Page:Six months in Kansas.djvu/108

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104
SIX MONTHS


dear mother, when I announce the sudden arrival of Mr. Dillon. Do you remember a favorite expression of grandmother, that "Man's extremity is God's opportunity!" No one here knew where Mr. Dillon went. The two brothers arrived here as travellers, with a crowd of emigrants, in a most severe "spell" of weather. William, being slightly unwell, remained; the other went his way. Three weeks passed. People came and went again from the little hotel; the reserved and quiet sick man attracted no one to him enough to communicate his history; so that, when he became very much worse and his mind broke down, he could only tell what was known before, that he had an elder brother who went up further into the Territory. To-day this brother suddenly appeared. He is wholly overcome to find his brother so low. Says he had an impression so strong that his cold had become a serious sickness, that he could not remain where he was, at 'St. Joseph's, and came back to learn the truth. William recognized him, and seemed to rally so much that even the physician thought he might recover. But it was only the sudden light and warmth stirred