Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-08

there was a long, cold note held down and
wonderful arpeggios OF torture crossed 1t
up and down That was the prelude.
In his room upstairs, which he could
reach in four seconds. there stood on his
dressing table bottle, not very large,
which contained not only the antidote and
and the gift of ecstatic well-being. But
the very fact that yesterday he had SO
lightly (or SO it seemed now had recourse
to that. and had so reveled in the paradise
in which 1t instantly set him, made him
this moment utterly turn his back on the
idea of resorting to it again. II he had got
to bear pain-and 1t really appeared as II
he had-then he would set his teeth and
bear 1t, but he would not, at the cost of
the formation Of an evil habit, drug himself
into remission from the pain, or, what even
now while he was suffering tempted him
more nearly, into that blissful harmony of
being that the drug gave him.
Then his desire disguised itself and came
to him more insidiously; there was a guest
coming to dinner tonight; he could not
simply retire to bed, leaving Maud to enter
tain Mr. Cochran, nor on the other hand,
did 1t seem to him to be physically possible
that he should get through dinner in this
state. Besides the actual pain which was
his at this moment was he knew well, a
mere bagatelle to what was coming. It
was only the prelude as yet; a remarkably
complete orchestra would soon begin. Yet
his intention still firm; he did not
propose to seek the relief that was standing
ready for him. He knew that his desire
for 1t was so acute, not only because of the
cessation Of pain that 1t could bring but
because Of the intense physical enjoyment
that 1t gave him. 1t was there that his
danger lay. Then with head splitting and
buZzing with pain he went upstairs to dress
and make ready to entertain his guest. He
had some forty other guests, too. In the
house. They, however, were we'll looked
after.
Breeding, and what is implied by that
much-misused word includes courage Of a
rather heroic kind, since this sort of cour-
age has no stirring aids, no trumpets and
drums to beat 1t up to it's proper level.
For 1t implies greater command Of self,
greater respect for the courtesies of life
to be courageous in humdrum situations
than in those to which romance and excite
ment impart stimulus, and certainly tonight
vivial manner toward his guest and his
sister. while he himself was suffering pain
of the most excruciating kind, was courage
that deserved in its small sphere as much
applause as some great Victoria Cross deed
in larger one. And though most people
have more manliness than they or anybody
else would have suspected when pain has
got to be borne or a heartrendinG situation
FACED, yet to have the ready smile, the at
tentfve ear the genial manner, under such
circumstances Is a fine test of the courage
of high breeding. All through dinner this
was triumphantly achieved by Thurso, and
1t was through no remission or failure on
his part, but by instinct born of intimate
knowledge on Maud's, that she knew that
he was going~through hells Of physical tor
ture. Sometimes he just bit his lip for a
moment, sometimessin the middle of a SEN
tence he would make pause that was
scarcely noticeable, sometimes he gripped
his knife or fork SO that the skin over his
knuckles showed white, but that was ALL
He talked quite easily and naturally, made
reference to Maud's poaching expedition
and its satisfactory results as far as dinner
was concerned, for the salmon was excel
lent, and went on to speak Of the epidemic
which had brought him up north.
but at iast 1t shows some sign Of abat-
Ing, ne said, though we are still ignorant
OF the source of It. In fact, there has been
no fresh case either today or yesterday"
Maud looked up at Mr.. Cochran, wishing
rather intently that he would preach his
Gospel She felt somehow certain that It
would do Thurso good, take his mind off the
pain that fickered round him like shower
of knives. But the Gospel was yelled, at
any rate.
cases up here" he said. Lady Maud told
me yesterday that you were doing so. I am
sure 1t must hep toward recovery to re-
move people from surroundings which they
associate with illness to fresh bright
places"
He paused a moment.
'One sees that evexy day." he said. 'Tf |
pleased to go back. The mind, left to itself,
cnngs SO to material things. Because one
has been happy in a certain room, one al |
ways thinks that those surroundings will
teHu " pEOuuCe udpplHcSS dSdlLl IL - one
of the illusions we get rid Of last"
ThursO began to speak.
You mean" he said and then stopped. |
For moment he could not go on. SO sharp
an access Of pain seized him. You mean
/ shall always associate this house with
typhoid and sick, suffering people?" he
asked after a moment. THAT Is not very
cheering"
Walter Cochran's happy, chiidlike eyes
looked at Maud a moment and then at his
host.
mo, I mean just the opposite" he said. |
You will always associate this house with |
recovery, with the sweeping away of illness
and pain"
Dinner was at an end and the momen- |
tary pause of cigarette-hghting followed. |