Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-02-26
CHAPTER V.
THE WIDOW OF STEPHEN BATHoRY

The arrival of Doctor Antekirtt had
been noised about not only i'll Ragusa,
but throughout the province of Dalmatia
The newspapers, after announcing the
schooner's arrival, had hurried down to
the prey which promised to yield such .
series of sensational articles The
: owner of Savarena could not escape the
vhonors and drawbacks of celebrity.
His personality was the order of the day
Legend had seized upon him for its own.
No one knew who he was, whence he
came or whittier he was going Thi,
was just the thing to pique public curl
osity. And naturally where nothing
is known the field is more open aud
imagination has more scope.
The reporters, anxious to crafty then
readers, had hurried in 10 Gravosa-
some of them even went out to the
schooner. But the parsonage about
whom the rumor was so busy was not to
be seen The orders were precise. The
Doctor would not receive such visitors.
And the answers given to the visitors
were always the same.
Where does the Doctor come from ?"
Where he pleases. "
Where is he going!"
Where lie likes.
"But who is hep"
ono one knows, and perhaps he does
not know any more than you do"
Not much to be gained for their
readers from such answers rs these
And so they gave reins TO their imagina-
ton. Doctor Antekirtt became ali they
pleased. He became all these inter
viewers Mt bay thought fit to invent.
To some he was pirate chief. To some
he was an African king cruising incog-
nito in quest Of knowledge. Sumo
affirmed that he was political exile.
others that revolution had driven him
from his country, and that he va.
travelling for purposes Of science and ar.
The readers could take their choice
As to his title of Doctor there seemed -
be two opinions; in tho opinion Of somo
he was great physician who he'd
effected wonderful cures in desper.t.
cases in the opinion OF others hes was .
great quack who would have had some
difficulty in producing his diplomas.
Under any circumstances the physi
sicians of Gravosa and Ragusa would
have no chance OF prosecuting him for
the illegal practice of medicine. Doctor
Antekirtt maintained constant reserve,
and whenever patient lad done him
the honor to consult him he invariably
declined.
The owner of the Savarcna took no
apartments on shore. He did not even
enter any of the hotels i'll the town.
During the first two days after his arri-
val at Gravosa he hardly got as far as
Ragusa- He contented himself with q
few walks in the neighborhood, aud two
or three times lie took with him Point
Pescade. whose natural intelligence lie
appreciated.
But if he did aot go TO Ragusa, one
day Pescade went there for him. Flo
had been sent on some confidential
GRAND. and these were his replies to 10
questions asked him when he returned
And so he lives in the Stradonc?"
"Yes, Doctor-that is to shy, in tho
best street of the town. He has house
not far from the place where they show
visitors the palace of the old do9es a
magnificent house with servants and
carriages. Quite in the style Of q mil.
honaire.'
"And the other ?"
"The other or rather the otlers -
answered Pescade. They live in tie
same neighborhood, but their house il
down O narrow, winding. hilly stree.
that takes you to houses that are mol
than modest
"And their house p
Their house is humble. small and
dismal looking out side, but / should
think it was all right inside. 1t 10 as 81
though the people that lived there .e,e
poor and proud.
1.-THE lady ?"
81 did not see her, and hear l ma:
she hardly ever went out OF the a~s
Marinella"
"And her SOM"
Il saw him, Doctor, as he came >.~a
10 his mother"
"What was he likey"
He seemed thoughtful and anxious.
They say that the Young fellow has seen
borrow. And he looks like it,"
But Pescade, you have seen sorrow.
and yet you do not look like il. :"
Physical suffering is not moral suf.
fering, Doctor. That is Why \ have
always hidden mine.-and even laughed
over them"
After this the Doctor stopped his
walks about Gravosa He seemed to bs
e. -