The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-06-21
THE TIME IN PEKING.

be bent over the bed Of my sick
friend, but now, a. watched him
closely, the strong face relaxed, and as
he raised his head I saw the light of
satisfaction in his kindly eyes.
His hat, stick ard gloves lay on the
dressing case. and as he crossed the
room to take them he marked my
look Of eager inquiry, and, pausing
abruptly, laid his hand on my Shout
der.
We're doing solendidly, famously,
my dear boy, famously. II literature
fails you, come to me, and will give
you your credentials as a nurse. Flor
ence Nightingale could not have done
better.
1.-THE worst is over, them" / ask
ed.
Eyes. l believe we can put him
through-between U.s." He paused.
and as he turned once more toward
his patient his face grew grave again.
Il think the crisis Is passed" he
said, quietly. "All that any mortal
physician can do for him has been
done. Nature alone must supply the
restorative he needs. He must sleep.
/ have just given him q sedative, and
he ought soon to be under its influ-
ence. Keep the light turned down,
and do not allow him to talk. Sleep
is imperative. He must have Sleep"
He stepped lightly to the dressing
case, and as he raised his gloves a
dust-covered heap Of manuscripts
caught his eye. lie chuckled softly
and shook his head.
"odd people, YOU Americans" he
said, with smile. us our poor lit
erature so impoverished that you must
needs instill Yankee blood into its
veins?"
was looking at the pale face of
poor Tom and did not reply.
"Ah, WE'LL" said the CHEEKY doctor as
he appropriated hia hat and stick and
advanced, with extended hand, 1.-The
fairy voices of the Bow bells are far
reaching, and l hope that they will
one day ring as merry changes for
two Yankee lads as they did for that
fortunate young heggar, Dick Whit
tington. Goodnight, my boy. good
night. I'll see you in the morning.
Now, now, remember
He put his fngs: to his lips and
moment later he was gone.
closed the door gently and re.
turned to the bedside of my friend.
His eyes were closed, and, believing
that the sedative had already begun
its work, tiptoed to the gas jet and
turned down the light Then, seating
myself before the .:ate, revitalized
the dying embers and put on two or
three more pieces Of coal.
For several minutes ell was still,
then heard me vement among the
bedclothes, and a few moments later
the voice of my sick roommate:
Hal"
Eyes, Tom"
HAS the doctor gomez"
eyes; he left just now. You must
go to sleep, old chap"
There was another movement on the
bed, then all was still again and l
had just begun mentally to congratu-
late the doctor on the efficiency of his
prescription when l heard my name
pronounced.
What is it, Toni" asked little
impatiently.
What time is it,"
"Half-past A..
I'm the afternoon?"
YES"
What makes it SO dark"
tits the fog. Come now, old boy,
you must be quiet. The doctor says
you must have sleep. The worst is
over, and five or six hours of rest will
make you your old self again."
He did not reply at once, but at
the expiration of two or three minutes
he asked:
What time is it in New York now,
Hail."
"You must stop it, Tom" I COM
manded, but Immediately relenting l
continued, about 1890"
1T is Saturday." said Tom. "Satur-
day, isn't it? In six hours more the
old crowd will be in the restaurant
in Malin's. I can see them all-old
Gaynor, George Leslie. Barrett and
Bess."
Nov, Tom"
Come here, old chap"
I rose, and, going to the bed, placed
my fingers on my friends lips. He
took them in his wasted hand, and
as he removed them his grasp tight
ened, and he smiled.
"All right, Hal. I'll be quiet now.
Good night"
I returned to my chair, and for ten
minutes nothing save the ticking or
the clock broke the stiffness of the
room. Then there was once more an
ominous movement on the bed.
tits funny, isn't it, this difference
in time?" he murmured. in Chica-
60 it is an hour earlier STILL"
There was pause.
What time is it in San Francisco,
HALF?
"oh, don't know, Tom. About two
hours earlier, I guess. Why don't you
60 to sleep?"
THAT would make 1t about half
past g."
He paused, but few moments later
I heard him muttering to himself.
"Confound 1t, old chap" began.
II was just trying to figure it out"
he went on. ut takes twenty-four
hours for the world to make COM
plete revolution. Where do they be-
gin to reckon the time any way?"
"Oh, I don't know. Let's see.
Greenwich, believe-yes, Greenwich,
l am sure. Now for heavens sake,
co.
"Well. il it's half past 4 at Green
wict what time is It on the other side
Of the world--in China? What time is
it In Peking, Hal?'
SS...-