Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-09-30
NO. 232.
Calls aud Sketehss.
THE BLIND SPINNER.
lcoNcLUDED FROM YESTERDAY

The little doctor peered into Kalie's face,
held the tiny wrist, and counted the feeble,
fiuuerlng, unsteady pulse.
"lla-hum-ha! y said he, in his old ier-
ky manner, Quiet-rest-good food
change-ihat's what we want, Young
lady" Then he prescribed some simple
cooling mixture, and went down stairs
with Bessie. The action of the heart is
very ieeble," he said, looking keenly at
her troubled face. HAS your sister com
planned OF any uneasiness ?"
NO. replied Bessie; ''but she never
would complain, fear. She is often very
oreathless on going mp stairs or walking
fast, know"
"lia-yes-iust so. Well you must be
very careful of her; she must rest. mind
you; rest. mind and body"
Then Bessie said, very timidly, and
holding something in her closed hand
"What am indebted to you, DIR. Car
boy, TOR this visit?"
Indebted to me ?" replied the doctor.
as though the idea was something unex-
pected; why, to do as tell you; give
that girl her medicine regularly, and take
her away from this terribly hot hole that's
what you've got to do.n
And with this list of Bessie's obligations
to himself. and looking into his hat as if to
assure himself it was hat before he es-
sayed to put it on, DIR. Carboy took him.
self off with iapidity that suggested all
the Queens physicians being assembled
for consultation, at which he was due
Quiet-rest-change 1t is no novel
verdict to be given upon the weary, the
poor. the struggling in this great city;
but the means TO carry out the orderp
at must be done, somehow" said Bes-
sic her eyes raised to Phil Lushington's
! face.
Who can say what the comfort of
heaIthtul man is to woman In time of
perplexty and trouble like thisp Phi's
very voice and look seemed to bring CON-
fort to the troubled sisters.
lie held Bessie's hand firmly and quiet
ly, as loving brother might have done.
Some day he hoped to win her for his wife,
and God helping him, to render her life
as happy AS mans love, and mans
watchiul care, could do but the time to
think OF that was not yet; all he wished
for now was to comfort and help her.
IL think it might be managed, he said
at length, land without writing to this
uncle you tell me off,
"Oh, how?' cried Alice, Jumping up
from the sofa where she had flung herself
In an abandonment of sorrow. He s a
brute is Uncle john and just as likely to
refuse what we ask as not. He hated
poor papa -
1t struck Phil that this seemed senti-
m.ent rather generally entertained by those
who had known that individual; but of
course he did not say so.
You don't know how kind and gener-
ous literary people are among themselves;
and as you tell me the long story your sis
ter wrote it down, is accepted and is to
begin next week, | thnk-indeed | am
almost certain-that if you went and told
| the editor himself all about this trouble he
would give the money for the whole at
once; and it would be enough to take her
to the sea-"
Alice thought that she would like to kiss
him but reflected that perhaps it might
hardly be correct-yet.
Tears stood in Bessie's eyes, and as she
withdrew her hand from his clasp he felt
Il llttle grateful pressure, that haunted his
palm the rest OF the day. SO it was set
tied that Mrs. Lushington should go with
bessie 10 the city, and they should see the
editor OF katle's magazine and ask him
if he would pay for the long story at
once and enable the young authoress to
seek fresh health and strength in change
OF air and scene. But of all this nothing
was to be said to the girl herself.
"Oh, Bess !" cried Alice, ..it will be
such happy. happy thing to take the
crisp rustling notes TO her, and say, "See
you have earned these yourself, and now
we will take you away" But here
the child's voice broke, and sob finished
the sentence.
Under the pretext of a shopping expe-
dition to the wonderful city shops, our
travellers set out, Bessie lingering to the
last by kate's side, as though she hardly
liked to leave her for so long time.
Isn't it odd how quick my breath
comes to-day. even if | move ever so lit
tie ?" said Katie, suddenly, about an honr
after Bessie and Mr.. Lushington had set
out on their Journey.
Alice looked up hurriedly from her
work
alt is only weakness, DEAR" she said.
with an i'll concealed tremor in her voice.
LET me get you some OF that soup the
doctors sister sent
SO the soup was ordered, and taken
but still Katie looked strangely languid,
and the dark shadows round her eyes
darker and more extended than usual.
She had crawled down stairs towards
noon, as was her daily custom, and taken
up her place on the horsehair sofa by the
window. while Alice, busily engaged in
turning IA well-worn garment, in the hope
of persuading it to look like new, sat op-
posite.
IL think | shall go up stairs again and
lie down in my ROOM" said Katie. "My
bed is more comfortable than this sofa.'
and she smiled at the notion OF its general
slipperiness and deformity.
But instead of going up stairs at once,
the blind girl felt her way across the room
Ga task custom had made easy), and then
stood beside her sister, passing a loving
hand over the auburn locks that were so
fair an adornment to their possessor.
Sissy she said, falling into the fond
old name OF nursery days. IL often hear
people say how pretty you are, dear; and
it makes me wish | could see you"
In a moment Sissy's work was flung
dawn and har arms .baut tho fxa.tta