The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-01
NEW STORY OF THACKERAY.
His Kindness to Sick Countrymap
I'm Foreign Land.

Inc MlIllOn.
AS. toward the end of October, little
over thirty years ago. the night train of
the Chemin de Fer du Nord about to
leave the station at Paris. an English gen.
tleman got into a first-claSS compartment,
and, slowing away his small valise, took
his seat in one of the vacant corners He
noticed that on the seat opposite to him
was gentleman who appeared TO be ILL.,
His face was. deathy pale; he was breath
ing very hard, and appeared TO he in great
pain.
Are you ill. sir? Can 1 be of any as
sistance to you?" the gentleman asked.
L am very ILL.,. the sufferer replied, faint
ly. Il am subject to very painful mala-
dy, and feeling an attack coming on while
in Switzerland. | resolved to go home-to
England. Ii generally gives me a weeks
warning. But l feel L shall not reach Ca
lais alive"
But YOU must not so on, my dear SIR
said his felow-traveler feelingly.
am perfect stranger in Paris. | have
come right through from Geneva. and / do
not know a word of French replied the
sick man. almost in a state of collapse
1t will never do for you to travel in
fore the train starts.
The kindly gentleman was not moment
100 soon. But by the friendly aid of
placed him gently in a cab and had him
taken to the hotel which he himself had
Fjust Quilted and where he knew the sick
man would receive every attention. Car
ing for him on the way with all the ten
derness of a woman. he babe him cheer
of the highest authorities on the particular
disease from which he was suffering.
All the night the gentleman was exceed
lngly III. nor did he improve much the next
day. The following morning relative of
the suferers-who had been telegraphed
tor-arrived, and the kind-hearted gentle
man who had put off his journey to Eng.
land, thrown away his railroad fare and
spent two nights and a day almost con-
over the sufferer TO the care of his friend
Then, and not until then did this golden
hfagr ~ Tod Il nf1 Iii
rupted Journey
Going to the patients room in the even
ing to bid him goodbye, he said
II must now wish you farewell. as 1 have
important business in London. 1 wish you
hearty godspeed toward recovery,
The sick man was extremely ill, and
not able to do more than press his bene-
factors hand and whisper few words of
gratitude.
The relative of the patient. however.
who other than his sister followed
the gentleman out of the room and said:
You have not done me the honor to tell
to whom 1 and my brother owe so sig
nal an act Of kindness as that which you
have shown TO an utter stranger. Had you
taken compassion on him I fear his rela-
tives and friends would never have seen
for your kindness. therefore, I should like
TO know TO whom We are so much in
debted Besides you forfeited the cost of
to reimburse you the amount
DO rot mention it, said the gentle
man; 1T is of no consequence"
You will at least do me the pleasure of
permitting 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 il the name, will
liam Makepeace Thackeray."
1t 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 kindness he had shown him when.
as he believed. he should have died but
for his timely assistance.