The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1876-04-19

stricken with death. But next mo.
ment she. was up and running away
with the activeness which terror in.
spires.
She commanded that the child's
crib be removed from the nursery to
our bed room; and she went along to
see the order executed. She took me
with her, of course. We got matters
arranged with speed. A cot bed was
put up in my wife's dressing room for
the nurse. But now Mrs. McWil>
liams said we were too far away from
the other baby, and what if he were to
have the symptoms in the night?-and
she blanched again, poor thing.
We then restored the crib and the
nurse to the nursery, and put up a
bed for ourselves in a room adjoining.
Presently, however, Mrs. McWilli,
ans said "Suppose the baby should
catch it from Penelope?" This thought
struck new panic to her heart, and
the tribe of us could not get the crib
out of the nursery again fast enough
to satisfy my wife, though she assisted
in her own person, and well nigh pull
ed the crib to pieces in her frantic
hurry.
We moved down stairs, but there
was no place to stow the nurse, and
Mrs. McWilliams said the nurses ex,
perience would be an inestimable
help. So we returned, bag and bag.
gage, to our own bed room once more,
and felt great gladness, like storm
buffeted birds that have found their
nests again.
Mrs. McWilliams sped to the nur.
sery to see how things were going on
there. She was back in a moment
with a new dread. She said: "What
can make the baby sleep sO?"
Isaid: "Why, my darling, baby
always sleeps like a craven image"
81 know, l know; but there's some,
thing peculiar about his sleep now.
He seems to-he seems to breathe so
regularly, Oh, this is dreadful"
"But, my dear, he always breathes
regularly"
"Oh, l know it, but there's some
thing dreadful aboutit now. His nurse
is too young and inexperienced. Maria
shall stay there with her and be on
hand if anything happens"
THAT is a good idea, but who will
help you? ?"
"You can help me all want. l
wouldn't allow anybody to do anything
but myself anyhow, at such time as
this"
l said l would feel mean to lie abed
and sleep, and leave her to watch and
toll over our little patient all the
weary night. But she reconciled me
to it. So old Maria departed and took
up her ancient quarters in the nursery.
Penelope coughed twice in her sleep.
"Oh, why don't the doctor come !?
Mortimer, this room is too warm.
Turn of the register-quiek ?"
l shut it off, glancing at the Their
mometer at the same time, and Won
dering to myself if 20 was too warm
for sick child.
The coachman arrived from down
town now with news that the physi-
clan was i'll and confined to his bed.
Mrs. McWilliams turned q dead eye
upon me, and said in a dead voice,
There is providence in it. 1t is fore
ordained. He never was sick before.
Never. We have not been living as
we ought to live. Mortimer, time
and time again l have told you 50.
Now you see the result. Our child
will never get well. Be thankful if
you can forgive yourself"
l said, without intent to hurt, but
with needless choice of words, that 1
could not see that we had been living
such an abandoned life.
Mortimerl Do you want to bring
the Judgment upon our baby, too ?"
Then she began to cry, but suddenly
exclaimed, "The doctor must have
sent medicines"
l said, Certainly they are here. 1
was only waiting for you to give me a
chance"
swell, do give them to me! Don't
you know that every moment is preci-
Gus now? But what was the use in
sending medicines when he knows that
the disease is incurable?"
l said that while there was life there
was hope.
"Hopel Mortimer, you know no
more what you are talking about than
the child unborn. II YOU would