The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1897-12-22

was lust coming rUUi:d after You '':'u-
lur' get away to TIE bc::arS. w:o
We're plucliiHg at various portions of his
riimrnt, an,l, like metamnrpho>cd Oil
Yer Twists, asking fer mere ".ArcE
you acting American consul just Hrw:'
he inquired.
During the temporary absence Of tho
consul l had undertaken his Tot very
arduous duties, being the only otiicr
American resident in the plac-..
"Wcll," continued the ''mcGico, "
II have fellow countryman Of yours
very bad with fevcr down in MalacaHan
(native Cuartcry, a Sailurman, only just
out of the Spanish Jail for humping 4
guardia (policeman) last year. | have
my doubts Of his lasting long and you d
better come down if you will. ."
Of coarse | would come, consul or
not In these hidden corners Of tho
world any one III trouble, va:,abond
sailor, "bcach comber' or unlucky cl"r!:
out of employment, is rs sure OF help
from more fortunate fellow countrymen
as if he were in his native lanl-surer
perhaps, unless he happen to be Chi
naman, III which case his friends lct
him die unmolcsted and then pay tho
expenses of burying him in China, y
backhanded sort of philanthropy very
characteristic in John Chinanau
So the doctor jumped into a public
carriage and ratified away toward Ma
lacanun, while followed on my pony,
leaving tie bcg1ars to philCsophicallv
squat down around the club doorway
and resume their everlasting wall of
"Charity. for love of heaven, charity!
Poor old MctIrccor's story WAS 1 sad
cne Long years before, asa young man,
he had come to the Philippines on Il
pleasure trip with his wife, and here
she died suddenly of cholera, that ter
rible scoargc of the east, which then was
claiming its victims by thousands, and
for 90 years the doctor had never left
the island where she lay, among tie
tall palms in the little English cemetery
on Santa Ana hill. But many others
had reason to bless the cause that kept
Dr. McGregor among them From The
proudcSt Spanish official i'll his palace
to the humblcst savage in his bamboo
hut the doctCrs time and skill were al
ways ut their service. And many Il
youngster fresh from home had been
saved from going wrong i'll that land CT
wild and law less 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 a passing
native followed the doctor III. The in
terror was dark and comparatively cool
An old native woman, like grotcsque
image, was squatting on the bamboo
floor beside a heap Of "nipa" leaves
and pieces of mating, Oh which lay Il
white mat , tossing turning and bah-
bling with deliriun, in the full grip cE
the jungle fcver-a young nlan evident
ly, his once powerful frame, fcarfully
reduced by illness and confinement, cOv-
cred by the ragged and grimy shirt and
trousers Of 4 sailor He became Quieter
IS McGregor raised his head and drank
the medicine given him, but began NUT
tcring again as the doctor laid him
down.
HE was wee bit more rational this
afternoon, said McCre9or, 'and told
me bit of his story, but he couldn t
or wouldn't t tell his lame. found him
just outside on the grass and brought
him in here for want Of a better place. y
"Was there nothing in his pockcts:'
asked.
"Nought but these" showing few
centimes, at which the old woman
glared grcedily. He may come to his
senses Il bit soon. Yc'd better blde
awhile" "
''Is he past hope, Mac:' l asked.
"Can't we do anythins-take him to
better house, mean"
The doctor shook his head IF we
could get him up north now. d say
he'd get we'll with the constitution lie
has. It's the heat Of tie place that keeps
him down. The poor lads made like
one Of our ain ccllic Gogs-strcrg and
we'll in the cold, but when taken by fc-
vcr in this clinlatc-wllish. burns up
like gunpowdcr.
1t WAS terrible to sec one Of my own
race dying thus in the lowest dc-r"'ia-
tion like wrctchcd savage, nurSCh X
an ignorant old barbarian only for tl,r
sake of the money she knew "c would
give her, more terrible aS time Went on,
| and the poor parchcd lips never ceased
their childish uMintcll;gihlc ch"tf;r.
Oh, for Il bit IF ice or anything t. c'nnl
that burning forehead! But nothing is
cool there, nothing but death.
So we sat in silence, | with my lirl
met tanning he flushed face, :" drawn
and haggard, which must have l;"n
strong and handsome in health, and tie
doctor ever and anon raised the heavy
head with the gcntlcn"s> # W"r!an
and gave medicine, while the old h;;S
crOuchcd iii Il corner and mumh!,d %
herself. wondering if wh'n the lnan WIS
! dead she would get Il WhC!c silver I"'-
so or hot Outside the brown people
! chatterCd and laughed III their freedom
from care now ana lll'li l'''lil!S liz " i'Ii
curious faces and running away with
! fresh shouts Their turn might como
next, but little they cared The present
was theirs for enjoyment Of life. Sever
mind tomorrow.
! Suddenly the tumult seemed to i'll
! crease and concentrate farther down the
road Then it began to approach, the
screams and happy laughter Of children
! mingled with the clearer tones Of Il for
! cigncr's tongue, and as the crowd reach
! ed the hut | suddenly heard Il familiar
voice saying: "Thcro, little boy. don t
you be 50 greedy. Let that little girl
have some. Amt it nice, John, to see
how they enjoy ito
McCirccor looked up in wonder, and
l rose and went TO the door. There |
found Captain Hale and his wife, sur
rounded by perfect horde Of delighted
children, be tossing copn"rs about from
canvas bag and She distributing c"n-
dv, penny whistles and numerous odds