a mortal antipathy-第51节
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contemplating in delaying it by the description of little
circumstances and individual thoughts and feelings。 But linger as we
may； we cannot compress into a chapterwe could not crowd into a
volumeall that passed through the minds and stirred the emotions of
the awe…struck company which was gathered about the scene of danger
and of terror。 We are dealing with an impossibility： consciousness
is a surface； narrative is a line。
Maurice had given himself up for lost。 His breathing was becoming
every moment more difficult； and he felt that his strength could hold
out but a few minutes longer。
〃Robert！〃 he called in faint accents。 But the attendant was not
there to answer。
〃Paolo！ Paolo！〃 But the faithful servant； who would have given his
life for his master； had not yet reached the place where the crowd
was gathered。
〃Oh； for a breath of air！ Oh； for an arm to lift me from this bed！
Too late！ Too late！〃 he gasped； with what might have seemed his
dying expiration。
〃Not too late！〃 The soft voice reached his obscured consciousness as
if it had come down to him from heaven。
In a single instant he found himself rolled in a blanket and in the
arms ofa woman！
Out of the stifling chamber；over the burning stairs；close by the
tongues of fire that were lapping up all they could reach；out into
the open air； he was borne swiftly and safely；carried as easily as
if he had been a babe； in the strong arms of 〃The Wonder〃 of the
gymnasium； the captain of the Atalanta； who had little dreamed of the
use she was to make of her natural gifts and her school…girl
accomplishments。
Such a cry as arose from the crowd of on…lookers！ It was a sound
that none of them had ever heard before or could expect ever to hear
again； unless he should be one of the last boat…load rescued from a
sinking vessel。 Then； those who had resisted the overflow of their
emotion； who had stood in white despair as they thought of these two
young lives soon to be wrapped in their burning shroud；those stern
menthe old sea…captain； the hard…faced； moneymaking； cast…iron
tradesmen of the city counting…roomsobbed like hysteric women； it
was like a convulsion that overcame natures unused to those deeper
emotions which many who are capable of experiencing die without ever
knowing。
This was the scene upon which the doctor and Paolo suddenly appeared
at the same moment。
As the fresh breeze passed over the face of the rescued patient； his
eyes opened wide； and his consciousness returned in almost
supernatural lucidity。 Euthymia had sat down upon a bank； and was
still supporting him。 His head was resting on her bosom。 Through
his awakening senses stole the murmurs of the living cradle which
rocked him with the wavelike movements of respiration； the soft
susurrus of the air that entered with every breath； the double beat
of the heart which throbbed close to his ear。 And every sense； and
every instinct； and every reviving pulse told him in language like a
revelation from another world that a woman's arms were around
him； and that it was life； and not death； which her embrace had
brought him。
She would have disengaged him from her protecting hold； but the
doctor made her a peremptory sign； which he followed by a sharp
command：
〃Do not move him a hair's breadth；〃 he said。 〃Wait until the litter
comes。 Any sudden movement might be dangerous。 Has anybody a brandy
flask about him？〃
One or two members of the local temperance society looked rather
awkward； but did not come forward。
The fresh…water fisherman was the first who spoke。
〃I han't got no brandy；〃 he said； 〃but there's a drop or two of old
Medford rum in this here that you're welcome to； if it'll be of any
help。 I alliz kerry a little on 't in case o' gettin' wet 'n'
chilled。〃
So saying he held forth a flat bottle with the word ；Sarsaparilla
stamped on the green glass； but which contained half a pint or more
of the specific on which he relied in those very frequent exposures
which happen to persons of his calling。
The doctor motioned back Paolo； who would have rushed at once to the
aid of Maurice； and who was not wanted at that moment。 So poor
Paolo； in an agony of fear for his master； was kept as quiet as
possible； and had to content himself with asking all sorts of
questions and repeating all the prayers he could think of to Our Lady
and to his holy namesake the Apostle。
The doctor wiped the mouth of the fisherman's bottle very carefully。
〃Take a few drops of this cordial；〃 he said； as he held it to his
patient's lips。 〃Hold him just so； Euthymia； without stirring。 I
will watch him； and say when he is ready to be moved。 The litter is
near by； waiting。〃 Dr。 Butts watched Maurice's pulse and color。 The
〃old Medford 〃 knew its business。 It had knocked over its tens of
thousands； it had its redeeming virtue； and helped to set up a poor
fellow now and then。 It did this for Maurice very effectively。 When
he seemed somewhat restored； the doctor had the litter brought to his
side； and Euthymia softly resigned her helpless burden； which Paolo
and the attendant Robert lifted with the aid of the doctor； who
walked by the patient as he was borne to the home where Mrs。 Butts
had made all ready for his reception。
As for poor Lurida； who had thought herself equal to the sanguinary
duties of the surgeon； she was left lying on the grass with an old
woman over her； working hard with fan and smelling…salts to bring her
back from her long fainting fit。
XXIV
THE INEVITABLE。
Why should not human nature be the same in Arrowhead Village as
elsewhere？ It could not seem strange to the good people of that
place and their visitors that these two young persons； brought
together under circumstances that stirred up the deepest emotions of
which the human soul is capable； should become attached to each
other。 But the bond between them was stronger than any knew； except
the good doctor； who had learned the great secret of Maurice's life。
For the first time since his infancy he had fully felt the charm
which the immediate presence of youthful womanhood carries with it。
He could hardly believe the fact when he found himself no longer the
subject of the terrifying seizures of which he had had many and
threatening experiences。
It was the doctor's business to save his patient's life； if he could
possibly do it。 Maurice had been reduced to the most perilous state
of debility by the relapse which had interrupted his convalescence。
Only by what seemed almost a miracle had he survived the exposure to
suffocation and the mental anguish through which he had passed。 It
was perfectly clear to Dr。 Butts that if Maurice could see the young
woman to whom he owed his life； and； as the doctor felt assured； the
revolution in his nervous system which would be the beginning of a
new existence； it would be of far more value as a restorative agency
than any or all of the drugs in the pharmacopoeia。 He told this to
Euthymia； and explained the matter to her parents and friends。 She
must go with him on some of his visits。 Her mother should go with
her； or her sister； but this was a case of life and death； and no
maidenly scruples must keep her from doing her duty。
The first of her visits to the sick； perhaps dying； man presented a
scene not unlike the picture before spoken of on the title…page of
the old edition of Galen。 The doctor was perhaps the most agitated
of the little group。 He went before the others； took his seat by the
bedside； and held the patient's wrist with his finger on the pulse。
As Euthymia entered it gave a single bound； fluttered for an instant
as if with a faint memory of its old habit； then throbbed full and
strong； comparatively； as if under the spur of some powerful
stimulus。 Euthymia's task was a delicate one； but she knew how to
disguise its difficulty。
〃Here is a flower I have brought you； Mr。 Kirkwood；〃 she said； and
handed him a white chrysanthemum。 He took it from her hand； and
before she knew it he took her hand into his own； and held it with a
gentle constraint。 What could she do？ Here was the young man whose
life she had saved； at least for the moment； and who was yet in
danger from the disease which had almost worn out his powers of
resistance。
〃Sit down by Mr。 Kirkwood's side；〃 said the doctor。 〃He wants to
thank you； if he has strength to do it； for saving him from the death
which seemed inevitable。〃
Not many words could Maurice command。 He was weak enough for womanly
tears； but their fountains no longer flowed； it was with him as with
the dying； whose eyes may light up； but rarely shed a tear。
The river which has found a new channel widens and deepensit； it
lets the old water…course fill up； and never returns to its forsaken
bed。 The tyrannous habit was broken。 The prophecy of
