The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1902-06-13
a Romance of the Epidemic
of 1873.
BY ALICE DowD GILLEyLES.
CHAPTER III.

September came but M one dreamed
of the sorrow il was tn bring To- Holly Springs
Summer fingered in the sunny South aud
DER stayed her time. There was nothing Ia
indicate the approach of falls first month
Tn. sun shone down with as intense heat. the
air was Gloss. and sultry a. in.summers prime
Many Of the boys and girls ia Grace's set were
preparing tai leave for colleges. There was II
meeting called in those days "Sociabie' at
one Of the girl. houses the Friday night be-
fore they to leave ON Monday for school
But. alas. when that Monday morning dawned'
many Of that merry crowd were sick unto death
and with terror the words were whispered
yellow fever - No who witnessed the
heart rending scene at the depot that Monday
morning. as the north bound train was pr-par-
ing To depart can ever forget IL. though tine
span Of life should extend through the three
scors years and ten of mans allotted time.
Husbands put their wives ON the train. almost
~ sheer force. while their weepins; wives chung
to them in the agony 81 a last embrace. The
conductor called out ''all aboard" and the train
moved OFT amidst the weeping sobs and lainen-
tations Loved ones we're left behind. their
faces to be more until the Resurrection
Morn. Some who left ON that north bound train
never returned. but reached a place OF safety in
higher attitudes only to die OF the disease from
which they fleeing
and GortIe and left for Kentucky college, on
arriving mt his destination taken from the
train delirious and never rcsained consciousness
until he awoke in eternity
The young man who accompanied Gertie tai
the Sociable seemed sad and depressed that
night. The next day she heard that he
sick and sent him some flowers. On Mon
day she was shocked to hear Of his death.
Grace had engagement with young friend
for Sunday evening He wrote that he regret
ted that IL was impossible for him to keep his
engagement he sick He was one Of the
most promising of the young men. and the only
child Of devoted parents. Afterwards the
rowing mother tsd Grace that the note written
to her contained the last words her boy
wrote. Before the dreaded disease known
to be in their midst there eighty cases of
yellow fever I'm the town. That number Of cases
was pronounced by the physicians yellow fever
on that memorable Monday morning. Many
had said when the refugees first came to Holly
Springs from Grenada. "time enough to leave
when ths first case appears among our citizens"
Alas some who said that were themselves
among the first cases. Miss Lynn and Mr..
Dunn were the first refugees from Grenada.
He had been engaged TAI her sister who had just
died with the fever. Gcrtie had heard Of the
sad circumstances and sent her some flowers.
She received q touching note Of thanks from the
broken hearted girl. She only lived long
enough to bear the agony Of seeing every snesn-
bsr u large family die Of tho fever In Grenada.
then died hsrsels Of the Same disease among
Stranger. How sweet the promise God shall
vjpe away all tears from their eyes-'
ADo0g the first cases were Judge Gray and
0oetis's mother. The servants had left In
lsisht whso they found that FOLLOW fever vas
= ~ house. A. this trying tine II tsus