Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-08-22


the black torrents of men and women
swirled and eddied and poured into
the depths below. In all the hurrying
thousands not one knew or cared a
straw whether the man Of millions in
his silent palace on the Drive lived
or died. Tomorrow morning 1t would
be the same, no matter what his fate,
and the next day and the next.
"A strange old world" he unused as
his cab swung into the Drive and
dashed up to the great house. A
liveried servant opened the iron gates
wide He was evidently expected. The
chauffeur threw the little cab up the
steep turn with a rush. He sprang out
and entered the hall with quick silent
tread.
The house was evidently in hopeless
confusion. Servants wandered in ev-
cry direction without order. Doctor
after doctor passed in and out and the
sickening odor of medicines filled the
air. A group of newspaper reporters
stood at the foot of the grand stair
way, discussing in subdued whispers
his chances of life and the probable
effect of his death on the market. The
last barrier was down and through the
confusion and panic Stuart could feel
the chill of the silently approaching
presence. Slowly, remorselessly, the
white messenger of Eternity was draw
ing near.
Nan stood shivering at the head of
the stairs, pale, dishevelled, her dark
eyes wide and staring with new ex-
preston of terror in their depths.
How is he, Nan?"
She stared at him a moment with
out seeming to understand until Stuart
repeated his question.
Worse" she stammered through
chattering teeth. THE doctors say he
can't possibly live. He has been call
ing for me for the last hour. 1 can't
go!"
"Why?"
I'm afraid"
He took her hand. 1t was cold and
he felt a tremor run through her body
at his touch.
Come, come, Nan, you're not silly
child, but a woman who has passed
through scenes in life that held trage-
dies darker than death!"
81 can't help it;~Tm afraid" she
cried, shivering and drawing closer.
Come, drive out of your thoughts
the old foolish shadows that make the
end of life horror. To me dying has
come to mean the breaking Of bars.
You taught me this the day you killed
my SOUL"
Hush, JIM"
IT'S true, don't be foolish" he whis-
pered. 1.-The day you killed me, long
ago, 1 was lonely and afraid at first,
and then 1 saw that death is only the
gray mystery of the dawn. Come, I'm
ashamed of you. If Cal is calling, go
to him at once. You must see him."
II can't! Tell him that I'm ILL.,"
"I won't lie to him in such an hour"
Shivering in silence she led Stuart
to the door of Bivens's room and fed to
her own.
On another magnificent bed of
cleaning ebony inlaid with rows OF
opals, thousands Of opals, Stuart found
the little shrivelled form. The swarthy
face was white and drawn, the hard
thin lips fallen back from two rows OF
smooth teeth in pitiful, fevered weak
ness. He was trying to talk to the
pastor of his church, while the fash
ionable clergymen bent over him with
an expression of helpless misery, now
and then wiping the perspiration from
his sleek, well-fed neck.
II want you to go into that next
room and pray" the little man gasped
Il haven't done anything very good OF
great yet, but l have plans, great
plans Tell them to God, ask Him to
give me a chance. Ten years more
or flve-or one-and I'll do these
things"
The shifting eyes caught sight OF
Stuart. He released the ministers
hand and raised his own to his friend
"Jim!"
The preacher moved aside with
sigh of relief and softly tiptoed out OF
the room as Stuart took the outstretch-
ed hand.
ill Of tn
here so soon," he began feebly. I've
some plans 1 want you to carry Out
for me right away. You see l never
thought before of the world as a place
where there were so many men anC
women sick and suffering-thousand
and tens and hundreds of thousands
These doctors say that every night II
New York alone there are half mil
lion people sick or bending over the
beds of loved ones who are suffering
and two hundred die every day."
He paused for breath, and the blacE
eyes stared at his friend.
Jim, can't die! 1 haven't lived
I've got to get up from here and DC
some times I've meant to do-all those
sick people-Tve got to do something
for them. I'm going to build palace:
for the lame, the halt, the sick, th'
blind. I'm going to gather the grea
men of science from the ends of the
earth and set them to work to lift thi:
| shadow from the world"
A sudden pain seized and CONFUSED
his frail body and Stuart called TIT
doctors from the next room.
They stood by in helpless sympathy
Cant you stop this pain?" the II
nancier gasped in anger. What arr
you here for? Am l not able to bu!
enough morphine to stop this hellisf
agony?"
His family doctor bent and said:
Your heart action is too low jus
| now, Mr.. Bivens, you can't stand it."
well, can't stand this, Give it t.
me, 1 tell you!"
The doctor took a hypodermic syr
inge, filled it with water and injected
i II into his arm.