San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-05-22

sakes It was necessary TO De pruuenC.
Yet could not leave this poor boy I'M
assisted. Iresolved to go to the har-
bour in search of medical aid. With
this idea in my mind l spoke cheer
fully.
Courage my boy" said, ''do not
lose heart! All illness is not the plague.
Rest here till return; l am going to
fetch a doctor"
The little fellow looked at me with
wondering, pathetic eyes, and tried to
smile He pointed to his throat and
made an effort to speak, but vainly.
Then he crouched down in the grass and
writged in tortue like hunted animal
wounded to death. left him and walked
on rapidly; reaching the harbour, where
the heat was SulphurouS and intense, l
found few scared-looking men stand
ing aimlessly about, to whom l eX-
planned the boys case, and appealed for
assistance. They all hung backbone
of them would accompany me, notbSeven
for the gold l offered. Cursing their
cowardice, | hurried on in search of a
physician, and found one at last-a sal
low FrenChman, who listened with OBJ
vious reluctance to my account OF the
condition in which l had left the little
fruit seller, and at the end shook his
head decisively and refused to move.
"He is as good as dead" he observed,
with cold brevity. Better call at the
house of the Misericordia; the brethren
will fetch his body"
"What!'' cried; "you will not try if
you can aveYhim?"
The Frenchman bowed with satirical
suavity.
Monsieur must pardon me! My own
health would be seriously endan-
gered by touching a cholera corpse.
Allow me to wish monsieur the good
day."
And he disappeared, shutting his door
in my face. / was thoroughly exasper-
ated, and though the heat and the f9tid
odour of the Sun-baked streets made me
feel faint and sick, / forgot all danger
for myself as / stood in the plague
stricken city, wondering what / should
do next to obtain succour. grave kind
voice saluted my ear.
"You seek aid, my SOM"
l looked up. A tall monk, whose
cowl partly concealed his pale but resO-
lutte features, stood at my side-one OF
those heroes who, for the love of Christ,
came forth at that terrible time and
faced the pestilence fearlessly where the
blatant boosters of no religion scurried
away like frightened hares from the
very scent of danger. / greeted him
with an obeisance, and explained my err
rand.
Il will go at once" he said, with an
accent of pity in his voice. But l fear
the worst l have remedies with me;
may not be too late"
~ will accompany you | said eager
Iy. Zone would not let dog die I'M
aided: much less the poor lad who seems
friendless.
The monk looked at me attentively as
we walked on together.
''You are not residing in Naples?' he
asked.
| gave him my name, which he knew
by repute, and described the position OF
my villa.
''Up on that height we enjoy perfect
health" added. 81 can not understand
the panic that prevails in the city. The
plague is fostered by such cowardice."
''Of course!'' he answered calmly.
''But what will you? The people here
love pleasure. Their hearts are set
mon to all, enters their midst, they are
ligion itself''-here he sighed deeply
"haS no hold upon them"
But you, my father" l began, and
stopped abruptly, conscious of sharp
throbbing pain in my temples.
81" he answered gravely, ''am the
servant of Christ. AS such, the plague
has no terrors for me. Unworthy as l
am, for my Master sake l am ready
lay,-willing-to face all death"
He spoke firmly, yet without AFRO
gance. l looked at him in certain ad-
miration, and was about to speak, when
curious dizziness overcame me, and l
caught at his arm to save myself from
falling. The street rocked like ship at
sea, and the skies whirled round me in
circles of blue fire. The feeling slowly
paSsed-and l heard the monks voice,
as though it were long way off, asking
me anxiously what was the matter,
forced smile.
sit is the heat, think" said, in
feeble tones like those of very aged
man. 81 am faint-giddy. You had
best leave me here-see to the boy. Oh,
my Godr
This last exclamation was wrung out
of me by sheer anguish. My limbs re-
fused to support me, and pang, cold
and bitter as though naked steel had
been thrust through, my body, caused
me to sink down upon the pavement in
a kind of convulsion. The tall and
sinewy monk, without a moments hes
itation, dragged me up and half carried,
half led me into a kind of auberge, or
restaurant for the poorer classes Here
he placed me in recumbent position on
one of the wooden benches, and called
up the proprietor of the place, q man to
whom no seemed IN ha wall lnown