Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-10-06

pOTtly, upright, Will Nllile Halt anu I
countenance beaming with goodnes!
and benevolence.
For one instant the blood seemed t
stand still in his veins as he immedi.
ately recognized Mr.. Paget; but in the
others face and bearing there was nc
corresponding Renaissance. The al
teration was 700 great from the happy
igh-hearted young man who had beer
Charlie Paget's companion. Mechani.
cally he returned the first civil greet
| ing, but when with the cordial saluta-
tion "Dr. Anthon, l presume; / an
pleased to meet you, sir" friendly
hand was outstretched, DR.. Anthon was
too busy with his patient to see it, and
the old gentleman too respectful Of his
absorption in an urgent case to resent
an apparently involuntary discourtesy
his emotions subordinate in his SER
vices to suffering stood him in good
stead now; there was no sign about him
of his own pain; and John Paget stood
by, watching and weighing him, with
an admiration for his rare knowledge
and tenderness that moistened his eyes
and swelled his heart within him.
He came out of his house and walk
ed short distance with him, talking
Of the sad condition Of things, and left
him, convinced that, with great merit
in his profession, Dr. Anthon was the
most modest and reticent person he
had ever come across. But DR.. Anthon
walking slowly on with downcast head,
was suddenly accosted by Dr. Girtney,
as he was going his round of visits, who
was instantly struck by the pallor and
anguish of his friends face.
What is it, Anthon?" he immediate
ly asked.
ooh, Girtney, Girtney!" and the an
swer came from him like an agonized
cry, they are here-the Pagets-I have
just met him. 1 cannot bear it-what
shall do?"
Girtney intuitively surmised the
struggle that was raging in the trou-
bled SOUL and comprehended the faint
ness and weakness caused by this un-
expected crisis.
He loved his friend as Jonathan low
ed David, and felt as if he could lay
down his life then and there to spare
him from this new torture, which he
saw had seized and shaken him out Of
his usual f-control; but, though he
was indeed his true friend and brother,
he was, above all, a physician, and he
administered a tonic.
"Anthon," he said, gravely, and al
most severely, you came here to give
your life to a grave duty; you are but
one man pierced with your personal
pain. Think of the many who cannot
be saved from bodily suffering, the
many to whom death will bring sorrow
sharp as your own, If you should now
forsake the field. God made you a
brave and noble man to bear whatso-
ever He appoints! Stand to your post!
Do your work, though you bleed at
every pore! You are in Gods hands.
Trust His ways and purposes, though
your heart strings crack at His deal
ings with you. You are wanted in this
place. You have no right to be any
thing here except the wonderful doctor
that you are"
His last words rang out like trum-
pet on the silent and deserted streets.
Anthon lifted his head; the old sad
strength came back into his face, but
there was an expression in his eyes as
he looked up that made the other long
to fold him in his arms when he said:
You are right, Girtney; no coward
should call you friend. 1 will fight it
through"
That evening DR.. Girtney saw no pa
tients; the sick he was attending look
ed for him in vain, and the dying died
without him.
Shortly after dusk he went thought
fully toward Constance Paget's home,
and found father and daughter there,
resting from the charitable labors of
the day. He introduced himself with
plausible excuse for calling, and his
welcome was genial from both.
Naturally the conversation fell upon
the one prevailing topic Of the epidem-
ic. which inevitably brought Anthon's
name into prominence. Then DR.. Grit
ney with the eloquence of aft1iction,
with the unrestrained estimation of
character and genius, told his hearers
of all the beauty of his friends life
of his long, untiring, self-sacrificing
devotion to the poor, the downtrodden
the fallen, the stricken; of the sweet
ness and purity of his nature; Of his
great gifts and culture in his profess
sion; Of his persistent refusal of and
shrinking from all honors and fame
till his listeners glowed with him at
the story shared his enthusiasm,
warmed with reverence and love also
for this stranger in their midst, whose
! life seemed to them like holy hymn
inspired by the Father in heaven.
Tears rolled more than once from
Constance's eyes; her parted lips and
interested manner betrayed her SYM
pathy with the heroism, the unselfish-
ness, the earnestness, indicated in the
stirring tale but when DR.. Girtney,
cautiously, gently, let fall the merest
hint as of an uncertain suspicion of
his own-that this career Of abnega-
ton, of chivalrous labor, Of generous
wisdom, was a possible expiation of
some repented crime or error Of youth
"a vague and scarcely definable trou-
BILE trembled in her heart though it did
not seem to affect her less susceptible
father
| Nevertheless, DR.. Girtney had ac-
complished this piece of work we'll, as
he generally did all things; happen
what might, these two could never
again knowingly look upon Arthur
Fletcher save with eyes made clement
by tenderness for DR.. Anthon.
A few days after, Constance had oc-
casion to secure DR.. Anthon's services
for one she knew, and went to his Of
flee at the time, always very limited
/ appointed for such calls.
.sN,.T