The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-05-23

= a' " aitAt AsA " taH A&hhA IN 81 fts
grew rapidly worse, and Fannie. at first
astonished AZ the queer things be said,
fouud that he was dclirious. The doctor
came examined bis patient, and said,
Fannie, ! may as well tell you the truth.
Your father has the smallpox.
Now Fannie was mortal, and besides
wa, woman, and trombled 10 hear her
father had that most lotbesome disease /;
but she had no idea Of leaving her father
TO the care Of hired nurses, aud asked for
the doctors directions with a composuro
that showed She could command herself
very well
Doctor, who Is sick in that house?
Doctor Ives turned a. be was stepping
into bis buggy, and saw that horrid Mr.
Barnes
Oh! Is that You, Barness Why, the
squire's sick got ihe smallpox, and no
body 10 take care Of him bat Fannie,
poor little thing. do not believe | can
get a nurse for him before tomorrow
Is that sog Then will 60 IN and do
what can until The nurse comes.
That's good fellow No one viii go
near Fannie when they hear what his
disease is It's duced hard but il il the
way Of the world, and tell you, Barnes,
before you 60, that it is very bad case.
| do not mind. | have nothing TO lose !;
and everything to gain, he added under
his breath
Wen, good-by, and the doctor drove
of.
Mr.. Barnes walked mp Squire McAllis-
ter's steps, aud rang the bell. He told
the girl, who did not know him, that he
wanted TO see Miss Fannie, few min
utes very particularly; and, Fannie, tell
ing the girl to remain with her father, re-
uctantly went down to the parlor. There
stood that horrid Mr.. Barnes. She held
out her hand and burst into tears but as
be took her hand in his, she hastily with
drew it, saying, you must not stay here,
Mr. Barnesl
Miss Fannie, said Mr.. Barnes, the doc
tor has told me all about your father, and
mean to help you take care of him. !
have seen many cases of smallpox, and
know just what to do.
Oh be is so sick so sick sobbed poor
Fannie, and don't know what to do.
OF course you don't, poor child! Mr..
Barnes longed to take Fannie in his arms
and comfort her. Fannie will you trust
your father to me?
Fannie looked up. She had never seen
that horrid Mr. Barnes look SO we'll.
There was something so tender in his
vioce and eyes; something SO manly and
reliable about him that Fannie said, i'm
pulsiyelY,
| would trust you with everything, Mr..
Barnes only, it seemA so selfish.
Don't think that, Miss aanie. must
go now uut viii Le Dack in On houg.
Fannie went back to her fathers room,
with heart little lightened of its load.
She would now have some one on whom
to depend; but her heart sank again as
she looked upon her father tossing and
moaning in delirium.
Will he die? she asked Mr.. Barnes,
when he returned.
cannot tell, he said. We are all in
Gods hands, Miss Fannie; but she saw
he looked very grave. She watched him
as he moved about the room, and attended
to some little things for her fathers COM
fort, and then the doctor came. He had
engaged nurse for tho next night; he
talked in low tones with Mr.. Barnes, said
good night to her, and then left. II all
seemed like a dream to Fannie. She
could hardly believe that ii really was
that horrid Mr.. Barnes, who was now
bathing her fathers head so tenderly
Mr.. Barnes came to her side.
Miss Fannie, you must lie down. You
are worn out, aud need rest
| cannot leave my father.
Trust him to me, Miss Fannie. will
watch him every moment.
Mr.. Barnes smiled, but his voice was
4 firm, and Fannie went. She cried again
as she looked down on her father; but
she was thoroughly exhausted, and, throw,
4 ing herself on her bed, she fell asleep.
1 Mr., Barnes watched alone through the
night; but when Fannie came in the mex
morning, there was no change. There
he lay, moaning, tossing and raying; and
SO he moaned, and tossed and raved for
seven days and nights, and then, without
one moments consciousness to speak tC
Fannie, Squire McAllister died
Fannie was utterly postrated. 1t wa'
that horrid Mr.. Barnes who saw to every
thing. Fannie went to the doctors, L
remain until her mother and sister re
turned They had been telegraphed fol
and were expected home in few weeks
Mr. Barnes did not call lie seemed tC
have dropped out Of her life again. He
mother and sister came home. II was
sad meeting. Squire MeAllister has
been devoted husband and father, ant
they all felt his los..
But Fannie, said Miss McAllister, on
day. Did noae Of our friends offer 4
help take care Of father, or do anything {,
assist you,
No one, said Fannie, but Mr.. Barnes
WHAT That horrid Mr. Barnes ex
claimed Miss McAilister
.Nerer call him that again, said Fannie
springing to her feet, the color rushing /
: her cheeks, and the tears TO her eyes. II
. came to me in my loneliness and trouble
when all other friends stood aloof. II