Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-10-01

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 I
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
lsoow that on the first incurred debt
to you which can never be liquidated
How would have Jared had l not re-
ceived slsillful treatment after the crew
of your ship hoisted me out of the boat
in which 1 had suffered fortunes? 1t
was the one chance in the hundred that
the rescuing vessel carried surgeon.
There was fate in it; there was fate in
the accident which drove the Mary
Peck to Rio. 1t may be destiny that
service the one to the other"
81 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 a 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 I was turning homeward almost
without an idea of the manner of ex-
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-
ton 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, I told him much of the
abandoned dwelling and of it's isola-
ton.
eff ever come to be misanthrope,"
I declared, 'let me retire thither, as
sured that I may remain undisturbed
so long as I choose. Yet, if my mood
changes, it will be but a 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.
of Of hsc TO r
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 time, but at
length I asked whether he might not
visit the United States.
''It is hardly on the cards." he an
swered. cit is not probable that shall,
quit Brazil for some time to come. L
have interests 10 be guarded which
would suffer in my absence. The co1n-
try is on the eve of Il revolution; the
empire is doomed, and it's fall cannot
be long delayed. Under the surface
there are plots and counterplots. I
have striven to keep clear of them, and
have succeeded, so far as active partici-
patton is concerned; but l have had
knowledge of a number of them, and
many of my closest friends are deeply
involved. The nations need is 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
in case either had an urgent request to
make of the other, and the request was
made by letter, there should be used,
either as a signature or appended to
the writer's name, symbol, a Greek
cross with three dots ranged vertically
to the right of it. Perhaps it was Perez
carnestness as we talked over the mat
ter which prevented me from appre-
ciating its strangeness. A little refiec-
ton might have persuaded me that we
were wasting our breath, for it was
difficult to understand how /, in my
poverty and powerlessness, could ever
aid one who possessed so much of the
resources I lacked; but, under the in
fuence of my friends grave face and
words, a pledge to heed his call was
given as solemnly as if the alliance
were one of equals.
The following day, passenger on the