The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1896-10-01

Doctor" he said, "Ive something to
tell you. II is better for you to learn it
now than TO come at IL after awhile by
guesswork. We've changed our course
and are headed for Rio"
"Then the ships injury is greater
than you supposed?' l asked, with all
my old terrors aroused.
"Yes. We have been leaking forward
ever since the collision. The pitching
and rolling in yesterdays blow in
creased the trouble sad made my duty
clear. l want you to understand this
and to aid me in keeping up my,wife's
spirits. Make her believe that seeking
port for repairs is more of an extra pre-
caution than necessity"
'I'll do my best" l promised, and.
| though my success was doubtful,
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 shin
| 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 desirous 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 being then
more of stranger to me than was the
case somewhat later. While spending
a day ashore ] was seized by the fever.
] was hurried to a hospital, there to
fight my battle with the grim enemy.
The struggle was SO close, as | learned
afterward, that probably it would have
gone against me, had not Perez, re-
turning to Rio, got news of my attack
and secured for me all that money could
command in the way of treatment and
attendance; and when i was GONZALES
cent he took me to his fine estate in the
highlands. The Mary Peck by this
time was well on her way to New York,
her captain easy in the knowledge that
he had left his surgeon in good hands.
OF the weeks passed as Perez guest
l shall ever cherish grateful remem-
brance. His kindness was unvarying
his 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 Il
know that on the first incurred debt
TO you which can never be liquidated.
How would / have Jared had i not re-
ceived sl>illful treatment after the crew
| VI y Nodl hpiSif'd llC Out vi btic DouI
in which 1 had suffered tortures? 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 a third time we shall be OF
service the one to the other"
II trust that if the opportunity comes
il will be mine said j; 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 eX-
istence before me. Then the talk drift
ed TO the sorry experiences, of my pro-
fessional career and to the errant char
acter of my boyhood existence. He
was sympathetic listener to a 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, i told him much of the
abandoned dwelling and of it's isola-
tion.
IF ever 1 come TO be a misanthrope, :"
/ declared, 'let me retire thither, as
sured that 1 may remain undisturbed
so long as 1 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 tal0e 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 bogs.
| A man who settled there might feel
tolerably certain that they would not
attempt to intrude upon him"
We were silent for time, but al
length ] asked whether he might moi
visit the United States.
1T is hardly on the cards." he an
swered. 1T is not probable thatI shal.
quit Brazil for some time to come. 1
have interests TO, be guarded which
would suffer in my absence. The coun-
| try is on the eve of n reyolutiap. tho