The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-02-17

preciative OF her really good housekeep.
ing, ready to praise her culinary triumphs
aud iul o. cheerful conversation Indeed,
Bella often thought, tearlully:
If Harry wasn't such good company
and fond of me. wouldn't miss him so
much
But on this clustering February day,
dinner hour was over, the viapds spelling
the servant grunbling, and Bella uneasily
wondering what could have happened,
when hack drove rapidly to the door.
and moment later the door bell was
rung with violent jerk.
Bella herself ran to the door. Two
men we're lifting tall figure from the
hack but lIarry's voice reassured her,
cslliug:
Don't be frightened, Bella. 1; is only
spraiued ankle
But trying to stand 10 the hall, the
strong man lainted with cxcruciatipg
pain.
Bella was not the woman to stand hep.
less or screaming. She led the men who
held her husband, to the spare bedroom
opening from the parlor, aud sent the ser
want ior doctor. busy ing herself with
bathing Harry's face with cologue water
aud trying to restore consciousness.
How did it happen ? she asked.
"A fall, marm, said one Of the men,
touching his cap respectfully. There is
just snow enough to be slippery, and the
gentleman twisted his ankle. Me and
this man saw him fall, and took him into
the store just handy 1t was quite spell
before We found out where we he lived.
and then We had to go good Ways for a
hack. Can We do auy more, marin ?
Thank you dout know Of anything.
But you must let me give you this. |
know your time is valuable said Bella,
pressing bank note into the hand OF
each Que. Il oauuot tell you how much
| lhauk you,' she added. with look in
her face that caused the men to agree as
they walked Cff, that She was pluck y
little trump, aud wouldn't cry, though
she waDted to bad enough
The doctor pronounced the sprain a
very severe one, and Harry knew he must
be Il prisoner 10 the pretty spare room for
many long days.
1t was bondage very irksomc to the
active man. but H.rry thought more than
hundred times day how much more
terrible it would have been but for Bella
She opened the folding.doors leading to
the little sitting roou, 30 that it was like
one large apartment, and moved the piano
where he could watch her az she played
aud sang for hiu. She taught him to
find baby a most amusing companion when
household duties called her away. She
played chess, dominoes and checkers by
the hour and found all the interesting,
amusing bits in the newspapers for him.
She read aloud or worked while he read.
As for nursing, bathing the swollen an
kle, connecting wonderful cool drinks, pre-.
pairing tempting rcpast, language would
fail me if l attempted to describe her
success in that line Of duty.
While Harry was confined to his bed,
Bella seemed never to leave him. Day
and night she was watchfully attentive,
never tiring, never ceasing her efforts to
make time pass in pleasant amusement.
But there was a rapid improvement soon
in the injured limb, and one March morn.
ing the physician gave permission to his
patient to limp with cane into the sit.
ting-room.
You must not try to rest your weight
on that f,ot,' he said. 1t must have en-.
tire rest for several davs.'
There Is no pain Harry said.
No, but the weakness remains. II
you use it too soon, you may suffer for
the imprudence by lar more serious Injury
than the first sprain.
So Harry submitted to the imprison.
ment with the best grace he could mus.
ter, and Bella made him comfortable in
a great easy chair by the windy with a
table beside him covered with books news.
papers. and choice foreign fruits and
sweetmeats.
But having made him thoroughly com
Portable, Bella mysteriously vanished
Now, AMI then, she fitted in with a cup
Of coffee, luncheon. word of love, but
pleading a world of household cares as an
excuse ior running away 10 u moment.
Horny found it rather stupid. hut look
ed forward to evening for some music, o
long chat or chapter or two more of the
book they were reading together, which
seemed to have lost all interest pursued
10 solitude His amazement was almost
ludicrous when Bella after clearing away
the dinner table, Put on her hat and
shawl
i ain going over to Mr.. Lees for al
hour she said in matter OF course tone
absolutely stunning in Harry's ears, 'bu
| have left you the newspapers. If baby
cries, call Jane
Harry tried to demonstrate, but fouuG
he was talking only to himself He tried
to read, he started q new problem II
chess, he yawned frequently, said bac
word or two about 'nuocent Mrs. Lee
until eleven O'Clock, when he began tt
grow uneasy. In the meantime, naughty
Bella had crcpt softly up stairs to tn,
bedroom. taken off her bonnet and shaw
and calmly stitched upon an embroidered
cloak for babY's spring outfit until mid
night. Then she wrapped herself in out
door garments, stole down to the from
door. aud, after much rattling of III,
night.key, and a loud goodnight, walkec
into the sittlngroom to poor yawninl
Harry.
Twelve O'clock she said, yawniug, q
had no idea it was so late!
You must have had very pleasan
evening" said her husband with inteus,
sarcasm
Delightful = was the emphatic answer
1t was bad enough fer once, bnt tn
next day there was more cooking anC
cleaning, and in the evening Mrs. Jone
had call, still in the bedroom wher,