Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-08-12

weekly concerts and good reputation
for being able to cheer respondent
ladies out of the terrors of sea.sick-
ness; but as the sort of man to take
the leading role in such o drama he is,
perhaps, not we'll fitted. Certainly, if
one could read his thoughts, that is
his own opinion.
"That boat, sir, must on no account
be permitted to come alongside" he
promptly addresses the captain.
Nothing further.in the way of COM
must be established. I
would be only too glad to go on board
and render my services, but the dan
ger of infection from my return would
be too serious"
Very we'll, DOCTOR" the captain re.
plies with note of sarcasm in his
voice. 81 cannot, OF course, force you
to that line of duty, and we must
therefore do rs you suggest. We will
lower the port quarter boat for them
to pick up, and you will order what
you think necessary from the ships
stores to be placed in her."
Thus the final order is given from
the bridge of the Pearl of the Orient
to make ready to lower away the
port quarter boat and to hail the Alta
Mahomed, Khan that boat will be
lowered for them to pick up, with
medicines and supplies on board.
In the meantime q second-class
passenger has made his way up on to
the promenade deck, presumably to
obtain a better view of the cholera
ship. Such, at least, is evidently
the opinion Of a somewhat officious
quartermaster, for he confronts him
with the information that only saloon
passengers are permitted there.
81 wish to speak to the captain"
retorts the second-class passenger.
The quartermaster, imagining that
it is only to ask some trivial question,
replies in q rather peremptory man
ner that the captain is engaged; that
he cannot be interrupted.
To the quartermaster's surprise,
however, the second-class passenger
brushes past, mounts the ladder
leading to the bridge, and without a
moments hesitation accosts the cap
tain on that-to the sailor-most sa-
cred spot.
At first the captain does not seem
to notice tho presence of the intruder,
as he is engaged apparently in watch
ing the preparations being made to
lower the quarter boat, and conse-
quently pays no attention to what is
being said; but he finally is induced
to listen by the concluding remark
"With your permission, Captain May
bury, I desire therefore to be allowed
to go to the relief Of that plague in
fected ship"
The captain turns about and looks
hard ut the second-class passenger for
over O minute. He has no recollec-
ton of ever seeing him before, and so
he asks: ''Did 1 hear you say You
are physician?"
eyes. I have a degree from the
University Of Philadelphia. My name
is James McGregor. 1 have my pa
pers with me to satisfy the doctor of
the ship. I am passenger IN the
second class"
"Do you understand that you can
not return to this ship again?" the
captain asks.
"Perfectly," the young man of no
consequence answers.
"And you doubtless also fully
understand The danger Of such a
course?"
eyes. Quite"
"That yonder ship is no hospital
ward, and that you run an enormous
risk Of your own life?"
II do fully" is the simple response.
81 comprehend it all perfectly, cap
TAIN"
"And you still desire to go9"
II do. Yes"
The captain looks into the calm,
resolute face of the young physician
for q moment and then remarks:
"Upon my word, I think you are
plucky young fellow, DR.. MacGregor,
to make the offer, and though I will
certainly not urge you to it, yet upon
such an errand of humanity dare not
refuse to comply with your request.
If you will wait here I will send for
the doctor of the ship to talk the mat
ter over with you."
In a few minutes the dapper little
ships doctor again appears upon the
bridge, when no time is lost in ex-
planning the situation and in making
the necessary arrangements for the
transfer of the young physician to the
cholera ship.
So the word is passed around that
young doctor in the second class,
whom no one has ever heard of be-
fore, has petitioned to be allowed to
forego his passage and board the
cholera ship in al heroic attempt to
stamp out the plague at the certain
risk of his own life.
Everyone at once takes an interest
in him. All are anxious to catch a
glimpse of this new hero. Even the
of the theatrical troupe, who
thought the quiet man such a fool,
are inclined to believe that his reserve
VI IuauucI lhuou 10 tuO OutWhIu olSh
of different character.
1t does not take long after the
quarter boat is lowered and brought
round to the gangway to place on
board such medicines and provisions
as the young doctor requires. ..
"Is all ready there?" the captain
calls out to the quartermaster, who is
keeping the boat alongside.
CAN ready, sir" is the response.
"Doctor," he says, turning to the
young man. who is also ready to leave
the ship and Offering his hand, "Isin-
cerely hope you will pull through all
right"
"Thank you," the young doctor re-
plies. II hope SO, too. shall do
my best"
A man of military bearing, with
iron-gray hair and bristling eyebrows
and musta,he, thereupon steps for
ward. He ia the general com mand-