The Washington herald., 1909-07-11

turned 20 Cecilia. the light Of warm ap-
proval in his face
Don't" she whispered impetuously.
1 don't deserve It. You don't know how
I rebel against the work. or how afraid
/ grOw-0r how terrible how increasingly
terrible. her disease IS 20 me, I can't get
accustomed 10 H. Her voice, her poor
hands her marred face-they torture me-
II l should beCOme-What she fs-cut OF
from my peOple-my poor mother
She could not finish the d.sjointed SEN
tence
Tomorrow L shall send YOU 4 brochure
on leprOsy. which contains some interest
ing statistics. You are TO read every
word, remember. III send some picture
magazines 10 amuse your patient while
you are reading"
His quiet. professional manner had its
instant effect upon her.
Forgive me-" she said regretfully.
You have enough cares OF other people
always and always, Then you come
here, and 1 tax you with mine-I, who
have never had a burden worth the
name before
To help you is my highest privilege.
my deepest Joy" The honest reproach IN
his voice was the best emphasis
He does love TO help people. thought
the girl The chronic invalid might be
very happy one, on th0sa days when
he remembered her name"
The next day Staples brought the book
on leprOsy. and explained the technical
terms 10 her She was surprised 10 learn
that statistics, carefully compiled through
many years. support the claim Of der
matolOgists that leprOsy is but slightly
contagious. Certain high authorities con
tend that the disease cannot be trans
mitted by touch, breath or even inOcula-
ton. She read Of authenticated instances
OF lepers' wives who tried in vain 10 in
oculate themselves
In the five weeks that followed. Cecilia
gradually OutgreW her fear that the dis
ease would be communicated 10 her. But
the instructive physical shrinking was a
torture that never lessened. Mrs. Long
grew more and more repulsive in appear
ance- The sight OF her piteous 'leper
claws" (no longer hands lowering over
the delicate flowers used 10 wiring the
girls heart. The vOix lepreuse. its like
ness to the human voice made all the
ghastlier by its unlikeQess. was as X
some anomalous creature, half man. half
beast were given the speech OF one with
the vocal chords OF the other.
To help her 10 make the closing scene
Of the poor life comfortable and serene.
became the one object Of Cecilia's days.
She lay awake at night thinking Of ways
to amUse or crafty her patient. and
every sacrifice she made, every act OF
gentle kindness. brought the quick re-
ward OF gratitude.
Did you ever know so grateful heart
as hers?" Cecilia asked the doctor.
He forgot to reply lie was thinking
how pale the girl looked. and how deep
q
I have been anxious about her to-day
When I came in this morning she had
opened the window 10 give her flowers
the benefit of the rain. Her night dress
was damp and she was chilled. though
her sensations OF heat or cold are so
Impaired that she did not realize her i'm
prudence. I kept her in bed until you
came. for 1 fear a deep. cold has set
tied"
Very quickly it developed into pneu-
moniG-the angel Of quick release that
often grows impatient with his slow
course Of leprosy.
I've had heap of wOrTiting. I reckon
the good Lord gave me this nice time at
the last TO make up fOr the rest I've
had the best time Of my life since I've
been here. You and the doctor have been
so good 10 me. deaTie
Later. with failing voice. she asked:
Read il again-about the ten"
Cecilia read the story OF TIRE ten lepers
who We're healed.
IF YOU had been there I know there
would have been two who returned TO
give thanks. said the girl, her face wet
with tears And God sees and loves
your grateful heart just as He did His
lepers, SO long ago"
The poor, scared face was for a mo-