The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-02-15

have thought o: this little differently. ! hope
| you will not mind my coming TO the house some
times. shall never say anything more to dis
| tre.s you. But we have been tho best Of friends
| too long to let this foolish dream of mine come
between us."
The sunshine faded from the room a. Hannah
dropped the mu.ky green curtains, after watch.
ing the Doctor down the red walk to the gate.
and oat under the walnut tree, the strong, wig
| orous frame, the steady steps according so i'll
| with that troubled face and bowed head.
"Oh, dear! l hopeI didn't say anything TO
Eur. his feelings in the least. To be sure one
can't marry all the men who desire them to :;
but | remember how i'll was, and how kind
DR.. Cory was. and paid ,,c all attention, nurs-
ing me night and day. dou't suppose its my
fault if couldn't love him.
Hannah wiped one very little tear from her
lett eye with her snowy arrsn, and thought.
with soms very mex picsble pangs. TITS all over
somebody has desired me, and / have refused
him. l think the long lane is going to turn at
last"
Hannah went slowly mp the wooden stairs
singing in q mellow voice:
"Robin he wooed, aud Robin he lost
All on a summers day
AL the roaring seas he crost-
To forget it, vol a.dsy.'
! Aunt Della was in tho bedroom before her.
| knitting on those nevcr.ending wooden hose for
| the lsutish Ira, and she went at the question
hesdlong:
II suppose DR.. Cory ssket you to marry him,
and you told hin, you would, Hannah? =
Il told him wouldn't" the girl said, feeling
restless under the keen gray eyes.
my sister H.snah was n fool, and she left
her daughter only her name, and her lack OF
| sense"
! Aunt Give said this In agitation, and went
away, angry with Hannah, for the morning
| work, and Hannah begsn to think, perhaps, she
should never had to touch the green bottles or
smell the aloes il she had gone over TO the red
house with DR.. Cory as his wife.
| Hannah remained at home the following Sun.
day. for fear Of meeting somebody; and Aunt
Della went away with her own reflections in her
black silk gown and her drawn silk bonnet,
which were both as familiar to the little chape!
As the baizs curtains in the organ loft or the
pointed dianond-psned window.
But Aunt Dslia came home with dust the
silk gown hem, and anxiety under the drawn
bonnet On the motherly face. DR.. Cory had not
bean to church, nor attended guy of his people
| for four days, and he WAS at home stricken with
the fever, which was all over the country. and
which he had mot and batt!sd nobly for weeks
and without thought for himself.
"And should like to know what Elmsfelds
il to do without him 2" said Mira. Give, pressg
ing all manner of evil
so, aunt you dcn't mean that DR.. Cory will
die with the fever" Hannah asked in a scared
voice, her heart aching with pcnitenoe or some.
thing undefnable, aching as it had never ached
in oil her life before.
II mean that a good many people have died Of
the fever. aud don't see what i. to prevent
others dying, especially people living in Big
| house all alone, with nobody to nurse them /
suppose the folks will take turns and sit up with
him, but they've mostly all got sick ones at
home to tend, or large families. [ reok on I'll
have to ke Ira and so over to might"
Hannah put away the sons from her lips and
looked far more serious than Aunt Give had
ever remarked her looking before And when
the Ootrner sun sire AIMED faint and yellow down
on tha dying grass tho swaying honeysuckles
cling scentessly TO the Doctors latioes two
women opened his door softly, ard found him
delirious with pain. and old Mrs. Withrow, the
neighborhoods nurse dozinx ia her chs;r by the
drowsy fire.
asleep presently to the monotopous clicking OF
the restless needles tsbs knit mechanically but
Hsnnsh sat by the sick mans couch, leaning on
her head, Watching every painful respiration,
every ievered breath, and quietly administering
such things as the young Doctor recommended
ana which were found on the orderly siclvss oil
tho little surgery, which did not smell OF any.
thing particularly cheuslTc.
Days Of anxiety, and nights of tireless sleep
less watching followed Ham Abs first advent in
to the red house. Aunt Della had pippins I,
pare and put awsy, AID golden pumpkins to Rlc'
aud string. and very many arduous duties which
demanded her time. She missed Hxnnsh's def
fingers aud com prehensivs mind abon. the house
but Of course Hannah felt very peniteus abou
the way sho had used DIR. Cory, and though sd
couldn't love him. she could show her gratitud
tor his past care of her.
One day in November, the trees were stand
ing bare outside, ard wispy damp snow tap
: ping aganstth windows aud drifting througl
the lattlces OF the porch.
a great Cnange passed over the sick mar
who had lain burning with fever. wasted AM
, wan IN his bed, for long weeks, uucorsciou
and visionary, and helpless as an infant. II
t opened his eyes languidy, yet with realizn
sense in them, looked once around on iamilia
I objects, then on the outlines Of q rounded
, girlish figure in the large arm-chair-a girl i
1 d dove.colorcd dress, with wavy brown hn
and melting eycs--so serious now,-and brow,
!. dimpled hands folded over foolish love stor,
closed forever. Hannah was older now
was all sham and make believe; life, hard an
:, real, unlovcly as it had been to her, she Fl.
I sweeter and pleasantcr than idle dreams an
4 chimeras.
, so, Hannah, how good Of you to come. Al
. vow not afraid OF the fever y
o The wan face clouded with anxiety. Hal
,. nah clasped her hands in a silent thanksgl'
. ing, and put away the romance.
II. was not good Of me to come, and a
II not afraid of anything. / am too wicked"
a There were tears IN her voice. The man
~ okA