Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-09-06


iluttering, unsteady pulse.
"lla-hum-hal' said he, in his old.
ierky manner Quiet--rest--good food
change that's what we want young lady,"
Then he prescribed some simple coolnq
mixture. and went down stairs with Bessie.
he action Of the heart is very feeble" he
said, looking keenly at her troubled face.
Z" Has your sister complained Of any uneasi.
nessg'
"No," replied Bessie obut she never
would complain, ! fear. She is often very
breathless ON going up stsirs or walking fast,
| know"
-yes-iust so. Well, you must be
very careful Of her she must rest, mind
yon rest, mind and body"
Then Bessie said, very timidly, and held
ing something in her closed hand
What am indebted 10 you, DR.. Carboy,
for this visit 2"
"lndebted to me ?" replied the DOCTOR as
though the idea was something unexpected;
why 30 do a. ! tell you; give that girl
her medicine regularly. aud take her away
from this terrible hot hole that's what you
have got 10 do"
And with this list Of Bessie's obligation
TO himself, and looking into his hat as If 10
assure himself it was a hat, before he essayed
to put it on, DR.. Carboy took himself off
with rapidity that suggested all the Queens
physicians being assembled for a consulta-
ton, at which he, too, was due
Quiet-rest-chan IL was no novel
verdict, this to he given upon the weary, the
poor, the struggling in this great city; but
the means to carry out the order ?
" IL must he done, somehow" said Bessie.
her eyes raised to Phil Lushington's face.
Who can say what the comfort Of a health
full man is to a woman in time of perplexity
aud trouble like this Pills very voice
and look seemed to bring comfort TO the two
troubled sisters.
lie held Bessie's hand firmly and quietly,
as a 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 a mans love. and a mans watchful care,
could do but the time to think of that was
not yet; all he wished for now was TO com
fort and help her.
-" | think it might be managed" he said
at length, " aud without writing to this un-
Gle you tell me Of"
"Oh, how ?" cried Alice, jumping up from
the sofa, where she had flung herself in an
abandonment of sorrow. He's brute, is
Uncle John, and just as likely to refuse what
We ask as not. lie hated poor papa /"
1t struck Phil that this seemed senti-
ment rather generally entertained by those
who had known that individuals but of
course he did not say so.
You don't know how kind and generous
literary people are among themselves and
as you tell me the long story your sister
wrote is accepted, and is 10 begin next week,
| thnk-indeed am almost certain that If
you went and told the editor himself all
about this trouble he would give you the
F.s 4. 1 Z. a 4
be enough to take her to 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
little grateful pressure, that haunted his
palm all the rest of the day. So il was set
tied that Mrs. Lushington should go with
Bessie TO the city, and they should see the
editor OF katie's magazine, and ask him il
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, d" See, you have earned
these yourself, and now we will take you
away" But here the chid's voice broke,
ard a sob finished the sentence.
Under the pretext of shopping expedi-
tion TO the wonderful city shops, our travel
ers set out-Bessie lingering to the last by
! katies 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 little 2" said
Katie, suddenly about an hour after Bessie
nd I tfal luI a,t t.;
/ journey.
Alice looked up hurriedly from her work
"lt is only weakness, dear" she said, with
an ill-concealed tremor in her voice. Let
me get you some of that soup the doctors
sister sent"
So the soup was ordered aud 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 horse
hair sofa by the window, while Alice, busily
engaged in turning well-worn garment, in
the hope of persuading it TO look like new,
sat opposite.
81 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 slipperi-
ness and deiormity.
But instead of going up stairs at once, the
blind girl felt her way across the room Ca
task custom had made easy), and then stood
beside her sister, passing a loving hand over
the auburn locks that were so fair an adorn-
ment to their possessor.
Sissy" she said, falling into the fond old
name of nursery days, " often hear people
say how pretty you are, dear, and it makes
me wish | could see you"
In II moment Sissy's work was flung down,
and her arms about the gentle speaker.
"Oh, | wish yon could IL wish you
could Oh, Katie, it seems so hard Z"
Hush, hush " replied the poor child,
| was wrong to say what | did; and in-
| deed | could not love you more" Then she
stopped, and turning TO the blaze of sunshine
| that streaned into the little room, stretched
out her arms towards it, as if she loved its
/ full warm life DO you remember what
| you read to me last night 2" she said /,
And Christ shall give thee light -
Christ shall give thee light" she repeated
again, softly, yet with intense passion and
I pathos in her voice. "Oh, Sissy, | don't
think you can tell what those words mean
to me " Then she let Alice help her up
the stairs, and promised TO lie still and rest
till Bessie came.
| anu AllCt Ntil ulMu anu iiltu W ptl Oil
with her work but it was about time for
the travellers 10 be home, and she was too
much excited to settle TO anything.
can't work" she said to herself, " till
know what has happened. Oh, if that
editor won't help our darling, how ! shall
hate him !"
At that moment the door bell gave its
usual forlorn cracked tinkle, and Bessie,
beaming, glowing full of such joy as caused
her eyes TO shine with fearful gladness,
came-no, rushed into the room.
See !" she cried, holding up an envelope
before sssy's delighted eyes" it's all here
enough, aud more than enough, to give
our darling health and strength again We
will not lose day-we will go tomorrow
| Oh, Alice he was so dear and kind and
| good r.
Alice kissed her in perfect tumult of re-
| joicing, aud then hugged Mrs. Lushing-
ton too.
But it was Phil who held Besse's hand
close in his and looked into her glad eyes
with eyes that reflected the joy and gladness
of her own, for he had oddly enough) met
them on the doorstep, aud been the first TO
hear the happy tidings of success.
Together the sisters hurried up stairs.
The iovful news shonh not be kent back "A