The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-06-10
DEAD YET ALIVE.
THE True and Pitiful Story OF a
San Francisco Leper.

San Francisco Leper.
The morning was bright and brac,ng
the air stimulating as glass of cham.
pagne. was walking down the street
to business with my mind in whirl OF
happy thoughts. AS I turned into San
Francisco's leading thoroughfare and
Joined its surging tide Of life, rushing
onward ut full speed, scanned each
passing face in search of one which bore
the happiness reflected upon mine.
Humanity in every guise was hurry
ing to their various occupations. Some
were sad, others gay. Many We're fol-
lowed by the grim phantom, care. Few
looked genuinely happy. Though borne
along upon the human wave, l was
apart from it-in an ideal world of my
own. With what cruel force it now
comes back to me. have lived it over,
ah! SO many times-and now again it
confronts me-that glad day of my sor-
row-steeped life. Again am walking
down the street in happy reverie;
again l see q sweet face, lit up by a
pair of great, tender, brown eyes!
Again feel the clasp of warm little
hand in mine-the hand of my little
Jess-oh, God! is there no mercy for
such stricken wretch? Slow. hot
tears well into my eyes, while memory
with bitter insistence holds up to my
vision the mirror of the past. OF what
was / thinking? I was thinking of my
little love and the promise she made me
take the previous night. The thought
ha ~,
veins. My pace quicl1ened. "To live!
to live always!" I mentally cried. Wit h
so keen a sense of strength and exhil-
nration, what is there in life to equal
the gracious gifts of love and
youth? l then fell to wondering if all
the to-morrows of my existence would
be as that day, as my happy yesterdays,
] tried to Danish the nervous fcrcbod-
ing which crept in and poisoned my
reflections. Why allow anything to
trouble nc? Did l not have all that
young man ought to possess with which
to begin lifc-robust health, lucra-
tive position in great firm with fair
prospect Of advancement, the respect of
my employers, and last and best of all,
my bonny less? But my arm lis there
moi always this but or ''if' to mar
the greatest pleasures of life?)-this
arm Of ninc-this dead member of my
anatomy is my greatest source of un-
seasiness. Before father lost his fortune
he took me through Europe in search
of medical aid / was treated by sew
eral physicians, but my malady baf1led
them, and father was finally obliged to
return TO America with me uncui'ed.
How strange that l should have lost
the use of my arm from the moment
that fell from that tree in the garden
of our home in Honolulu. l was only a
child at the time. Since then years
have come and gone, yet it still hangs
.helplessly by my side. Well, to humor
my little fiancee, will consult physi-
clan tomorrow.
All that day / worked with vim
until the time of closing. and when
evening came I went to see my darling
Jess AS entered she laid her dainty
head, with its short crop Of sunny
bronze hair, against my breast and
little happy sigh of content broke from
her. Ever and again her soft eloquent
eyes gazed tenderly into mine, then u
caress, n whisper of endearment: and
that was all, for we had no need of
words AT parting she followed me to
the door and, raising my helpless arm
laid it compassionately about her neck
Her luminous eyes shone into mine with
"A look of appeal, which l understood.
IL promise, little one, PROMISE"
murniured passionately, and with u lin
gering caress we parted.
Was there of all Gods creatures one
as blessed as /? And now what am l?
Dead! and yet alive-within sight aud
sonnd of the world, longing for its joys
and pursuits, but fettered by the most
hideous fate of which the human mind
can conceive.
kept my promise to little Jess, and
Che following morning repaired to the
hospital to consult it's medical
advisers. The head physician made
careful examination and, after the
usuai formula, brought in two OF his
fellow practitioners and ] was again
examined. They then retired TO an ad-
Joining room for consultation. Soon
after they reentered. But why did they
regard me with such grave looks OF
What could it mean?
was perpiexed--vaguely uneasy.
DR. Norris broke in upon my conjec-
lures and in serious tones said:
"Yourg man, fear our diagnosis Of
your case will be terrible shock to
you. Are you man enough to meet it
bravely? Have you strength to face
what may be e crushing blow?"
IL trust have, SIR" replied, with
uu~vdI ar, Cnp ,.s, ,.f inn - tl,a h,n,t
1T is my painful duty" he said, "to
inform you that there can be no cure
for your disease; you are afflicted with
leprory."
''Leprosy!r gaspsd In tone OF In
credulons horror ''Leprosy! leprosy!"
J repeated.
fw the moment my brain refused 70