Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-09-15
a NEW STORY or rHAcKeRAY.
The Great Novelist Acts as . True Friend
to u Sick Stranger.

to u Sick stranger.
AS toward the end of October, a
little over thirty years ago, the night
train OF the Chemin dc Fer du NUrd
was about to leave the station at
Paris an English gentleman got into
J flrst-c ass commandment, and, stow.
ny away his small valisc, took his
seat In one of the vacant corners. He
noticed that in the seat opposite to
him was "a gentleman who appeared
TO be Ill. His face was deathly pale;
he was breathing very hard and he
appeared to lie IN great pain.
Are YOU Ill, sir? Can be of any
assistance to your" the gent eman
asked.
Il am very i'll" the sufferer replied
faintlw. II am subject to u very
painful malady, and feeling an at.
tack coming on while In Switzerland
i resolved to 20 home-to England.
1t generally gives me a weeks warn.
ing, but l feel shall not reach Calais
alive"
But you musC not 20 on, my dear
sir" said his fellow t;avcler feeling.
ly.
~ am u perfect stranger In Paris
l have come right through from
Geneva, and ! do not know a word of
French" replied the sick man, almost
il q state Of collapse.
1T will never do for you to travel
In that state. Come, let rue help you
out before the train starts"
The kindly gentleman was not a
moment too soon. Hut by the kind.
ly aid Of a porter he got the sufferer
out of the train, placed him gent y
In u 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 u woman, he babe
him cheer up for he knew "a phys clan
who was one Il the highest author.
tiles on the particular disease from
which he was suffering.
All night the gentleman was ex.
ceedingly Ill. nor did he improve
much the next day The following
morning a relation of the sufferer
who had been telcgraphed for-ar.
rived and the kind-hearted gentle.
man, who had put of his journey to
England, thrown away his railway
fare, and spent two nights and a day
almost constantly by the sick mans
side, handed over the sufferer to the
care OF his friend.
Then, and not until then, did this
golden. hearted man decide to resume
his interrupted Journey
Going into the patients room In
the evening to bid him go0d.by, he
said:
II must now wish you farewell, az
l have important business In London.
! wish YOU u hearty gOdsrccd toward
recovery"
The sick man was still extremely
Ill and not able To do more than press
his bencfact0r's hand and whisper u
few words Of gratitude.
The relative OF the patient, how.
ever, who was no other than his
sister, followed the gentleman out OF
the room and said:
"iOu have not done me the honor
to tell me to whom l and my brother
owe SO signal an act Of kindness as
that which you have shown to an
utter stranger. Had you not so yen.
crousiy ana disinterrestcdlv taken
compassion OF him l fear his rela.
tives and friends would never have
seen him again alive. In thanking
you again for your kindness, there.
fore, / should like to know to whom
we are SO much Indebted, Besides,
you forfeited the cost OF your railway
ticket II you will allow me to re-.
im .urse you the amount"
''DO not mention IT," said the gen
gentleman, 1T Is OF no conse.
| quence"
"YOu will at least do me the pleas.
u'c OF permitting us TO know your
namey"
ertain,Y I will give you my
card"
With these words tho gentleman
took out his cardcase and handed the
lady his card. She read upon IL the
name: "William Makepcacc Thack
cry"
1t was somo weeks before the In.
valid was well enough to resume his
journey, but after his return to Eng.
land one OF the Hist visits he paid
was to call upon the great novel ist,
In company with his sister, to thank
him personally for the great kind.
ness he had shown him when, as he
believed, he should have died but for
his timely assistance.