The Florence daily tribune. (Florence, Colo.) 1898-1903, 1898-04-26
CHAPTER v.


made our way by means of "A circuitous
| path round the base of the majestic
waterfall before described down to-
ward the buildings ON the plain.
| As we made cur way down the path
we talked on many ahleots-European
politics, of which her knowledge was
| extensive; the beauties of the east, lit
erature and art--hnt somehow or an
other, however far we might wander
from it, the conversation invariably
came back TO the epidemic that was the
occasion or my presence in the settle
nent.
| AT last we left the jungle and pre-
| pared to descend the precipitous hillside
! by means Of q long flight of wooden
| steps, which ended at the commence
ment of the main street. In the bril-
liant sunlight the township looked
| pretty enough little place, with its we'll
laid out and nicely planted thorough
fares, neatly built European houses aud
/ picturesque native huts 1t was hard
20 believe Tint, clean and healthy as it
all looked, IL had lost more than quar-
ter Of its population by the ravages Of
one Of the most awful pestilences hu-
man flesh is heir to- Indeed. SO much
/ impressed was l with its beauty I'll ut
for moment or two l stood watching
1 it, unable to say word. Then | looked
at lay companion. She, like myself, had
been very silent for the last hundred
yards, aud now as she looked down at
her kingdom saw her beautiful eyes
fill with tears.
DIR. De Ncrmanville, p" she said, rs
we arrived at the bottom of the steys,
iii you will allow me some day, when
we are little better acquainted, W Il
tell you the story of this place and tho
influence it has had upon my life. Then
1 you will be able to understand how it
is that 1 am so much affected by my
peoples sniferings." 81
| murmured an appropriate reply. aud
we entered the village. Our arrival had
been anxiously expected, and at the gate
of the first house we were met by an
old man, who was evidently n person Of
considerable Importance in the plac 3.
he had a white skin aud slightly
| Scandinavian cast Of countenance and,
though he spoke Chinese and the native
tongue with unusual tluency, was evil
IDENTIFY moro than half an Englishman.
On seeing my companion he raised bis
hat politely and waited for her to sneak.
"Mr. Christianson, she said, hold
| ing out her hand, "this is DIR. De Nor
manyille. who has been kind enough to
come TO our assistance from Hongkong.
don't think it is necessary for me to
assure him that you will give him your
entire assistance in this terrible crisis
in the same manner as you have hither-
TO given it to me-"
The old man bowed to mo and then
addressed my companion.
''Wo have done our best in your NIB
sence, !" he said sorrowfully, ''but it
seems ms if fate were against us. There
/ are at the present moment 1870 cases all
told, of which 81 are men, go women
and tho remainder children. Yesterday
there were Is deaths, among them your
| old cockswa;n, Kusae, who died at in
the morning, and Ellai, the wife of At
tack, who followed him within an
hour. The Englishman. Brandon, died
at midday, his wife during the after
noon, and their only child this morning.
scarcely an hour ago. Doctor, is there
any hope at all of our being able to
stop this awful plague?'
| ! assured him we would do our best,
and he agreed that no man could ask
or expect us to do more. By the time
our conversation was finished l had
taken a decided fancy to the old fellow,
and with Alie's permission enrolled him
| there and theIs as my second in COM
mand.
'Now," / said, turning to her, "be-
| fore we commence our work let me ex-
actly understand my position. With
what powers am l invested?"
with full and complete authority"
she answered promptly. Whatever You
may deem best for my unfortunate peo-
pie, please do without consulting any
one. Believe me, norone will attempt to
dispute your right"
That is as it should be. and / thank
you" said. Now, will you tell me
where my own abode is to be? 1t should
be as far removed from the center of the
infected district as possible. yet mt the
same time central enough to be con-
venient for all the inhabitants. -
81 thought that house on the mound
at the foot Of the hill,' she answered,
| pointing with her beautiful hand to
neat weatherboard structure about
couple of hundred yards from the place
where we were then standing. "In fact,
l have even gone SO far as to give orders
that it should be prepared for you.
Shall we 60 and examine it?''
Accordingly, accompanied by the old
man, we set out for it, eagerly watched
by a crowd of natives, who, from the
expressions on their faces. had come
! quite to look upon me as their deliverer.
The house proved to be most com-
modious little place of four rooms, and,
from the luxury with which the two
living apartments were furnished, it
was evident that considerable trouble
and care had. been bestowed upon them.
When we entered, an intelligent native
! lad WIS callnd ftnrl an innnr room aud