The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-06-09
VOLUME 4.

crept through the back kitchen window,
which. unknown to her eccentric en-
ployer, she had left unfa-lened the week
before, sort Of provision having prompt
ed the unwonted caution. Miss Child
ers had not been we'll then but refused to
see a DOCTOR
i found the lady lying in back
room, half dressed, across the foot Of
what had once been handsome Ara
bian bedstead, where she had evidently
thrown herself, some sndden pang or
vertigo having seized upon her whilst
dressing. A comb lay close at had up
on the bed, and her head lay cushioned,
as it were, in luxuriant mass of long,
loose. white hair, glossy spun glass,
strange background to her pinched face
and hollow eyes
Mrs. Barford said she must have lain
there at least couple of days there were
30 few ashes under the CRATE and so
much food remained uneatcn. For nv
own part was too much occupied with
my peculiar patient to see mCre in my
first hurried glance around then fireless
CRATE, an accumulation of cinders and
refuse on the hearth, food, books, papers.
clothes, crockery, furniture, saucepans,
lum Der of all sorts in discriminate con-
fusion; fine mahogony wardrobe and
large handsome looking glass adding 10
the general incongruity.
Il always, Mrs. Chappell, carry abont
with me a few simple appliances for
cases of emergency, such as smelling
salts, plaster, bandaging tape, lint, scis-
sors, and a pocket flask of brandy,
though heaven knows that would be
one of the last to recommend stimulants
unnecessarily. Mis- ChiIders, whatever
her ailment, was then clearly sinking
from exhaustion. Raising her head,
with a teaspoon ] poured little brandy
and water down her throat, while Mrs.
Barford lit fire, and soon had the sas-
isfaction to see her face assume more
natural tone, and the ashen pallor disap
pear, though we had undresaed and put
her into bed com mfortably some time he
fore she was strong enough to speak to
us or to Doctor Overton for whom | had
sent without waiting for her sanction.
Anger at his appearance seemed 20
rouse her more than our restoratives.'
"I'II have.no doctor-nO medicine
9die-first,' she contrived to
gasp ont
'Bnt DIR. Overton. who confirmed nv
own views of the case, said quietly, MY
good friend, don't exhaust yourself: ] do
not mean to prescribe any medicine
worse than beef-tea-at present. He
added in an nndertone, to me, we must
restore vitality before we seek evidence
of disease;' and, observing that his pres
ence irritated his patient, he withdrew,
first giving me some very plain directions
| for dietary, &c.
Mrs. Barford appeared to know where
everything was kept, even TO Miss Chill
der's purse, and soon had a cup of beef
tea ready
I'VE then endeavored to evolve order
| from chaos, and to purify the impure,
with as little commotion as possible; Miss
! Childers looking on meanwhile in pas
sive feebleness, unable to demonstrate,
! had she been so inclined
Good nursing and kitchen physic re-
stored Miss Childer's temporary strengh;
but then there was disease, induced by
her mode of life, to CON bat; and DR..
Overton was not sanguine.'
| you see, she could not be induced to
take medicine. She said, why should
take pills and potions to prolong life?
What is life TO me but one long agony OF
disappointment and remorse? | do not
seek to live
Il was struck with the bitterness and
anguish of this protest against recovery,
and thought that saw therein clue to
her eccentricities. Nevertheless / arglI-
ed with her.
Our lives are not our own, Miss Chill
ders. We have all our appointed work
to do, and if we do it i'll the consequen.
CC0
God, if you have wronged any. that
time is given you not only for remorse
but Denitence and reparation.'
Preparation! she murmured, her rest,
less, sunken eyes settling on her face and
kindling like stars. What can I do now
to atone? Reparation is impossible
Still. | continued; 1T j. as much sui.
eide to willfnlly refuse proper remedies
for disease as though you flung your
body into a pool. And vou have nc
right to fling away the life which God
has given you so long as you make il
useful to others. Your pen
of all the miserable walls that ever
broke from human lips, that which in
terrupted me was the most excrntiatinI
1t seemed wrnng from the very depths o.
her SOUL
my pen! have foresworn it. 1t was
that which marred my own life and the
lives of others; filled my soul with bit
terness, hlanched these abundant tresses
once black as midnight-or my own
heart; and then it was she quoted the
Prisoner of Chillon' My pen! 1t has
been curse to me instead Of bless
ingP
She had raised herself to give utter
ance to her emotion, now she sank bach
on her pillow exhausted and in tears.
Il think those tears were relief. Sht
wept herself to sleep, and awoke thre'
hours after much refreshed. Strange tc
say, she asked for the bitterly rejected
medicine, and never refused it again.
by that time the disease had got too
for ahead for drugs to overtake. l was
anxious that some relative or frienC
should be summoned, but she would not
! hear oft. Mrs. Barwood and 1 were al
: she would permit to wait on her. On
: Gay when the old charwoman was out
!. and she sat up in bed, apparently strong
r er than ordinary, she whispered to me
= Mro Marhurv oOn,e cInSa 70 tho hodSida