart. ITO
morrow we will 60 to ther,-to-morrow
when all Is clear"
He fastened back to Seymour. who still
dozed, only arousing occasionally to beG
for water.
The sister went away, and evening
erept on. The candles wasted slowly.
| Janewa", Leaning forward, his chir
lowered, his eyes lifted, looked at thu
wasting candles. Perhaps between hin
and their flame some phantom OF thu
past seemed floating; perhaps SOM
brightness of Amy's hair--the azure o
her eye,-for suddenly he drew q hare
breath and = prang to his feet.
| at shall not bel" he cried between hi
teeth
The candles had burned out; another
L sultry dawn was at the window. Jane
way, white with exhaustion, leaned bacl
I'm his chair He had fought hard will
death.
The sun was rising, when voice cam'
from the bed.
| "Am be tier, or must dief"
Then Seymour, stirring, looked upol
the watcher.
"Philip Janeway," he said pal ,fully.
thought it was dream"
The watcher turned his sunken eye
| upon him, but gave no answer.
Theman on the bed moved with a rest
less, fearful countenance.
"What do you mean to dor he asket
tremulously. "Did you follows usi"
+ "Follow you'll" Janeway's voice seemed
to come from distance. "If had eve
thought to do SO, 1t would have beer
years ago, not at this late day." Rising
he said: II am going out for time; wheI
l come back shall have something to sa.
to you"
He seemed to pass unsteadily through
the door. Seymour's gaze followed hin
apprehensively.
He was not long away. He returne
and sat down heavily. His pallid cOun
tenance was also stern.
Seymour's apprehension was vfsibl
heightened.
"Am l to live or diei" he cried out phi
eously.
When Janeway answered his voic
seemed to come from afar.
ats five years since" he said. "Fiv
long years. In all that time what hav
you done by herr Do not think to lie Il
me while death stands nearp
~ have always loved her." the othe
pleaded. aShe has been happy-she lovet
me. II only I had not come to this curses
placeIn He grew wild and, shriekine
shook his powerless clenched hands q
Janeway. "Well, you may sit and gloa
upon my death. l know that I am II
Iyour power-dying at your curse. Blu
here's nv comfort, that she loved me al
ways, never youi Her heart will breal
for me, and you shall never have he
backi"
Janeway's voice seemed to draw neal
then fade away again: mo, her hear
will not break. You will not de-" H
leaned back as he ceased to speak; hi
head dropped heavily, 30 that his fac
Il WAS NJ l0nnor annar2nt.
Seymour was silent with surprise. NJ
diei He was horribly weak, but no longe
felt that dreadful pain and thirst HI
waited to hear more. A considerable tim
elapsed.