The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-03-29

great gladness, like storm -buffeted birds
that have found their nest again.
Mrs. McWilliams sped to the nursery
to see how things were going on there.
| She was back in moment with new
dread. She said
"What can make the baby sleep so 2"
I said
"Why, my darling, baby always
sleeps Like craven image"
"I know, I know; but there's some
thing peculiar about his sleep now. He
seems to breathe so regularly. Oh, this
is dreadful -
"But, my dear, he always breathes
regularly"
"Oh, I know it, but there something
dreadful about it now. His nurse is too
young and inexperienced. Maria shall
stay there with her, and be on hand if
anything happens"
"That is good idea; but who will
help you3"
You can help me all I want. I
wouldn't allow anybody to do anything
but myself, anyhow, at such a time as
this"
said would feel mean to lie abed
and sleep, and leave her to watch and
| night. But she reconciled me to it. SO
old Maria departed and took up her an
cient quarters in the nursery.
Penelope coughed twice in her sleep.
"Oh, why don't the doctor come
Mortimer, this room is too warm. This
room Is certainly too warm. Turn off
the register-quick !"
shut it off, glancing at the thermom-
eter at the same time, and wondering to
myself if seventy was too warm for n
sick child.
The coachman arrived from down
town now with the news that our ply
siclan was Ill and confined to his bed.
Mrs. McWilliams turned dead eye
upon me, and said in dead voice ::
"There is Providence in it. 1t is fore
ordained. He never was sick before.
Mover. We have not been living as we
ought to live. Mortimer, time and time
again have told you SO. Now you Sc,
the result. Our child will never get
we'll. Be thankful if you can forgive
yourself. I never can forgive myself"
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.
" Mortimer! Do you want to bring
the Judgment upon the baby, too2"
Then she began to cry, but suddenly
exclaimed
"The doctor must have sent medi-
cines -
said:
Certainly; they are here. 1 was
only waiting for you to give me q
chance"
"Well, do give them to me! Don't
you know that every moment is precious
now2 But what was the use in senoing
medicines when he knows that the
disease is incurable2"
I said that while there was life there
was hope.
"Hope Mortimer, you know no
more what you are talking about than
the child unborn If you would AS
l live, the directions say give one tea
spoonful once an hour Once an hour
as if we had whole year before us to
save the child in! Mortimer, please
hurry. Give the poor, perishing thing
tablespoonful, and try to be quick !"
"Why, my dear, tablespoonful
might - "Don't drive me frantic
There, there, there. my
precious, my own ; it's nasty, bitter
stuff, but it's good for Nelly-good for
m other's precious darling; and it will
make her well. There, there, there
put the little head on maEnma's breast,
and 60 to sleep, aud pretty soon Oh,
I know she can't live till morning
Mortimer, a tablespoonful every half
hour will Oh, the child needs bella
donna, too; I know she does-and
aconite. Get them, Mortimer. Now
do let me have my way. You know
nothing about these matters"
fD Inl II
close to my wife's pillow. All this tur-
minutes L was something more than
half asleep. Mrs. McWilliams reused
me-:
Darling, is that register turned on9"
emo"
"I thought as much. Please turn it
on at once. This room is cold"
l turned it en-, and presently fell
asleep again. L was aroused once more.
"Dealie. would you mind moving
the crib to your side of the bed2 It is
nearer the register"
1 moved it, but had collision with
the rug and woke up the child. / dozed
off once more, while my wife quieted
the sufferer. But in little while these
words came murmuring remotely
through the fog of my drowsiness
Mortimer, if we only had some
goose grease. Will you ring2"
climbed drearily out, and stepped
on cat, which responded with pro-
test, and would have got convincing
kick for it if a chair had not got it in
stead.
"Now, Mortimer, why do you want
to turn up the gas and wake up the child
again z"