“‘Old Ninety-Nine’s’ will more than pays me,” returned the doctor in a tone so decided as to preclude further discussion. “And,” the doctor continued, “as an ‘immune,’ Hernando’s assistance will be invaluable to me, should he decide to give it.”
At this both De Vere and Genung started. “Surely, Doctor, you will not again part us!” they exclaimed.
“Not soon at any rate—perhaps never.”
It was nearly train time and the doctors arose to leave with,—“Just let us slip off quietly. There has been quite enough excitement in the family for one day.”
“But you will not desert us, Doctor?” De Vere protested.
“No indeed. In the fall I propose going abroad for six months, but my earnest desire is that our friendly relations continue.” And with a parting hand-shake they were gone.
Who can describe Hernando’s feelings as in his own room, so dainty and wholesome, he sat before the fire on this chill March night? We are told that in this life perfect happiness is never attained; some obstacle, some blot interposes just short of realization. But is this not materialistic philosophy? Some one has said that,—“It is possible for a man to so conquer the subjective world within himself that he may rule over the objective, thus bringing himself en rapport with the harmonious vibrations of nature in a happiness vouchsafed only to those who understand and obey her laws.” Sweet was his sleep as he lay on the soft bed that had once been Granny’s, and who can say that she was not drawn thither by the law of spiritual attraction?
Saturday was a busy day in town. Reports of the blizzard’s havoc were harrowing in the extreme. Relief expeditions were sent out to aid the suffering mountaineers, still imprisoned in the mountains, some in a starving condition. Several had lost their way in endeavoring to reach town and had perished.
All hands joined in the good work and by night the greater part of the sufferers had been attended to.
“Anyway,” said Mr. De Vere, “terrible as was this storm, it does not equal the one they had out West in January. Two hundred and thirty lives were lost and the drop in the thermometer was one hundred degrees.”