The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-03-05
a E7ego"~-An Involuntary Trip
Into q Fever-Stricken Country.
By a. S. DUANE.

L is said that every man has 4
| blind spot in his eye. Sometimes
| l think that I must have L blind
| z spot il my brain, and that the dis
asters and the sutferings Of humanity
get before it, Floods and earthquakes
! and epidemics devastate the earth,
but they make little impression upon
me- 1 read the headlines in the news
papers, and when a man asks me Cor
4 dollar for a sufferer he generally
gets it; but lose no rest worrying
over his sorrowS.
1t may have been an unconscious
seeking after an antidotc for my Gil
tirely practical nature that attracted
Inc toward Julia Maitland. Julia was
beautiful, young and romantic, and
did not seem to desire any corrective
for her disposition in the way Of an
alliance with me. I asked her to
marry NE once, and when she declined
l continued to visit at her home, with
the full approval of her father, and
with the full intention Of asking her
again.
She told me when she did so that she
respected me ard Liked me, but that
she could never, under any circum-
stances, be happy with a man who
could appreciate nothing but the sor-
did side Of life. She saiu She had
noticed that when looked at paint
ing always valued it, took into con-
sideration the reputation Of the artist,
and then gave my opinion upon it.
1t was just 10 o'clock when left her
house. had time to so down to the
office and finish up some correspond
ence, which the thought Of few hours
with her had made to seem of the
most trivial Importance earlier in the
evening.
We kept light in the office all night.
1t looked q trife brighte" than usual
as it came reerins over the t'anscm,
but I had 4 genuine start of surprise
as opened the door with my key, and
found Ransom, my booSkeeper, .si!l
busy. He looked up as though he had
had been expecting me.
"Mr. Duane" he said, "hcre are some
letters that think ought TO be attend
ed to at once"
sat down and looked the letters
over. The matter was much more seri-
Gus than 1 had imagined it could be-.
After talking and writing, and talking
again for an hour, We arrived at the
conclusion that the only possible way
to save the two or three thousand dol
lars involved was, for me to make 4
trip to a city in the northern part Of the
State.
"There is train at midnishr-or-
half-past. Why don't you take that:"
Ransom suggested.
1t seemed the best possible thing to
do. I walked over to the hotel where
I lived. packed my satchel, and in an
other half hour was waiting in the
station for my train. took out some
papers I had brought along with me,
and went over them while waited.
After a provoking delay the train
pulled out and soon I ordered my
berth made up and turned in for the
night.
1t was 1905 clock next day when arose
and dressed myself. I didn't think to
look out of the window until my toilet
was completed. I knew about where
we would be at that hour. Already the
lake breeze oughtto be rushing through
the car, and yet it seemed sultry.
I walked out in search of somebody
official and met the conductor
"What train is this?" I asked him,
rather excitedly.
He looked at me in bewildcrment.
"Ain't you one of 'em?"
zone of what? Isn't this the train
to Clinton? Where are we, anyway"
The conductor looked at me stu
pidly.
'You didn't offer. no ticket" he said
finally.
''No, I didn't I showed the porter
my pass-here it is-and told him to
tell you about it, or to take it and
show it to you, and let me 90 to bed"
"Oh, himw the conductor said, pluck
ing at his beard. "He can't read. He
supposed it was like all the rest
they've all got 'em."
Cali got what?" I fairly shouted at
him. "What are you talking about?'
Young man." said the slow fellow,
solemnly-I found out afterward that
he had been chosen for this mission on
account Of his calm nature-"you are
on special train, carrying nurses and
doctors to the fever towns. You are in
quarantined country now. and how you
are going to get back I don't know"
''Oh, I'll get back" 1 said. chcerfully.
"Just let me off at the next town, and
I'll find my way back"
II wouldn't do anything rash, If
were you," he said.
1t was a very still little town where
I stopped. There was only one other
passenger for that place-a slender girl,
with a clever face that looked too
young for a nurses. I walked briskly
down the empty platform, hot with
sunshine, and eXuding strong smell
of rosin from the new pine boards.
There was black sign over one of the
closed doors with Telegraph Office
in white letters. Inside there was a
"click, click" of instruments, but the
door was locked. \ negro lad came
lounging round the corner.
"You needn't try to get in thah," he
said, Importantly. The operatah he's
daid. Th' fevah's got him.
Isn't there anybody in this town
who can send a message" inquired.
There was a touch on my arm. l
turned, to see the girl. II can," she
said. Il am the volunteer operator
who has come to take charge Of this
Office and send dispatches about the
state of things here
weren't YOU afrail?" I asked her.