The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-08-09
AROOM WITHOUT DOOR.


devoid of startling experiences. 1t hap
pened many years ago, all the persons
chiefly concerned in 1t are dead, and dare
say that by employing fictitious names
shall fulfill the requirements of prudence.
Workingham, where have exercised my
calling as a medical man throughout my
professional career, is a manufacturing
town which has, believe, returned Liberal
DR. Radical members to parliament ever
since 1892; SO that everybody was sur
prised when Sir Horace Sibthorp, one of
the principal territorial magnates of the
county, came forward to solicit our suf-
frages. He came forward, it is true as
Radical, and even as what in those days was
esteemed very extreme Radical; but that
of course only increased the general sur
prise. What his motives were for thus de-
parting from the traditions of his order
did not inquire-indeed, have never taken
much personal interest in party politics
but he was triumphantly returned, and his
skill in oratory-possibly. also, the incon-
gruity of his position-soon earned for him
a popularity far greater than had been en-
joyed by any of our previous representa-
tives.
1t was on account of what I had been
| told about his eloquence that attended a
great meeting which he addressed shortly
after his election, and | must say that a
/ finer speaker | never listened to. He
! talked what seemed to me at the time to be
rather wild and dangerous nonsense, al
| though many of the schemes which be adj
vocated have since become lawsi but the
! fascination of his voice and gesture, and
his air of thorough, enthusiastic conviction
were such that one could not help being
carried away by him, and | soon found
myself applaoding as loudly as anybody.
He was tall, spare man, with singularly
bright brown eyes. His age was probably
nearer sixty than fifty, but he had youth.
full carriage, and but for his gray hair he
might have passed for being on the better
side of middle life
His speech, as l have said, interested me;
but as he went on began to take another
and more professional interest In the
speaker. Those curiously brilliant eyes of
his, the pallor of his complexion and a
blush tinge about the lips, which grew
more apparent as he approached his pero-
ration, were symptoms of an unmistakable
kind, and it was very evident to me that
Sir Horace's political career would be a
brief one He sank back into his chair at
last, completely exhausted, amid tremen-
dous outburst of cheering, and l observed
that he left the platform Immediately after
ward, leaning upon the arm of one of his
friends, while somebody else rose to adj
dress the meeting.
Not being particularly anxious to hear
this gentleman's views / slipped away, and
was leaving the hall when q messenger ran
after me and caught me by the arm
"Dr. Drew, you're wanted" said he
breathlessly; "Sir Horace Sibthorp has
been taken ILL.,"
l went at once into the little room be-
hind the platform, where, as had expect
ed, 1 found Sir Horace lying in a dead |
swoon, with two or three frightened look. |
ing gentlemen standing helplessly around |
him. 1t was some little time before was |
able to restore him to consciousness, but |
when his senses returned they did so with |
astonishing rapidity, aud our grave faces
seemed TO amuse him.
Don't look SO solemn, ali of you," said |
he laughing; didn't you ever see a man
faint before? It's a little way have; it
doesn't mean anything serious, | assure
you"
/ could have assured him that In all !
probability it meant something very seri-
Gus indeed, and l almost felt that ought
to enighten him, although of course |
was not his medical attendant and my
opinion had not been asked No doubt my
face reflected the thoughts which were
passing through my mind, for presently
Sir Horace said, in the same testing tone:
Il know you're dying to listen to my
heart. DR.. Drew. Well, Pm not going
home tonight, so if you'll come around and
smoke cigar with me at the Red Lion,
where intend to sleep, you shall be graft
fed. Moreover, you shall have the add
tional pleasure of prescribing for me-"
| accepted his invitation all the more
willingly, because his words seemed to
show that there was some genuine alarm
that assumed jauptiuess of
but unhappily the careful exami-
nation which l made after accompanying
him to his hotel did not justify me in say
ing anything reassuring to him To put
things plainly, his condition was such that
he might die at any moment and that, even
under the most favorable circumstances,
he was very unlikely to live for more than
another year or two. Naturally, did not
tell him that; but I warned him that he
could not afford to trife with his health
and that it was absolutely necessary for
him to avoid excitement.
My dear sir" he returned, smilingly.
you might as well order me TO avoid
meat and drink. You give nae to under
stand that unless retire from public life
shall kill myself, and | dare say you are
right; but there is another fact to be taken
into consideration, namely. that for rea-
sons with which | need not trouble you
private life would kill NE ! firmly be-
lieve that my best chance is TO 20 on with
this sort of thing. 1t is ridiculous enough"
be added, with q shrug of his shoulders,
yet somehow or other il exhilarates me-"
II don't wonder at that, Sir Horace"
said |, NOR can ! see anything ridiculous
IN the strong political convictions that you |
hold. ! am not ashamed TO own that you |
carried me with you this evening, though |
au pretty sure, now that ! think over
your speech in cold blood. that / utterly
disagree with il"
Dear mel" lie exclaimed, with an amused
twinkle in his eye, so you took me seri
ously. did your lou really believed thatI
was sincerel Well, between ourselves, !
hat is just what | believe as soon SIS get
upon my legs; It's queer but at the same
time q very enjoyable illusion In reality.
as / need scarcely tell a sensible man ike
you, democracy VIII never DO for such a |
great scattered empire as ours. Theorec-
Cally, this or that may be the best form 1
Dt government, but what is the best for
any given nation IS question chiefly of
geographical conditions, and have no sort
81 doubt that the best form Of government
Tor Great Britain IS an oligarchy. When |
power gets into the hands of the ignorant
masseS-as II inevitably wiil-we shall
either smash up altogether or fall under