Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-06-04

and to aid me in keeping up my wite's
spirits. Make her believe that seeking
port for repairs is more of an extra pre-
caution than q necessity"
"I'll do my BEST" promised, and,
though my success was doubtful, I
honestly strove to aid the captains de-
signs. OF the anxious days of that
run to Rio there is little to re-
cord; but, reach it as we did at
length. with the pumps going, the
men almost worn out and the ship
showing good deal less freeboard
than she had displayed in the Pacific.
We learned, soon after our arrival, that
Perez was out of the city, and that it
was uncertain when he would return.
The work of repairs ON the ship was
pushed, for her master was DESTROYS to
lose as little time as possible. There
were some cases of fever reported
among the shipping, and once or twice
was called aboard vessels to prescribe
for men lying i'll of the disease. l
doubt whether my ministrations had
much effect, Yellow Jack beirg then
more of stranger to me than was the
.0se somewhat later. While spending
4 day ashore was seized by the fever.
I was hurried to hospital there to
light my battle with the grim enemy.
The struggle was SO close, as l learned
,fterward, that probably it would have
zone against me, had not Perez, re-
urning to Rio, got news of my attack
md secured for ME all that money could
command in the way of treatment and
lttendance; and when l was GONZALES
cent he took me to his fine estate in the
highlands. The Mary Peck by this
line was we'll on her way to New York,
Ter captain easy in the knowledge that
le had left his surgeon in good hands.
OF the weeks passed as Perez guest
shall ever cherish a grateful remem-
)rancc. His Kindness was unvarying,
ais generosity unlimited. He had OBJ
tanned very fair notion of my slender
prospects, and gladly would have aided
me to seek fortune in Brazil, had not
the physicians strongly advised against
my attempting to remain there. Ac-
cordingly, he was forced to content
himself with arrangements for my pas
sage home, which he decided should be
made by way of England. He would
have done more, and pressed upon me
money, which would have been a well
come addition to my resources, had
not refused to increase my obligations
to him.
"Obligations!" he objected. "Don't
let me hear you mention obligations.
Fate has brought us together twice.
You think that on the second occasion
you have become my debtor, but l
know that on the first incurred debt
to you which can never be liquidated.
How would l hove Jared had l not re-
ceived skillful treatment after the crew
of your ship hoisted me out of the boat
in which | had suffered fortunes? 1t
was the one chance in the hundred that
the rescuing vessel carried a surgeon.
There was fate in it; there was fate in
the accident which drove the Mary
Peck to Rio. 1t may be destiny that
even for third time we shall be of
service the one to the other"
II trust that if the opportunity comes
it will be mine," said l; but our lives
promise to be spent far apart"
even SO. But the chain of destiny
sometimes links the most remote"
Evidently feeling possessed him
that our connection was not to end with
the good-byes spoken on the steamer
which was to bear me from Rio. He
asked many questions about my plans,
until from the answers he perceived
that 1 was turning homeward almost
without an idea of the manner OF eN-
istence before me. Then the talk drift
ed to the sorry experiences OF my pro-
fessional career and to the Grant char
acter of my boyhood existence. He
was sympathetic listener to descrip-
tion of the old village on the New Eng"
land coast and the lonely house, SUR
rounded by the marsh, which had been
my favorite retreat. Under the spur
of memory, 1 told him much of the
abandoned dwelling and of its isola-
ton.
IF ever / come to be misanthrope,"
l declared, "let me retire thither, as
sured that l may remain undisturbed
20 long as l choose. Yet, if my mood
changes, it will be but step, and again
] shall be among my fellows"
Truly an admirable heritage" he
observed.
Indeed it is. The villagers take no
interest in the old place. Though near
them, it is out of their way, and there
is no reason why they should visit it.
They are not people of the sort to waste
energy in tramping through salt boys.
A man who settled there might feel
tolerably certain that they would not
attempt to intrude upon him.
We were silent for a time, but at
length asked whether he might not
visit the United States.
1T is hardly on the cards." he an
swered. ut is not probable that shall.
quit Brazil for some time to come.
have interests to be guarded which
would suffer in my absence. The coun-
try is on the eve of d revolution; the
empire is doomed, and its fall cannot
be long delayed. Under the surface
there are plots and counterplots. 1
have striven to keep clear of them, and
have succeeded, so far Us active partici-
patton is concerned; but l have had
knowledge of number of them, and
many of my closest friends are deeply
involved. The nations need is a strong,
stable government. God knows how
we are to obtain it, or what the history
Of the next few years will be-"
Before we separated for the night an
agreement had been made which aft
erward seemed curious enough, though
at the time we entered into it with the
utmost gravity. 1t was, in brief, that