INFLUENZA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12278, 15 February 1902, Page 5

INFLUENZA

I ACHED 1 With a Weary Weakness A Pi'ompt and Sure Relief. - The Casa of Bliss M, L. KSIPE. (By a lilvff llqwrkr) Immense crowds cf visitors s'reame: into the important towns of New Zea land to witness Uie f.siivities itiaugur atcd for the purpose of coinmeinoratin. the close of tho nineteenth century Among tho arrivals of the folks fror. the country was Miss Marianne Louis. Knipe, whoso home is at Clifton, abou four miles from Ir,ver'argil!. Kpeakiiij to a reporter Miss Kuipe said, in anssvei to the usual "How arc you?' . "Very well, thank you. But yot should have s<e:i me this time last year £ was quite unfit- to indulge in the usna Christmas gaieties. Tho reason is easily explained, for my health was wretched t'he first ailment- was an attack of merles, which iett mo very low and weal Whilst suffering from this complain. I was so restifcss that I ronid uot kee. till .1 minute. I was always walkin; .Tom one room to another, and at h- : I caught- a dreadful cold, which turne to influenza. I wa-s suddenly attacka. with chilliness, quickly followed Iv Hashes of intense heat. My poor limb ached with a weary weakness that quitprostrated inc. If I tried !o stand up my logs commenced to tremble, an: then they gave way as involuntarily .v though njjr knees had been struck frcii' behind. 1 was troubled with an agonising headache, besides suffering ficm ; f'ovcrish thirst, and accompanied by a:, e'evation of my lemper.iUirr •V most distressing cough also au;V 10 my sufferings, k- cireum--UHco rcliic' occasioned a, great amount of expectoration. My heart also showed sigtis.'c. weakness, especially after the eierfcioi coughing, when it fluttered ;*very rapidly and cause;! me many an aiixioir thought." gs _ " Weroyou able to render any dome'. ;ic assistance, Miss Knipe?" "As long :i." 1 was able to stand up I did a little housework; but I w£e soot; obliged to lie up in bed, and for five days I was jnst-.a helpless invalid, being unable to do anything for myself. 1 lid got seem to have enough strength 0 sneeze, for although I always wanted .o I could never succeed. All I coulr do was to go through the preliminary 'acini contortions connected with sneer, itg, and their it would end with a co-d. miserable shudder. Jly eyes were in lamed and watery, with !i burning aelu behind them which had the cffect of making mo feel giddy when I looked a! my reading matter. The colour ofm; tonguo was aboufc'-wliito',' while not tluea.st of my troubles was a total Jos of appetite. When 1' oven looked al food a foeling of sickness'came over me and as 1 sank lower .and lower I lost my usual disposition to bo chcerful, be sides having tormenting notions in m\ head which kept me awake at night From tho want of nourishment my body becanio as thin as a post, comparatively speaking, for I was fairly stout bpfon my sickness robbed me of 'my' robust appearance. There was a feeling in mj che3t as though a heavy weight wa. pressing the breathing valves together and preventing respiration. I nevei dreamt that influenza is such a dangerous disease as it is, and 1 am very thankful that Ii sot. over it so well. There was one periodyof my illness when I was quite discouraged and dishoartencd owing to the physic..l had taken failing to afford relief, but I was afterwards told that Clements Tonio had cured a friend of mine of influenza, so I tried it myself." " Did Qlpiuents Tonic fit your requirements?" 4 ' '• Yes, in evovy rospcct. After taking a. few doses of Clements Tonic I'.was ablo to eat a little, and after fastingTC long I was glad my appetiteTMppciai'od. A rapid change followed. Myhead'coased aching, and the racking pains'fn my body were hunted away by Clements ■Tonic, and at the same timo my food had a nourishing and sustaining effect on me. This was borne out by a daily increaso in fleeh and strength, the influenza symptoms meanwhile vanishing. Clements Tonic invigorated me wonderfully, and since my complaint was cured I have not roquirod a doso of physic of any sort." " Witb your permission I will <-repori this." " You can publish ray testimony amway you like."

the moustache and flutter of the lip which formed his characteristic smile, " I am neither a clergyman, nor a doctor, nor even a solicitor." "Hut." gasped flranville, his pains coming upon him again, "you are a barrister. Air Townshend'.' "They say T am," answered Townshend. " f have eaten my dinners, and read a handbook or two.'' "\ou'i! do,' said flranville. as if lie meant. on are the very man fur me!— the man I've been seeking for!" Then lii.s fevered eve looked round upon bis five friends, "do away!" he said. "Wait till I call you. I want .only these'two gentlemen in this scene. The men filed nut with as miieli solemnity as if they were already walking at Graiiville's funeral. "\ou see those fellows'.'" broke out the financier with a gliactlyajrin, when (lie door had .shut them out. "They're my friends—mv cronies ! They think they are. They're thieves and liars!—and to mo who has made them and given them of my best! And they think I don't know it! They've known me for years, more or less, and they think inn such a fool as to know no more ol" them 'than the side I hey show me! Well, now, I'm going to lead them such a dance as tliey haven't guessed the like of 'before! 'J 1 liov're my friends and cronies; and they're going to come into the money I've made. Very well! Take your pen, Mr Townshend, please, and write! " Mr Townshend sat down to write at the little bedside table in the light of the shaded lamp. And Mr (.'rant flranville, in llie throes of bis final, deadly sickness, dictated the term:- of his tvill in short, succinct phrases, which Mr Townshend am-* plilicd into legal jargon. The lawyer made no comment, but merely wrote as lie was intruded, and read out each clause as it was finished. Y»u shall hear the whole thing piewnily. When Ihe will was written—lt was not a long document—and when it was signed by Grant flranville, and witnessed bv l)r Weslobv and Mr Townslirnd. I lie millionaire said to Wesloby: "Hive me that drink," indicating' the mixture in I lie silver cup. Then, when he had drunk, he lurned to Townshend. v "Will you do me the favour, .sir," said lie, taking a ring from his linger, "of accepting tliat, as an inconsiderable acknowledgment—in memory of the trouble I have put you to?" Townshend wished to decline the present ; ho regarded it. he said, as a privilege lo do what he had done, and he needed no reward but the pleasure of doing a service; but flranville earnestly Dressed the ring on him. and he accepted it. " I do not give it," said flranville, with a smile sweeter than he commonly showed, " and you will not keep it. because of its money value, but because of its association. You see it's a mourning ring, I got it. when I. was si 111 a poor mail—on the death of my first wife." " Vour first wife?" exclaimed Townshend. "Yes," answered Clranville, without suspicion that there was any point in the question. " Poor girl! " he murmured, as ill meditation. "We had a tiff soon after we were married because I had lo go away on a long journey; when I came hack T beard she was dead ; she had taken her long journey!

Townsliend wondered. Hut he did not. i understand because he did not know; and ihcrefore.hc held his tongue. Yes, had lie uttered his perplexity of thought, what, a different course events might have taken! ; "Will you, sirT' said Granville, turning in the doctor, "accept that?" He tnok another ling from bis hand, which Dr Wfstnby accepled without demur. .'ince liis friend Townshend had let his objeetions go. " ( wish I could have known more of boili you gentlemen," said (iranville. "I think we'd have 301 011; and I might have m.:de your forluuw. Hut I am compelled to drop your acquaintance as sooij.as made. And I iegret it.'' Yon see. Mr (inn! flranville could he a very agreeable and polite person when he chose. ''Wo cannot bill regret it too, Mr (iranville,',' said Townshend, with tluit odd smile j of his which flickered under his heavy j moustache. j " C';i!l lliem in, Mr Townshend, please,"! said ("Irani (iranville. " I think I'm pressed j for lime. To'.vnsbrnd found ihe five anxious and jealous friends no farther ell' llian tho landing. They entered silently, almost shyly, and drilled into positions apart, about the bed. " Well, Grant, old boy! " murmured Tzikos, soothingly. "1 want you all lo stand together there." j said Granville, indicating the end of the j bed. They stood as he desired, just beyond the thick brass rail. "Lord!" murmured Granville wilh a grin. " You look for all the world like a lot of prisoners al the bar!" They smiled at the jol;c; it was so merry, ami so characteristic of their dear friend and patron. "Mr Townshend," then said (iranville, ''will you be so good as to j read that aloud?" | And Mr Townshend rrad in a solemn, ! clear, sonorous voice: j "This is the last will and testament of | me. Alexander Grant Granville, of No. — j Pusiel! square, in the Parish of Saint I'ancras, in the County of Middlesex, made this 20th day of October, in the year of our Lord. 1870. "I appoint David Storr. Esquire, solicitor. of 12 Melting Pot alley, in the City of London, to he my sole trustee and executor. " I give and bequeath nnto my wife, Isabella (iranl Granville, the yearly sum of £2000, lo lie paid quarterly during her life. "Subject to the above annuity, I give and bequeath the whole of my estate, real and personal, whatsoever and wheresoever situate, to that one of my live friends. Oliver Trentham, third Baron Auburn, Tiinperley Turner, Esquire, M.P., Pericles 'JV.ikos, Esquire, Brewster Bruce, Erquire, and Francis Parris, Esquire, who .shall lie. alive 15 years from the date of this, my will. " Should more than one of these, my live friends, abnvenamed, be alive 15 years from the date of this, my will, or should all five be dead, I give and bequeath tho whole of my'estate unto my reputed legitimate son—provided always that ha grows up to be like, me in feature and person.—anil I lieieby iippoint the abovenamed David Storr, solicitor, or in the event (if his death his succcssor. to be sole judge of that question." When Mr Townshend had done reading there was silence for some, seconds. The steady, relentless tick of the silver clock on the mantel and the fall of a cinder from (lie crumbling fire were the only sounds. The friends and legatees stood dumbfounded, enraged, and perhaps somewhat ashamed. "Well,'' said the dying man, whose eve spaikled with triumph and whose voice was instinct with the spirit of malicious banter, " haven't I provided for you handsomely? Ton my word! You're speechless wilh gralitude—eh? Overwhelmed with my generosity. All the property—except the pittance to my wife—accnmuiating for 15 years! There'll be a fine haul for one of yon! For which Heavens knows! You have your chancc—each and all! Tight it out!" " You've played a good many jokes in your time. Granville.'' said Mr Tiinperley Turner, red and sparkling with fury. "but. your last is the most extraordinary ".ml disgraceful joke of all! And face lo face with Death! It's bhn-pheinnus!' " You're angry. Tiinperley," said Granville, grinning, "because you think the odds are against you! The oldest—aren't you? Nearly 60, eh? lint what docs that matter? You're a good life! Kill them off. There are ways of killing h?sides with

! knives nr pistols ov poisons! Ami there's ! Auburn killing himself as fast as he can! 1 1M like ro come hack from (lie grave and I see how the name is going; lull I'm afraid | I can't." I '.'The dear ("Irani!" murmured Pericles. | the Greek. "I believe lie will he Irving his J jukes in the oilier world! They do say , a man'will continue as lie dies." "I'Yank." said Granville, " hand me IhalI goblet. I want to drink to the ' Last Alive ' 15 Years Hence,'" Th" secretary handed the cup. ' "Yes," said (iranl. "T jnit- my lips' in it iirst! Then pass it round!" With I a snldtn energy lie managed lo raise hims?lf and take the cup. ''You'll be at. each .other's throats to-morrow!" said he. willi his malicious grin. "Eight- it out! Eight, you rascals!',' lie raised the cup unaided: "To Ihe Last Alive!" He drank—drank deep. TTe sank buk upon his pilhiw. A long sigh rose from his I breast, shudder of mortal agony ran tlfrough his frame, his gaze became lixed ■ and glazed, his body seemed subtly to collapse—he was dead. (to lie continued.)