Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-03-11

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to anybody" he persisted.
"Well, you have it. will never men,
ton it until you give me permission" !"
"An right, then. will tell you all.
When I was young man, went to
India as a surgeon In the English ar
my. There met so many lepers that
my attention was called particularly
/ to this disease. At first they disgusted
and alarmed me. Their rotting fingers
and toe joints, their running sores and
their emaciated bodies were so loath-
some that could hardly stay in their
presence, but in time 1 got used to
them, as we do to everything. I even
found myself plying them and won
dering If something couldn't be done
to alleviate their sufferings and even
to cure and stamp out the horrible dis
ease. This was the beginning Of ca
reer that I have studiously pursued
ever since. spent all my time In
studying leprosy in It's worst forms.
I determined to find some remedy for
it. was limited in funds, but man.
aged to get along by living near them.
I could not exist In the same house
with them. The thought of 1t nearly
stified me. But l could live near them
and help them and in time perfect my
discovery.
my secret Is already out, Miss
Belle" he added after pause. Il am
devoting my time and life to the dis.
coyery Of a positive cure for leprosy,
that most dreaded of all diseases that
ever scourged wicked world. l am
on the right track. In fact, l have
about perfected 1t, 80 that / will be
ready to announce the results to the
world In a year. There Is only one
thing that bothers me. I am expert.
menting with this continually"
Experimenting with whomT
The words were so hollow and un-
natural that l turned my eyes from
the DOCTORS face to that Of Miss Stet-
son. was startled at the sight Her
face was livid-paler than that Of any
corpse. A look Of horror shone from
her eyes.
"Whom are you experimenting with.
DR.. Squires" she repeated In the same
strange voice.
"With-why-my dear Miss Belle,
have l divulged any family secret?'
stammered the doctor. did you not
know? l thought your father knew
bok l>roxry tho
THAT Charles had leprosy in his sys-
tem-that he was a leper" she said
slowly.
"Your father knew it; his father
knew it; Charles knew it when he met
me. I understood that both families
made no secret Of it among them
selves"
mo. never knew what the disease
was. Father never told me. Oh, can
it be possiblew
She swayed in her saddle, and If the
doctor had not caught her she would
have fallen to the ground. / could
hardly contain myself. The news near
ly made me desperate. This accounted
for everything. was all wrong In my
conclusions. The doctor was, after all,
good man, holding the secret Of my
masters life in his possession and try
ing hard to help him.
"You must let me give you some wa
ter, Miss Belle" the doctor said as he
steadied her in the saddle. "Dismount
moment, and let me bathe your fore
head"
"No, thank you, doctor. will be all
right in moment. The suddenness OF
the news startled me-"
81 know it, 1 know 1t, and was q
brute to tell you. should have been
more thoughtful. I shall never forgive
myself. But, Miss Belle, believe me, !
thought you knew it all. He should
have told you."
"No, no; l am glad he didn't. How
could l have been the same to him?
How can I in the future"
She shuddered and covered her face
with her hands.
"Don't 60 on so, my dear Miss Belle"
the doctor said in low, winning voice.
"There is hope for Charles yet. You