The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-06-28
THUNDER-STRUCk.
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the Doctor, kindly.
"oa. in the graveyard, spose," said
Mrs. Howe, with a fresh burst OF grief
''she spends most Of her time there. she and
old Max. I've been down there TWO or three
timss, to look after her and bring her home
and see what she is about there. But law
sha wasn't doing nothing 10 the world
only sitting close BY Mr.. Middleton's grave
with her hands en- her lap, and her eyes SCI
aud vacant, as if she was in some kind OF 9
way-a trance or something or other,
don't know what"
'B 1t this ought not to be-" said the Doc
tor. "Can you not keep the child from
going there? II is very bad for her. Can't
you prevent it?"
No, cannot" said Mrs. Howe, very dc
cid .dly. II have said all | dsrst to to herr
and che lest stands and looks at me WIN
that strange, sad look in her eyes, ana 1 I"
afraid 10 cross her. Seems TO me sle Gorop
right down and die before my eyes II saio
one word 500 much 10 her; aad m sure
have not the heart to say To her. nnther,
moor. little. mo,herle g lamb God help herl
Bat few more days put to the test
Aun.ie Howe's protested resiR nation 10 view
of parting with her little charge Poor
Ella was stricken down with the same dread
messenger who had called away her adopted
brother, ada az siu the profess ional services
OF Doctor Mayne were in reqeisition.
II didn't know what l was saving" sob
bed the faithful aud aifsctionate Mrs Howe,
when | told you, Doctor, ! could better
bear to lose her than to see her as she was
before | rely thougbtI felt So But did
not know nothing what 1t would be 10 part
with her; and now that she is going away |
s,,tS 10 -
her anyhow But the Lords will be done;
and know she is filter for that world than
this It's well for her, no doubt-no doubt
of that; but oh what will it be TO us %
You are too Responding, Mira. Howe"
said Doctor Mavne. ELIAS case is quite
alarming, but not vet hopeless one by any
means
Don't go and tell me that, Doctor
Mayne,'' said poor auntie; ''for know bet
tersnd so does old Max" she added in
voice of fearful mystery.
What does old Max know about it?"
said The Doctor, ,praiug aud regarding that
excellent quadruped with kind but scruti
n.zing glance, AS If be were OILY : consult
lag physician OF only less professional &C
umen than himself.
well" said Mrs. Howe, wiping her flow
onty ser at me ss ietner does, and say IL
horrti snperstl.ious--w inch amt, no more
than he ss-out / will say. dogs know a
sight; aud our old Max 10 especial. Why
hes sensible as great many folks, aud
knows more ttan most of una do-onlY h.
caat tell whst he knows-cant express
himself somehow. Now old Max he mas
a! ways sot every thing in the world by our
Eli. ever SINCE she first come here. Why,
he used to 20 FOUND with her-you rem III
Der that-when she was IsIle, and take care
OF her as good as anybody.
A nd nov sincs she has been siek he hos
pestered me 10 pieces; be wants 10 be IL her
room ell the time, and he's in the way there
Hes real good dog. aud loving ami faith
IL! as can De; but the poor creature is old
uow, and clumsy ike and heavy, and he
cant get out OF the way Is spry IS he used
TO. And ne seem aiwaTs under foot, 6pc
an her dark room-why, | nigh about stun
Died over him twice. So, IS | couldn't keep
hin nut no other way, | told Mike las; n ghl
TO sheI him up in the barn.
~ ell, 80 be did, but, If you'll believe it,
though he give him his supper and fixed
him up good bed on the hay. that creter
ne was not content 10 stay; and be scratched
and whlued and hovled SO pIteous that Mike
said he couldn't sleep IN bis bed nohow. and
he thought he would disturb Us ALL sick and
well. So, he Gays, be got UP about twelve
o clock aud went down and let him out. And
what does he do but come r'gh. under Elias
~inder and give three long huwls And
them heard myself they made me creep
all over. And then all he sot. straight out
of the yard and down street.
Twas clear moonlight last night, and
Mike says he followed him down to the gate
JUST to see where he was heading 10 in such
q hurry; and, as sure as you are alive, he
went right down to the graveyard, aud Mike
see him go right over the stone wall Well,
of course Mike no didn't cara 20 go follow
him no furder then: but this morning, as
soon as ne was up, he sotof TO see after him: |
and there he says he found him, lay ing |
like, in great hole bv the side OF
Mr.. Middletous grave, and his ioor old paws
4 most wore off a digging of it.
Now you Deed Lot tell me that til at
log dId'n mean nothing; lie knowed what
le was about; he knowed well enough who
lie was digging that grave for; and he knowed
we'll enough where she would best like 20
nave II dug. Dogs has resson-don't eli
ne !"
1t was no use 10 contend with such facts
g these. There is no mind which has not
ONE pet and cherished superstition, lsten,
,r acknowledged. But science herself can
lot fight against shadows. And with few
ind and sympathlzing words, and a few
medical oirectIons, little likely, he well
,new, TO be of any avail, Doctor Msyne
departed.
there was one singular coincidence in the
ilness Of Robert and Ella-lhe more notice
bile, perhaps, because their deiirium took
uch widely different forms his being the
MD rawlings OF excitement, and hers the
all stupor OF exhaustion that 10 the case
each the cicuded mind seemed TO have l
,trogaded to some past period of life, and .
hile Robert talked necessarily Of his boy !
a habits and companions, Eta, il rou ed '
speak at all, murmured ~aBguifly IN the +,
oT, Imperfect, fragmentary speech of her 5
lIldhood, invariably speaking of herself rs a
bAoy Ella" or Pretty Baby, words e
ing since banished from her lips, and AL
lost t'rgotien by others, but coming back
ow, tfaught with sad moaning 10 the =
ieads who loved her best. Gently, very
sntly, life ebbed away-gently and peace
lily as the retreating summer tide lapsss
om the silent shore:
Wy should not He whose touch dissoIyes onr a
cham Il
ut on His robes of beauty when lie comes
deliverer? He hath many forms;
hey should not all be fearful.
81 they stood around her bed the few VINO p
we'd her best) in the stiil, calm beauty OF
! autumn evening, when the last radiance 2
the setting sun streaming into the room :
owed the changed outlines of the sweet
'ung face. and lighted up with lite gorgeous =
ANS the sren bling auburn hair. where i, :
est'ed like halo round the still, white
-. AZ auns,e Hows's request Doctor Tucker
s aI onerea up a prayer, brief but full of
:enne' beautifully touching in its child,;ke
implicitly and loving faith. ~ 0''1"~' 7
he prayer was ended, and they stood ., :