The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-01-02


Eyes. yes." suffered the professor. anu
ltealthily drawing n pistol from his peck
" he pointed II at his companions back.
| The country physician never quivered.
Don't act chilcishly," he said without
| turning.
| "Monsterl recognize you now!'
"Do you az last 2" sneered the stranger.
| II should have thought man killer like
| you would know Death on sight and
wouldn't be afraid OF him, either. II any
| OF your rivals could have seen you trying
l to fight. Death, pistol In hand, how they
| would have enjoyed i'll But where Is
| your science now; where your strategyl
| Why are you so small all at onceT'
| A snowstorm came laundering through
the trees. In the fT east the faint light
| of day was gathering. Yonder on the
| mountain side lay sleeping villages.
do you recognize the neighborhood? p
| asked Death.
| II do. l was born here"
"And who Is the poor old lady, nay the
miserable old wench, who must die to-
dayr
y don't know. r.
Guess then"
"My mother"
what did you do for your motheri
Your door was closed against her. That
scientific skill OF which you boast was not
for the woman who bore you In pains,
who sucked you at her weary breast
"You are mistaken. I looked out for
her. sent her money enough to live here
among her own folk"
"Ivan.' cried Death. and his voice
swelled like the thunder of heaven. what
do you do with your rich consumptives In
wlnterT"
IL send them into warm climates"
"Then why did not you send your
! mother there?"
Because she Is ipcurable."
"Yet to die in the fog and frost. bereft
OF sunshine and love. Is bitter-is cruel
1 81 admit that l have neglected her.
But think of my work. my ambition, my
social station! l am physician Of the
| COURT
"Yes, and she who gave you life Is a
mere peasant. Give me back that life
and she shall see the spring again, the
golden sun and the sweet flowers. The
birds shall sing for her. She shall have
fresh vegeta bles, cherries. early apples"
mo, no." cried the great doctor. his
hair rising. do not kill me! Let me
liver
81 will not STAY you outright. You shall
have a fighting chance. Take courage
exploit your science, all your famed skill
In opposing me. You tremble-your self
confidence gone already? All! you thought
me a miserable skeleton. You never sus-
pected that | was stronger than any liy-
ing thing. Look at me. l am Disharmo-
ny that tears asunder loving hearts. !
throw dust TO dust. l am Hatrsd-terri-
ble destructive-yet l am a peacemaker.
am the great Unknown, who dogs mems
steps from the moment they arc born.
see everything. | watch everybody. AID
forget nobody"
With that Death threw the reins to the
wind and leaned over the backs Of the
horses. encouraging them to still greater
speed.
A man In a somber frock coat and q
white necktie assembled with slow, delib-
crate step the orators tribune in the hall
of the medical congress. After clearing
his throat and wiping his eyeglasses he
address the learned body as follows:
81 am constrained to interrupt the pro-
gramme of the dsy by an announcement
that involves a distinct loss to medical
science and to suffering humanity. Our
distinguished colleague, tho medical coun-
cilor, professor and body physician to
his imperial highness, DR.. =. died last
night during the snowstorm In runaway
accident when returning from visit to
a patient whose call he had answered
despite the late hour, unmindful OF the
dangers that beset the way OF one travel
ing at night.
I'VE mourn him. We honor him In
death. The great physician, the loving
son, the devoted friend, who died vic
tim to his sense of uty."-Translated
for the New York Press.