CHAPTER XXXIV. THE CLOUD BURSTS.

TheshadowofthatawfulcloudwhichhaddesolatedotherplacesnowbegantodarkentheboundariesoftheplantationofCanema.NodiseasehasevermorefullyfilledoutthemeaningofthoseawfulwordsofScripture,"Thepestilencethatwalkethindarkness."Nonehasbeenmoreirregular,andapparentlymoreperfectlycapricious,initsmovements.Duringthesuccessiveseasonsthatithasbeenepidemicinthiscountry,ithasseemedtohavesetatdefiancetheskillofthephysicians.Thesystemofmedicaltacticswhichhasbeenwroughtoutbythepainfulexperienceofoneseasonseemstobelaughedtoscornbythevaryingtypeofthediseaseinthenext.Certainsanitarylawsandconditionswouldseemtobeindispensableyetthosewhoarefamiliarwithithavehadfearfulexperiencehowlikeawolfitwillsometimesleaptheboundariesofthebestandmostcarefully-guardedfold,and,spiteofeverycautionandprotection,sweepallbeforeit. Itscoursethroughtownsandvillageshasbeenequallysingular.Sometimesdescendinglikeacloudonaneighborhood,itwillleaveasinglevillageortownuntouchedamidstthesurroundingdesolations,andlongafter,whenhealthisrestoredtothewholeneighborhood,comedownsuddenlyontheomittedtowns,asaravagingarmysendsbackapartyforpreytosomeplacewhichhasbeenoverlookedorforgotten.Sometimes,enteringahouse,intwenty-fourhoursitwilltakeallwhoareinit.Sometimesitwillravageallthecityexceptsomeonestreetorlocality,andthencomeuponthat,whileallelseisspared.Itscourse,uponsouthernplantations,wasmarkedbysimilarcapriciousness,andwasmadestillmorefatalbythatpeculiarnatureofplantationlifewhichwithdrawstheinmatessofarfrommedicalaid. Whenthefirstletterswerereceiveddescribingtheprogressofitinnortherncities,AuntNesbitfeltmuchuneasinessandalarm.Itisremarkablewithwhattenacitypeopleoftenwillclingtolife,whoseenjoymentsinitaresodullandlowthatabystanderwouldscarcelythinkthemworththestruggleofpreservation.Whenatlengththedreadednewsbegantobeheardfromonepointandanotherintheirvicinity,AuntNesbitsaid,oneday,toNina,— "Yourcousins,theGordons,inE.,havewrittentoustoleavetheplantation,andcomeandspendsometimewiththem,tillthedangerisover." "Why,"saidNina,"dotheythinkthecholeracan'tcomethere?" "Well,"saidAuntNesbit,"theyhavetheirfamilyundermostexcellentregulationsand,livinginatownso,theyarewithincallofadoctor,ifanythinghappens." "Aunt,"saidNina,"perhapsyouhadbettergobutIwillstaywithmypeople." "Why,don'tyoufeelafraid,Nina?" "No,aunt,Idon't.Besides,Ithinkitwouldbeveryselfishformetoliveontheservicesofmypeopleallmylife,andthenrunawayandleavethemalonewhenatimeofdangercomes.TheleastIcandoistostayandtakecareofthem." ThisconversationwasoverheardbyHarry,whowasstandingwithhisbacktothem,ontheveranda,neartheparlordoorwheretheyweresitting. "Child,"saidAuntNesbit,"whatdoyousupposeyoucando?Youhaven'tanyexperience.HarryandMillycandoagreatdealbetterthanyoucan.I'llleaveMillyhere.It'sourfirstdutytotakecareofourhealth." "No,aunt,Ithinktherearesomedutiesbeforethat,"saidNina."It'strueIhaven'tagreatdealofstrength,butIhavecourageandIknowmygoingawaywoulddiscourageourpeople,andfillthemwithfearandthat,theysay,predisposestothedisease.Ishallgetthecarriageup,andgodirectlyovertoseethedoctor,andgetdirectionsandmedicines.Ishalltalktoourpeople,andteachthemwhattodo,andseethatitisdone.And,whentheyseethatIamcalm,andnotafraid,theywillhavecourage.But,aunt,ifyouareafraid,Ithinkyouhadbettergo.Youarefeebleyoucan'tmakemuchexertionandifyoufeelanysaferormorecomfortable,Ithinkitwouldbebest.IshouldliketohaveMillystay,andshe,Harry,andI,willbeaboardofhealthtotheplantation." "Harry,"shesaid,"ifyou'llgetupthecarriage,we'llgoimmediately." AgainHarryfeltthebitternessofhissoulsweetenedandtranquillizedbythenoblenatureofhertowhosehandsthelawhadgiventhechainwhichboundhim.Gallingandintolerableasitwouldhavebeenotherwise,hefelt,whenwithher,thatherservicewasperfectfreedom.HehadnotsaidanythingtoNinaaboutthecontentsoftheletterwhichhehadreceivedfromhissister.Hesawthatitwasanev