Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-03-29
CHAPTER II.

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Il knOD that Pm to be married bctort
tlcclUe O'Clock TOMORROW
To precipitate ones self into the live:
of other people, while in itself simple
matter. not infreqently involves conSe
ouences sufficiently complex to form
puzzle, the disentanglement OF which
will constitute n life work, IL may fal
naturally into the order of things tC
board train like an acrobat, and, when
there. to assume control and direction OF
any stranger whose mental Or bodily
condition may appeal 10 human or pro
fessional sympathies; but when the life
thus touched turns, octopus like, and
clamps one with inSistent and coercive
arms and threatens to incorporate one
with its own organism, the universally
admitted fact Of human interdepend-
ence loses some Of its beauty, and most
people prefer TO treat ii as simple alb
Straction.
Should an exception prove the above
rule, it is dubbed "a survival or "a bit
of knight errantry," and the perpetra-
tor is regarded as an anomaly, and i'm
posed upon as though he were fool.
The change from the train TO hotel
bedroom was made as speedily and deity
as possible, and the sick man stood IL, on
the whole, better than his self constitu-
ed protector had dared to hope. That
his namesake possessed unusual strength
OF will DR.. Royal had been quick TO re-
cognize, and his SympathieS were
touched by the gallant endeavor the
poor fellow made TO second every out
side effort for his relief.
"By George he inwardly commented,
with the unconscious egotism which
leads us to appropriate likeness in aught
that seems to us admirable, 1.-THE fellow
has good grit. He must be kin to me az
ter all"
In taking upon himself such arbitrary
direction of strangers affairs DR.. Roy
al established his position, both to him
self and to his patient, by setting forth,
in addition to the professional bond
between them, the brotherhood engen-
dered by common membership OF a
sacred order. Either fact furnished, to
his mind, both a reason and an excuse
for conduct which, he smilingly ad-
mitted, might strike superficial OBJ
server as uncommonly like OtficiOusneSs
Its fortunate that I'm occasionally
justified by professional and other con-
siderationS, he pursued, as he made his
patient comfortable, "for I'm born in
termeddler. Other men are satisfied
with poking a finger or two into neigh
boring pasties. grab the dish. "
"a good thing for the original dish
holder too, sometimes" the patient re-
sponded, weak enough to feel the relief
of divided responsibility. 'Ive lone
some sort of conviction that my pasty
will turn out a sodden failure without
pretty vigorous stirring from an outside
spoon. The fact is, I'm in an uncom-
monty deep hole, and shall be thankful
for friendly hand to pull me out. You
must not let me interfere with your own
plans. however. II seems I've got to
rest temporarily or else eternally; but
that's no reason you should be incon-
venieIced.
That's all right" Royal declared.
Don't vex your mind on my score. m
holiday making, and my time Is at my
own disposal. There's nothing to pre-
vent my stopping over week If want
to. Then don't mind telling you that
I'm interested in your caSe-would like
to watch it a bit, in short. Force Of
habit, you see; there's nothing like it,
eh. doctor? You know how it is your
self"
He talked cheerly, kind words over
living kind intention, and both carry
ing soothing TO the sick man, as he
meant that they should. The rules OF
the order enjoined assistance in cases
like the present, and he was, moreover,
in mood for being helpful, or, as he
might have dubbed 1t. ofiicious. Since
the partial examination TO which he had
subjected the patient his interest and
sympathy had deepened. The outlook
was more serious than he had supposed
was so serious, in fact, that all
thought of continuation of the journey
must be put aside. As he talked, DIR.
ROYAL turned over in his mind the ad-
visibility of summoning the sick mans
friends without loss of time, and only
awaited an opening to request the neces-
sarv information concerning them caSu-
ally, as it were.
A clear coal fire burned in the CRATE,
night was drawing in. and outside 1t was
cold and dark The flames danced up
and down, violet where the fuel was
only half ignated, and pale yellow down
in the hollowS where the heat was great
est: shadows played on the walls and
the sick mans bed, for there was no
light i'm the room save that given by the
fire. The face on the pillow was well
nigh invisible, save when the flames
flared up. when it would start out, dis
tinct and prominent, the eyes wide open
and watchful.
ssDoctor. will you make light?"
Royal started. He had thought the
patient asleep. As he complied with
the request he remarked, quite care
leSSly:
oBy the way, friend, won't your peo-
ple be expecting you? 1t may bother
them. not understanding about the de-
Law Won know. Women always put
themselves in a fret. If you'll give me
the address before you go to sleep I'll
wire for you"
The answer was irrelevant.
"What time is it?'
DIR. Royal gave the desired informa-
ton.
"Half-past g." the sick man repeated.
"and the train leaves at 4:30 a. m. Near
" eight hours to rest and pull myself
together. No; it won't be worth while