Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-10-05

break taboo. For some reason this was
lot all to the liking of Miss Janet. She
had discovered soon after he left for
Mexico that SHE did love him, and that
her profession was not just what she
wanted most, after all; but she was too
proud to say so, and she completed
her course and became full-fedged
sister of the Red Cross in due time.
Early in the fifth year something had
happened, Some thing seemed to pull
strangely at Janet's heart strings. Let
ters came but irregularly from Mexico,
and during the last ten months no let
ters were received from Masters. Two
of her own letters remained unan-
swered and third had been returned
to her by the post office. A letter sent
to the Mexican post brought no
reply, and now this dreadful yellow
fever plague had stricken the land
where Masters plantation was located.
NowA as she was speeding swiftly
over the rails toward Mexico, she
pondered over these things. Did she,
would he, think it unwomanly of her
self to seek him unasked'? She would
not believe that, for had not her own
mother agreed that she must go at
once? Poor Jack, was he suffering
alone out there among strangers? Was
he aliye? A long, sad journey full of
hopes fand fears, misgivings, doubts
and fatigue; but all things have an
end.
A final change to snail-like branch
road, then the yellow flag and the an
nouncement that passengers were not
permitted to enter the fever district.
A hasty consultation with a cring-
ingly polite official, and a pass to go
on, as she was trained nurse. Then
the dirty station at Panuco. Almost at
her journeys end-what would she
find? sense of her own littleness
and helplessness came upon her for a
moment. then was gone again.
Did the dirty little boy with dom
key cart know where Senior Masters
. plantation was? His name was Pip
po, he knew the plantation, but surely
the beautiful senorita would not wish
togo there. They said Senor Masters
was dead of the fever; he would not
wish to disappoint the senorita, but
he had no wish to go to the planta-
ton.
a few silver coins, an appeal from
two wet, soul-touching eyes. and Pip
po thought he might drive her near
the plantation, where she might walk
to it if she must. 1t was useless to
go, though, for was not the plantation
deserted? Had not FIR. Antonio, the
priest, said a week ago that the senor
was dying? That vas after he had
been taken home to his plantation to
die. Yes, he would take her near the
plantation he would wait one little
hour for her, maybe two.
If her heart was being torn during
that long dusty ride her face gave no
warning of it. From Pippo she
learned that Senor Masters had been
imprisoned for nearly ten months on
a false charge, that he had contract
ed the fever in prison. The real of
fender had been discovered and had
confessed and the senior was set free.
FIR. Antonio had been kind to the
senior, for the senior had been good to
the church and the poor. He would
not let an innocent man die in prison
and had taken HIM home to the plan
tation to die. There faithful serv-
ant had cared for him, but week
ago the father had said the senior
could not live, his case was hopeless.
Surely the senor was dead, but he
had not seen the priest since. The
senor was good man and had been
kind to Pippo. Pippo's heart was
sore for the beautiful senorita who
had come so far to find the senior.
She left Pippo at the entrance to
the plantation and hurried to the
house. The place seemed deserted.
Then the sound of darky's voice,
real Virginia darky, singing: 30! Garry
me back to ole Virginny, to ole Vir-
ginia Shore" came softly from some
where above. Hope grew stronger
and Janet hurried in the direction of
thA singer.
The sound of footsteps silenced the
be praised. He done sabed de massa.
De angel hab come. Peter he hearn
her a comm an de angels Miss Janet
in de flesh, sure as dis niger habe
prayed for her"
1t was Peter, good old garrulous
Peter! She knew ia k was alive now
and in another moment she was kneel-
ing by her lovers bedside.
The sick man recognized her. She
was there, he was too weak then to
know or care how, she was there. her
soft, cool hand on his forehead, that
was enough. That night he slept
quietly while Janet and the faithful
negro watched over him. The fever
was broken.
1t was not genuine yellow jack, but
a kindred malarial fever. He had
called for her in his delirious mo-
ments and had begged Peter to talk
about her and sing the old Virginia
songs when the fever left him for 3
time.
Janet nursed him back to GONZALES