Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-10-03
THE DOCTORS CURSE.

the highest science in HIS " profession;
and AZ was but A day and an hour since ne
had heard a strange voice calling, the
voice which had summoned him south
ward to the shore Of that blue, vast sea
by which a CHASTITY plague was taxing
He brushed the maze from his sight and
tried 10 find things real. He wa strongly
conscious OF some few trifes; the white
window curtain fiutterins family In the
failing breeze and the morning sun, which
grew pitilessly hot, the twisted draperies
az the bed, the silence Of the stricken
outer world, his own image in the mirror
ON the opposite wall. He regarded TINS
last with vague wonder. a Pale'
dazed eOuntenancel How strangely gauht
the 81 wen face! How hin h dark LOCKS
upon the temples!
Then he went again to look az the hau
upon the bed, who still tossed In ormen
and moaned necessarily for water.
Janeway had come prepared ne
opened his case and took out certain rem,
edies. He held the spoon to the hps OF
the sufferer; then he stood erect and spoke
one word:
Seymour"
The ewes Of the man Enclosed. He
looked up half-deliriously and grasped as
If death itself lowered over |
@Heavensl You here?"
The doctor, still looking at him. an
swered calmly:
ayes, / am here"
aWhat have you come for' To kill me'
To take her from mel"
EWhere is she?' the doctor asked
slowly, though no culver was preceptlole
Of voice or feature
@She is safe-in PariS-waiting for me,
the other answered in a tone OF misery
GWaiting for me, and | am dying mere
without her! 1t is your curse upon US
your cursel Water-giye me q drlnk-I
am burning up-your curse!'
aHush!' JaneWay moistened MS ups
EYou are not the one, nor this the nOur
TO sneak of curses. Only n thing l de
mand TO know-tor the rest be silent-t
YOU have cherished and been tender with
her Swear to me the truth, as you may
meet your God this day!
The sick man cried out his answer with
deSparing agony.
u swear, swear that 1 have always
loved her!" He broke again into bitter
moaning at the pain that racEed MIN In
body and limbs.
Japeway seated himself and chafed the
hands and arms of his patient, constantly
untiriug, only pausing at intervals to ad-
minister the remedies. There was IN MS
face a set look Of resolve.
The sufferer breathed more rapidly, his
voice grew huskier.
Il thOught-that you had come to take
her back"
take her back?7 repeated Janeway.
allow can one take back b one never
hads' Inever had her; she never was
mine except in name. II she had once
loved me, do you fancy she would have
forgotten its7 A certain lofty pride
seemed for the moment 10 round his
speech. ~Oh, no; she never was mine!.
He saidnO more, but continued to chafe
the hands OF the foe whom ne had found
so strangely in a strange land.
Seymour grew quieter; he spoke in a
slow, husky whisper.
@You are right; she never loved you.
She loved me, and l her; you can not
blame me for loving her, even though
you, yourself, did not
a! l not love Amy-nOt lOye-my wite!'
Janeway's wondering voice swelled with
a stranc pathOs, when suddenly he
paused and seemed to recOllect No
matter. . But swear to me this
also. That you will never forsake her"
Il swear" the husky whisper came.
And presently Seymour dropped into a
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 scilly' she asked.
Ale Will live, Ithink,' said Janeway
quietly.
The sister took his place, and he went
out into the street. He did not go far; he
walked slowly, looking about nina with
grave and sunken eyes. He could see
Death striding through the city, masked
with the white and glaring sunshine, lie
could hear the cries of those in NOR
tai agOny-and the cry Of his own heart
Patience" he said to his heart. 10
morrow we will 90 to them-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
crept on. The candles wasted slowly.
Janeway, leaning forward, his chin
lowered, his eyes lifted, looked at the
wasting candles. Perhaps between him
and their flame some phantom OF the
past seemed floating; perhaps some
brightness Of Amy's hair-the azure o.
her eyes-for suddenly he drew a hard
breath and sprang to his feet
at shall not be!' he cried between his
teeth.
The candles had burned ont; another
sultry dawn was at the window. Jane
way, white with exhaustion, leaned back
in his chair. He had fought hard with
death.
The sun was rising, when a voice came
from the bed.
GAm l be tier, or must 1 die?"
Then Seymour, stirring, looked upon
the watcher.
sPhilip Janewsy," he said pal lfully. Il
thought il was dream"
The watcher turned his sunken eyes
upon him, but gave no answer.
Theman on the bed moved with a rest
less, fearful c~ountenance.
what do you mean to dO?" he asked
tremulously. aid you follows usH"
A@Follow you'll" J~aneway's voice seemed
to come from a distance. aft had ever
thought to do so, it would have been
years ago, not at this late day" Rising,
he said: II am going out for a time; when
leone back Ishan have something to say
to you"
He seemed to pass unsteadily through
the door. Seymour's gaze followed him
a~pprehensiyely.
He was not long away. He returned
and sat down heavily. His pallid coun-
tenance was also stern.
Seymour's apprehension was visibly
heightened.
-Am I to live or die'" he cried out pit
eously.
When Janeway answered his voice
seemed to como from afsr.
ats five years since" be said. Five
long years. In all that tina what have
you done by herr Do lot think to lie to
me while death stands nearP'
shave always loved her." the other
pleaded. @She has been ~happy-she loved
me. II only 1 had not come to this cursed
placeI' He grew wild and, shrieking,