The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-14
A STORY OF THACKERAY.
Which illustrates tho Gentle ThoughtfuI-
ness of the Famous Novelist.

ORY Of lt1ACKERAH.
Which illustrates tho Gentle Thoughtful
ness of the Famous Novelist.
AS toward tho end of October little
over 40 years ago tho night train of
tho Chemin dc Fer du Nord was about
to leave the station ut Paris an English
gentleman got into Il first class compart-
ment, and slowing away his small va
lisc took his seat i'll ono of the vacant
corners. He noticed that OH tho seat op-
positc to him was Il gentleman who APP
pcared to be ILL., His face was deathly
pale; he was breathing very hard and
appeared to be i'll great pain.
Are you i'll, sir? Can L be of any
assistance to you?" tho gentleman
asked.
Il am very i'll" tho sufferer replied
family. Il am subject to Il very pain
full malady, and feeling an attack COM
ing OH while in Switzerland | resolved
to go homc-to England. 1t generally
gives me Il weeks warming But l feel
L shall not reach Calais alive"
But you must not go on, my dear
sir, said his fellow traveller fcelingly.
Il am Il perfect stranger in Paris. 1
have come right through from Geneva,
and L do not know Il word Of French, ~
replied the sick man, almost in state
of collapse.
1T will never do for you to travel in
that state Come, let mo help YOU out
before the train STARTS
The kindly gentleman was not mo-
mcnt too soon. But by the friendly aid
of Il porter he got the sufferer out of the
train, placed him gently i'll Il cab and
had him taken to tho hotel which he
himself had just quilted and where he
knew the sick man would receive every
attention. Caring for him OH the way
with all the tenderness of woman, he
babe him cheer up, for he knew ply
sician who was one of the highest au-
thoritics on the particular disease from
which he was suffering.
All the night the gentleman was cx-
ceedingly i'll, nor did he improve much
the next day. The following morning a
relation Of the sufferer, who had been
tclegraphed for, arrived, 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 man S
side handed over the sufferer to the care
of his friend.
Then, and not till then, did this gold
Ell hearted man decide torcsumc his in
terrupted journey.
Going into the patients room in the
evening to bid him gOodby, he said
Il must now wish you farewell, us l
have important business in London /
wish you hearty godspecd toward re-
covcry.
The sick man was still extremely i'll
and not able to do moro than press his
bcncfactor's hand and whisper Il few
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:
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 50 generously
and so disintcrcstcdly taken compassion
Oh him | fear his relatives and friends
would never have seen him again alive.
In thanking you again for your Kindness,
therefore, L should like to know to whom
we arc so much indebted Besides you
forfeited the cost of your railway ticket.
Ii You will allow me to reimburse you
the amount''-
do not mention it,, said the gentle
man. "It is of no consequence.
Y on will at least do me tho pleasure
OF permitting us to know your name:"
Certainly. Twill give you my card. {"
With these words the gentleman took
out his cardcase and handed tho lady
his card She read upon it the name
"Wllliam Makcpcaco Thackeray
1t was some weeks before the invalid
was well enough to resume his journey,
but after his return to England one Of
tho first visits ho paid was to call upon
the great novelist i'll company with his
sister to thank him personally for the
great kindness he had shown him when,
as he believed, he should have died but
for his timely assistance London Mil
lion.