The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-12-28

rom saying that L thought it would
probably add ten years to Rufe's il 70
could realize the sort of mother and ia
ther he had left so many years ago.
So l bade them good night, promising
to see them in the morning and with
hearty thanks for their thoughtful kind.
ness, and watched them as they trudged
away toward the native quarters, their
sturdy figures towering above tho mot
ley crowd of natives and Cinnamon
who thronged the narrow street aud
filed the air with their uncouth gabblo.
l sent my groom home with tho pro.
cious pudding, and, mounting my pony,
threaded my way around to tho English
club. There l found McGregor, the old
Scotch doctor, standing in tho doorway
and amusing himself by tossing coppcrs
II at II time to II crowd of lame, halt
and blind beggars, who as each coin fell
instantly became an appalling tanglo Of
skinny arms and legs.
"Hcllo!' said he as l drew up. II
was just coming round after you. "Su-
lul' (set away to the bcggars, who
were plucking at various portions of his
raimcnt, and, like metamorphoscd Oil
yer Twists, asking for more. AREN'T
you acting American consul just now?"
he inquired.
During tho temporary absence Of the
consul l had undertaken his not very
arduous duties, being tho only other
American resident in the place.
"Well," continued tho "medico,"
II have a fellow countryman of yours
very bad with foyer down in Malacanan
(,,nti,n r,,,,fnr, 4, .,;1N ~,1,, ...A
out of tho Spanish Jail for humping a
guardia (policeman) last year. | have
my doubts of his lasting long, and you'd
better come down if you will"
or course | would come, consul or
not. In these hidden corners of the
world any one III trouble, ~vagabond
sailor, "beach comber" or unlucky clerk
out Of employment, is as sure of help
from more fortunate fellow countrymen
as if he were in his native land-surer
perhaps, unless he happen to be n Chi.
Gaman, in which case his friends let
him die unmolestcd and then pay the
expenses of burying him in China, u
b~ackhanded sort of philanthropy, very
characteristic in John Chinaman.
So the doctor jumped into a public
S't iiN'-' LII ieSAA'i away lONt tlu MA
laCanun, while l followed on my pony,
leaving the begSars to philosophically
squat down around the club doorway
IL csum their everlasting wall of
"Charity, for love Of heaven, charity p
Poor old McGrcgor's story was IL sad
one. Long years before, as young man,
he had como to the Philippines OH a
pleasure trip with his wife, and hero
she died suddenly of cholera, that ter
riblc scourgc Of the east, which then was
claiming its victims by thousands, and
for 20 years h doctor had never left
the island where she lay, among the
tall palms iii the little English cemetery
on Santa Ana hill. But many others
had reason to bless the cause that kept
DR.. McGregor among them. From tho
proudest Spanish official in his palace
to the humblest savage in his bamboo
hut the doctors time and skill we're al
ways at their service. And many a
youngster fresh from home had been
saved from going wrong in that land Of
wild and lawless life by his kindly
words of counsel and advice.
We stopped at last before a miserable
hut on the outskirts of the town, and
giving the pony in charge of q passing
native followed the doctor in. The in
terror was dark and comparatively cool
An old native woman, lfEe a grOresIre
image, was %6quatting on the bamboo
floor beside a heap Of ''nipa" leaves
and pieces of mating, on which lay a
white man, tossing, turning and bab-
bling with delirium, in the full grip of
the jungle fever-a young ma evident
ly, his once powerful frame, fearfully
reduced by illness and confinement, V
cred by the ragged and grimy shirt and
trousers of a sailor. He became Quietcr
ps McGrcgor raised his head and drank
tho medicine given him, but began NUT
tcrl!Ig again as the doctor laid him
down.
"lle was a wee bit more rational this
afternoon" said McGregor, land told
me a bit Of his story, but he couldn't
or wouldn't tell his namo. | found him
just outside on the grass and brought
him III here for want of q better place. "
WAS there nothing in his pockets?"
1 asked.
"Nought but these" showing a few
confines, at which the old woman
glareu greenrIy. ITO may come TO nil
senses a bit soon, Yo'd better bidc
awhile"
"Is he past hopc, Mac?" l asked
Cant we do anything-take him TO q
better house, | mean?"
The doctor shook his head IF we
could get him up north now, I'd say
ned get well with the constitution lie
has. US the heat of the place that keeps
him down. To poor lads made like
n of our ain collie dogs-strong an6
well in the cold, but when taken by fc
yer i'll this climate-whish! burns up
like gunpowdcr."
1t was terrible to see one Of my OWE
race dying thus in the lowest degrade.
ton, like q wretched savage, nursed by
an Ignorant old barbarian only for the
sake OF the money she knew we would
give her, more terrible as time went on,
N tho poor parched lips never ceased
their childish, unintelligible chatter.
Oh, for a bit Of ice or anything to cool
that burning forehead! But nothing is
cool there, nothing but death.
SO we sat in silence, | with my hol
met tanning the flushed face, so drawn
and haggard, which must have beer
strong and handsome in health, and the
doctor ever and anon raised the heavy
head with the gentleness of q woman
n gave medicine, while the old hag
crouched in a corner and mumbled to
herself. wondering if when the man was
oead she would get a whole silver pc
SO or not. Outside tho brown people