Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1903-02-27
a Hero---An Involuntary Trip
into a fever-Stricken Country.
By a. $. DUANE.


I blind spot in his eye. Sometimes
I think that l must have a blind
z spot in my brain. and that the dis
asters and the sufferings Of humanity
get before it. Floods and earthquakes
and epidemics deyastate the earth,
but they make little impression upon
me. 1 read the headlines in the news
papers, and when man asks me for
a dollar for sufferer he generally
gets it; but / lose no rest worrying
over his sorrows.
1t may have been an unconscious
seeking after an antidote for my en-
tirely practical nature that attracted
beautiful, young and romantic, and
did not seem to desire any corrective
for her disposition in the way of an
alliance with me. / asked her to
marry me once, and when she declined
/ 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 and liked me, but that
she could never, under any cpcum-
stances, be happy with a man who
could appreciate nothing but the sor-
did side Of life. She SAID she had
noticed that when l looked at a 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 go 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 a trifle brighter than usual
as 1T came peering over the ransom
but had genuine start OF surprise
as opened the door with my key. and
found Ransom, my bookkeeper, .till
busy He looked up as though he had
had been expecting me.
AIR Duane he said. 'here are some
letters that ] think ought to be attend
ed to at once"
l sat down and looked the letters
over. The matter was much more seri-
GUS than had imagined it could he
After talking and writing, and talking
again for an hour, we arrived at the
conclusion that the only possible way
10 save the two OF three thousand dol
lars involved was for me to make y
TIP TO city in the northern part of the
State.
Ihefe is train at midnighr-or-
half-past Why don't you take that?o
Ransom suggested
1t seemed the best possible thing To
do. | walked over to the hotel where
1 lived, packed my satchel. and in an
other mar hour was waiting in the
station for my train took out some
papers ! had brought along with me
and went over them while / waited.
AFTER a provoking delay the train
pulled out and soon / ordered NV
perth made UP and turned in for tba
night.
It was loo'elock next day whe, arose
and dressed myself. didn't think to
iooA out u the window until my toilet
was completed. knew about where
we would be at that hour. Alreadv the,
lake breeze oughtto be rushing thro,,g,,
the car, and yet it seemed sultry.
walked out in search OF somaboa,-
ofhclal and met the conductor.
What train is this:" | asked hin,
rather excitedly. 80
He looked at me in bewilderment
Amt you one of emp
One OF what? Isn't this tho tro,,,
to Clinton? Where are we, ANYWAY W.. %,
The conductor looked at me st,,
pidly. M S'u-
You didn't offer no ticket,o he said
finally. &c said
mo, ! didn't I showed tho po,to,.
my pass-here it Island told him IL, - =
tell you about it. or to take i ana
show it TO you, and let me 90 To haa !,
'Oh, him!s the conductor said nlpcs
ing at his beard. HE can't read, Ha
supposed it was like all the rest
they've ali got EN-"