The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-12-24
A LAND-SLIP CURE.
An EIectrifying Romance OF the
Invalids' Corner"

Where the pine trees droop over the
side Of the clia. and appear as If long
ing to plunge into the lovely stretch Of
sea before them, is tiny nook that
even in December Is q regular sun
trap. and is known to every one I'm
Drayton as tho Invalids' Corner.
1t is q sad little corner, for here
comes those who have but short time
10 remain among the living. while their
nervclcss fingers clutch ncrvously at
the warm rugs that are wrapped round
their knees. AMI whose large eyes gaze
ever out to sea. Most Of the invalids
have relatives who come and sit by
them. anxiously noticing each change
in the wind. or watching eagerly for
the first signs Of the disappearance Of
the sun, when they will hurry away
their charges before the mir has time 10
chill in the very least But, perhaps.
the hardest cases Of all are the isolated
invalds. who somehow or other seem
left 10 die alone; poor old maids or
bachelors who cling to an empty exist
cncc in the strangcst manner, doubt
less waiting for better days in the way
we all--rich and poor. sick and we'll
are apt to do. Fortunately, these eases
are few and far between, and are 50
piteous that some one or other Is gem
orally ready 10 give their sympathy 70
the solitary invalid; and often the In
yalids' Corner is the scene Of romances
that sometimes end in happier man
ncr than one might expect from their
sad surroundings
Bnt Francis Pricstly returned inva-
lid from India. and condemned, as nc
termed il. TO six months solitary con-
iincmcnt on his back in q warmer spot
than London-carcd for nothing save
his own discomfort At first he had
rcbcllcd openly against his doctor 4
fiat. and said he would rather die than
go 10 Drayton. But on DR.. Parkyns
saving that in that case he must get an
other medical maa to attend him. fol
he would not, he gave in. and con
scented to try the proposed remedy. II
would. DR.. parkyns assured him, II he
could only learn patience and quio
waiting, end in making him quite well
But patience was not known 10 Francl
Pricstly. All through lite he had SUI
fered from his own precipitancy-h
had invariably been In . hurry.
Long ago he had been engaged =
the pretty daughter Of the rector Of tn
parish where his fathers park was sit
uated. But she could not leave nc
father until her next sister was read.
to take her place at the head OF tn
big. mothcrlcss household; and Fran
els. accusing her Of not loving him
had dashed away 10 join his regiment
leaving Edith brokcn-hcartcd. lie ma
married.. on board ship, the pretty
silly, childish wife that had made mr.
miserable for six years. and had final
clopcd, leaving with him four babies
and d ruined life. But she died Z
fever only month after, and he IN
sent the children home 70 his wife
parents. and now was quite alone
the world.
He had never felt this before he wa
i'll; he had always more friends than I
could count; and. what with one thin
and another, time had never hun
heavily on his hands. But now II WI
really terrible, And, perhaps, Il
worst part Of his illness was the way
which all the past eight years SCENE
to pass in procession before him. r
pcating. as they filed before his wa
ing or sleeping vision; "You ha,
brought Il all on yourself, you know
IL You had only waited for the gifts y
had for you, you would have be-
happy, prosperous and we'll; but "
took forcihlv what was never mca