The record-union., 1894-06-23
A STORY OF THACKERAY.
How the Kind-Hearted Novelist Aide,

a
As, toward the end of October, little
over thirty years ago. the night train OF
the Chemin de Fer du Nord was about to
leave the station at Paris, an English
gentleman got into frst-claSS c0mpart-
ment, and, slowing away his small valse,
took his seat in one of the vacant corners.
He noticed that on the seat opposite to
him was gentlemen who appeared to be
i'll. His face was deathly pale; he was
breathing very hard, and appeared to be
in great pain.
''Are you i'll, sir? Can I be of any as
sistauce to your" the gentleman asked.
81 am very i'll, the sufferer replied
family. 81 am subject to a very painful
malady, and feeling an attack coming on
while in Switzerland, l resolved to go
home-to England. 1t generally gives
me weeks warning. But feel l shall
not reach Calais alive"
"But you must not go on, my dear sir, +"
said his fellow-traveler feelingly.
"I am perfect stranger in Paris. /
have come right through from Geneva,
and do not know word of French"
replied the sick man, almost in state of
collapse.
"It will never do for you to travel in
that state. Come, let me help you out
before the train STARTS"
The kindly gentleman was not q mo-
ment too soon But by the friendly aid
of porter he got the sufferer out of the
train, placed him gently in cab, and had
him taken to the hotel which he himself
had just quilted, and where he knew the
sick man would receive every attention.
Caring for him on the way with all the
tenderness of woman, he bade him
cheer up, for he knew a physician who
was one of the highest authorities on the
particular disease from which he was
suffering.
All the night the gentleman was ex-
ceedingly Ill, nor did he improve much
the next day. The following morning a
relation of the sufferer's-who had been
telegraphed for-arrfved. and the kind
hearted gentleman who had put off his
Journey TO England, thrown away his
railway fare and spent two nights and q
day almost constantly by the sick mans
side, handed over the sufferer to the care
of his friend.
Then, and not till then, did this golden
hearted man decide to resume his inter-
rupted journey.
Going to the patient room in the even
| ing to bid him good-by, he said;
81 must now wish you farewell, as l
have important business in London. /
wish you hearty God-speed toward re-
covery."
The sick man was still extremely i'll,
and not able to do more than press his
DenoIaCIOr ldnQ anu Whisper lew
words of gratitude
The relative Of the patient, however,
who was no other than his sister, fol-
| lowed the gentleman out of the room and
| said:
"Y on have not done me the honor to
tell me to whom and my brother owe so
! signal an act Of kindness as that which
| you have shown to an utter stranger.
Had you not so generously and so disin-
| terestedly taken compassion on him,
| fear his relatives and friends would never
have seen him again alive. In thanking
| you again for your kindness, therefore, /
| should like to know to whom we are so
much indebted. Besides, you forfeited
the cost of your railway ticket. If you
will allow me to reimburse you the
amount"-
"Do not mention it," said the gentle
man; sit is of no consequence"
| z''You will st least do me the pleasure of
permitting us to know your name? ?'' -
Certainly. / will give you my card !"
With these words the gentleman took
out his card-case and handed the lady his
card. She read upon it the name, "Will-
! lam Makepeace Thackersy."
| Il was some weeks before the invalid
was well enough to resume his journey;
| but after his return to England one of the
first visits he paid was to call upon the
/ great novelist, in company with his sister,
| to thank him personally for the great
! XII ldness he had shown him when, as he
believed, he should have died put for his
| timely assistance.-The Million.