Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-07-21
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I'm alone, tell you, alone in a worl,
of cold and darkness"
NO., no." Stuart interrupted sooth
ingly. You're just all in; you mus
go to bed and sleep. Go at once, ant
youn find something to cheer you il
the little girls room, love letter fo
you"
Yes" he asked, the light slowl!
returning to his eyes, "a love lettel
from my baby?"
II saw it there after she left. ReaC
it and go to sleep. I'll see you to-
night"
Yes, yes, of course, my boy, that!
what's the matter with me. I'm jus
all in for the lack of sleep. I've beer
raving half the time, l think. I'll gC
to bed at once"
When Stuart returned early from hi!
work in the afternoon he found grouI
of forlorn women and children stand
ing beside the stoop. A pale, elfsh'
looking boy of ten, whose face appear
ed to be five years older, sat on the
lower step crying.
What's the matter, kiddie?" he ask.
ed kindly.
Il wants de doctor-me mudder':
sick. She'll croak before mornin' ef ht
don't comedy all want him." HI
waved his little dirty head toward thu
OF
more for a week. The goil says We
can't see him, he's sleep"
I'll tell him you're here. The doc
tors been i'll himself.
The boy rose quickly and doffed hi:
ragged cap.
Tank ye, boss"
He urged the doctor to go at once
to see his patients. The work he loved
would restore his spirits. He was
dumfounded at the answer he receiv-
ed.
Tell them to go away" he said with
a frown. Il can't see them today.
may never be able to see them again.
Come, come, doctor, pull yourself
together and go. I'll go with you. It's
the best medicine you can take"
He answered angrily:
No, no! I'm in no mood to work
1 couldn't help them. I'd poison and
kill them all, feeling as l do today. A
physician can't heal the sick unless
there's healing in his own soul. I'd
bring death not life into their homes
Tell them to go away"
Stuart emptied his pockets of all the
money he had in a desperate effort tc
break their disappointment.
THE doctors too Ill to see you, now,
he explained. He sent this money fol
you and hopes it will help you over
the worst until he can come"
He divided the money among then
and they looked at it with dull disap-
pointment. They were glad to get it
but what they needed more than the
money was the hope and strength Of
their friends presence. They left with
dragging feet and Stuart returned tc
the doctors room determined not tc
leave until ne knew the secret of his
collapse.
From the haggard face and feverisf
eyes he knew he hadn't slept yet. He
had gotten up at one o'clock and dress
ed. The lunch which the maid hat
brought to his room was on the table
by his bed, untouched.
The young lawyer softly closed th'
door and sat down. The older maj
gazed at him in a dull stupor.
Doctor" Stuart began gently. "Pv'
known you for about fifteen years
You're the only father I've had in thi'
big town, and you've been a good one
You've been acting strangely for th'
past two weeks. You're in trouble"
THE greatest trouble that can come
to any human SOUL" was the bitter an
swer.
Haven't l won the right to you
confidence and friendship in such al
hour?"
MY trouble, boy, is beyond the hell
of friends"
Nonsense" Stuart answered cheer
fully. Shake off the blues. Whar'
wrong? Do you need money!"
The doctor broke into a discordan
laugh.
mo. I've just sent Harriet abroad
I've some money laid away that will
last year or two until she is earning
good salary. What gave you th
idea?"
The last question he asked with sud
den sharp energy.
Actions that indicate strain great
er than you can bear"
mo, you're mistaken" he answered
roughly. II can bear it all right.
He paused and his eyes stared at tn
ceiling as he groaned: I've got t
bear it; what's the use to whine?"
Stuart stepped close and slipped hi
arm about the stalwart figure. Hi
voice was tender with a mans deel
feeling.
Come, doctor. you're not foolinl
me. I've known you too long. There
only one man on earth for whom I'd d.
as much as l would for you-my owl
gray haired father down south. You'v
been everything to me one man coul'
be to another during the past fifteel
years. You have given me home, tn
love of a big tender heart, and tn
wise counsel of tried friendship.
there's anything that / have and yo
| need, it's yours before you ask 1t, to tn
last dollar l possess. Come now-teI
me what's the trouble?"
Stuart could feel the big form swa
and tremble under the stress of over
whelming emotion, and his arm press
ed a little closer. And then the tension
suddenly broke.
The doctor sank into a chair an
looked up with helpless stare.
Yes, Jim, l will-I'll-tell-you."
He gasped and choked, paused, pull
ed himself together and cried:
Il must tell somebody or jump ou
of that window and dash my brain