Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-03-29
WILLIAM MAkePsAcE rHAcxsRAY.
New story OF the Great Novelist. show
ing His Kindness ~ Heart.


A. 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 al Paris. an
English gentleman got into "a iir~t-cla,s
compartment aud slowing away hi,
small vali,e took his seat i'm one of the
vacant corners. He noticed. says the
London hHli1H, that ON the seat oppo-
site to him was gentleman who APP
peared lo bee MI. III. face wa, dead V
pale. he WAS breathing very hard and
appeared To- bee I'M great pain
Are YOU III, sir? Can be of any
assistance to you?" the gentleman
asked.
u am very ill.," the sufferer replied
family. Il am subject to very pain
iul malady. and feeling am attack com
lng ON while in Switzerland | resolved
to 80 home To- England. II generally
gives me weeks warning. But | feel
! shall not reach Calais alive
Bat you must not 20 ON. IN, dear
sin, said Dbl, fellow traveller feelingiy.
Il am a perfect stranger i'm Paris. |
have come right through from Geneva.
IL
1T viii never do for YOU to travel i'm
that state. Come. let me help YOU ont
before the train starts" The kindly
gentleman was not moment too soon.
But 10y the friendly aid of "a porter he
got the sufferer ont of the train. placed
him gently i'm 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 "A woman he babe him
cheer up Tor he knew 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 i'll, nor did he improve much
the next day. The following morning
a relation of the sufferer -who had
been telegraphed for arrived, and the
kiud-hearted gentleman who had put
oil his journey to England, thrown
away ms railway fare. and spent two
nights and day almost constantly by
the sick mars side handed over the
sufferer 10 the care Of his friend.
Then, and not till then did this
goiden-hearted man decide to resume
hi, interrupted journey.
Going into the patients room in the
evening to bid him good-by. he said:
Il must now wish YOU farewell rs |
have important business in London. |
wish YOU hearty godspeed toward re-
covery.'
The sick man was still extremely i'll,
and not able to do more than press his
benetactor', hand and whisper a few
words ol gratitude.
The relative OF the patient however,
who was no other than hi, sister. fol-
lowed the gentleman out of the room,
and said
You have not done me the honor TO
tell me 10 whom ! aud my brother owe
50 signal an act of Kindness as that
which YOU have shown to an utter
stranger Had YOU not 80 generously
and SO di>interestedly taken compass
sion ON him fear hi, relatives and
friends would never have seen him
again alive. in thanking Won again
for Your kindness, therefore. | should
like 10 know TO whom We are 80 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: I'll j. of uO consequence.
"lou will al least du lac the pleasure
II permitting IL 10 know your name?'
Certain y. vii rive YOU my card. "
With these words tie gentleman took
ont his cardca~c and handed the lady
i. q