The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-11-16
~ HE patient shivers in the cool eve-
ming air and draws his plaid
closer about his shoulders.
YOU must go indoors, my

docs not move his eyes from the big
fire ball of the sun, which fades over
yonder in tragic melancholy just as he
himself is fading.
Beyond the sea the sun descends into
the empire of shadows, loses his rays,
and imparts his purple to the waves,
the sky. the mountains, with an affec
tion which by his daily death Is rem
dercd triumph, a celebra tion of life
for the earth
How grand and simple. such dy-
ing" muses. Douglas Lindsay. But the
voice near him cautions: BE reason-
able, my lord. for this is the hour so
injurious to the sick in the Riviera: the
hour which makes sunset the winter of
the South; the Incompatible, treacher-
Gus hour i'm which beauty casts it's
sold-interwoven veil and death its nets
over the beach"
The patient rises painfully from his
rocking chair.
He knows that he will be sorely
troubled by cough tonight. but he does
not know whether he will see the sun
tomorrow.
The sky of the Mediterranean are as
II suff,ised with mallow-col silk. AS
II prepared for a glorious festival. The
slender masts of the yachts al anchor
ground. and the Estere, Mountain tow
ers as IL dipped in bloody glory
Douglas Lindsay has taken the arm
OF the nurse and returns with slow
steps to the Hotel Grey Albion
In front Of the villa with the Greek
rolonnade he asks: "A young girl died
here suddenly within the last few
days."
Yes. my lord. The father and the
bridegroom arc inconsoable. it is said"
Fortunate girl Thus to die q
beloved and lamented.
The nurse Is silent. His remark be- |
trays such bitter grief He will be la
mented by nobody. the poor rich man. |
His tall figure is now bent, yet in the |
whole attitude of this vanuushed |,
man. in the noble grace of his manner. |
there is the English,nan of aristo- !
cratic descent. At the threshold of the
house he looks back. The splendor i
is gone; the sea has a faded color; the
palaces of the clouds are sunken to
iausht. Motionless and mourning the
f.Sterel rises in the midst of gigan-
ne funeral: the light is dead night
has set in
The sun dies every evening. and all
the earth mourns him" the patient
muses. when he enters the magnificent
court of the hotel. where onicions ser
wants open the dark portals in silence
When DR.. Diclin. the medical author
ity OF Cannes. d few hours later leaves
he room of Lord Lindsay he mentions
20 the nurse:
we must be prepared for the worst:
'he patient has only few days to
live"
'Will he have much to suffer" she
asks.
'Physiraliy. very little: morally.
great deal. replies the doctor. a fine
psychologist ard searrher of souls.
He has been suffering for some time
rom truly sentimental spleen. which.
however. il nothing strange in such a
'aiient. y great anxiety seizes him a
he thought that he has to start so
>ncly upon his last journey. DO your
est Miss Mary. to ease his last hours:
Is the only mercy we can hestow
non him"
What can | do for him.
on YOU are a woman. aud at tn.
sirk-bed al women turn into mothers
hnu "n' words To rock atiiction into
sumner on that point | can teach YOU
nothing"
ThouehtfulIy The nurse went into ,ho
Sirk room. i was furnished with tho ,
almost plinrcly comfort of a man ac- ,
'ustomcd To luxury. and those tender
N"Wcly proofs which show the hand of ,
q woman were not lacking. everywhere
aromatic flowers, white heather from ,
INC forests of f'reius and pass roses. ,
SIC bends over the bed where the ,
h"omrd man rests with closed ewes ,
49, he hearS the sign of the shadow
upon ms brow. The energetic nose is ,
already painfully thin and contracted. ,
~" n'"ouleES lips are slightly curlec. |
hnt III" long eyelashes overshadow the +,
: h'' IS and the blonde hair is of truly ,
NnGlu. Saxon brightness
\nd over all is the sacred beauty of
All Faces marked by death with its mas
icrly chisel
she lowers the heavy draperies. sub
"u"s the light of the lamp. arrances =.
IN" medicines. takes w a Volume of 9
devotion and prepares for The watch of ,
,h" night
'l' has Opened his eyes and his looks :
follow her :
me 'arnIohiouS movements of lhis :,
Woman are like music 10 his eyes And II
80 lnuch rest and guietude emanates :,
from her,
~ mas oflen appeared 10 him as if her :,
presence alleviated his suffering. The
I'VE months during which she nursed
''''n nave been his best. lie has had so g.,
many nurses i'm the course of the last :.
wear but not one of them has left even ;.
trace upon his memory But Miss II
Mary Was the true self-sacriice. She :,
'eiohSeu TO those secular associations
'i Ehslish nurses which are recruited !
rom the daughters of the higher
'lasses exclusively. Perhaps for. this II
last arrival he felt Il special affection :,
because she was "A countrywoman of =,
ms and spoke his language. II
She cared for him not like a servant. =,
nut like sister of the great family
beyond the stars who came to nurse !;
lcr suHering brother, and 10 smooth ~
Tor nm the return to the home of the /,
Father, lie spoke to her not as to a ;.
but as to a woman of his a
world, who did him the honor to Veil h
by her care the hOrrid ailment which II
destroyed him, and to soften his bitter
loneliness by her presence. !;
He closed his eyes and sought 10
'lumber, Graded by the mighty pulsa- Y
ion of the sea and the monotonous
plaint OF the mistral of the frs. r
Sister Mary read from her missal
If your brother is impoverished and
stretches forth his trembling hands @
20 YOU. you shall receive him, even the
stranger, that he may live beside you" @
The hours passed.
During the night the patient started
rom his sleep and endured a long at | n