Page 42 - 1913 November - To Dragma

TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 47

Sophy did not return but Madame called for Cimbria and her voice
was like chilled steel.

"Miss Anderson is the last one, Doctor," she said.
Sophy was seated by the window looking at the photograph of a
good-looking young man on Madame's desk.
After one keen glance from a pair of brown eyes the doctor said,
"May I see the back of your right hand. Miss Anderson?" and
Cimbria, with a queer feeling of surprise, recognized the voice of
the man named Harris, who had sat behind her the evening before.

The examination was brief.
"That's all, Miss Anderson," she was told and the doctor's voice
was pitying.

"Do you find anything the matter, Dr. Harris?" from Madame.
"May I see you alone, Madame Angelo?" he responded.

"No," she answered sharply. " I f it is as bad as you suspect,
these girls will have to be told."

"As you please. I t is even worse than I feared, both these young
women show symptoms of the disease in an advanced form. Miss
Willett's eyebrows and throat told me the truth at the first glance,
and this patch on Miss Anderson's hand can't be mistaken."

Madame dropped into a chair.
"My business is ruined, ruined, ruined," she moaned.
The contempt in Dr. Harris's eyes was not good to see.
"Have you no heart, Madame?" he demanded sternly. "What
of these girls, condemned to separation from their kind, haven't you
any pity for them?"
"Dr. Harris, what is this disease we have?" asked Cimbria. Her
lips were white but her voice was steady.
In sheer pity the man hesitated.
"Leprosy," supplied Madame.

Cimbria's hands clinched over the back of the chair in front of

her.

"And what—what will you do with us?" she whispered looking

at the doctor.

"My poor girl, you will have to go to an island down the harbor,"

he answered.
Sophy, who had been stunned into silence now broke in.
"Do you mean, Doc, t^at we, Cim and me, are like those women

we saw on the stage? That we are lepers?" her voice broke on the
last word.

"Yes", responded the doctor, passing his handkerchief over his
forehead.