Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-08-22

ed to go to bed and try to sleep off his
cold. "a
When he got up in the. morning he
knew he wouldn't get down to the store
that day. He felt worse than he had
when he went to bed. He built a little
fire and told the boy, whose unfortunate
career in life had so far been among the
shoals and quicksands of errand, going
and waiting on everybody, to tell Mrs
Scraggs to send up some tea and toast; he
wouldn't come down TO breakfast.
By-and-by Mrs. Scraggs knocked at
the door with the articles called for, and
acting on the supposition that the position
of landlady made her a sort of a step
mother to her boarders, she came to find
out what the matter was, and see what
ought to befdone.
You've got pneumony on your lungs"
announced Mrs. Spraggs. ''Leastwise,
an attack of it. It's awful apt to break
out at some season of the year. You want
camomile tea, hot,an' brick to your feet,
hothkewise, an eff you can git good
sweat, you'll feel potter, guess"
Accordingly, poor David took "camo-
mile tea, hot" and disposed himself in
bed, with brick at his feet, and wrapped
up to his ears; and sweat he did. But
felt as bad after taking the treatment
prescribed by Mrs. DR.. Scraggs as he did
before.
Such long day AS it was He couldn't
stay in bed, and his bones ached so that
ne couldn't sit still with any degree of
comfort, notwithstanding Mrs. Scraggs
sent up her most comfortable rocking
chair for his use. All the comfort he did
take was in watching for glimpses of
Ruth Doane, and thinking of her. He
remembered that 1t was just three months
ago that day that she first applied at the
store for copying to do. Three months !
it seemed as if he had known her as many
years, and yet he hardly knew her at
all. Their acquaintance had gone but
little farther than smile and q bow
when they met, and occasionally a few
commonplace words. But for all that
she didn't seem at all like stranger to
David.
Poor David was in love.
If the light of Ruth DOane's love could
only shine into his life. as the light from
her window did into his room, how pleas
ant everything would seem. And then
he dreamed In wide-awake fashion of
the home they would make. The light
ON the wall seemed the fire on homes
hearthstone; its dancing flames made
him warm, and he fell asleep and dream
ed it all over and over. a-
But he didn't feel we'll by any means,
when morning came. He sent word to
tho Storn tho Of no COULDN'T oo,,o 1ou,y, NOT
awhile; and partook sparingly of Mrs.
Scraggs' tea and toast, but utterly repudi-
| ated camomile tea and bricks, when Mr.
Scraggs' in the role of doctor, suggested
the ACCESSIBILITY of another course of
treatment similar to yesterdays. And he
wouldn't have doctor, he declared. He'd
feel better tomorrow, and doctors stuff
he didn't believe in any way.
in the afternoon, Mrs. Sraggs knocked
at his door, and said Miss Doane was in
he parlor. The store had got her to do
some writing, and the store didn't under
stand inst how it ought to be, and the
| store had told her to see him, and he'd
tell her all about it, as he knew what
it ought to be, seein' as he had charge of
it, and the store didn't. After the de-
livery OF which message, Mrs. Scraggs
waited for instructions.
Ruth Doane had come to see him That
was the first thing he thought of. Then
he remembered that it was on business,
and that took away something of the first
pleasure of the thought. Should he go
down or ask her up?
"Would there be anything improper in
her coming up here, if you came with
her9" he asked.
Mrs. Scraggs, ''bein' as you're respectable
an IT'S business for the store"
"You may ask her to come up then,
said David. I5don't feel like stirring
about much, for fear I'll take more cold
tell her."
Mrs. Scraggs withdrew. David had an
object in view, in asking Miss Doane tc
his room. He thought the sight of il
would awaken feeling of pity,in hel
tender heart. He, knew, IN some unex
plainable way, that her heart was teuder
He was quite sure of that.
| Mrs. Scraggs was back presently, will
Miss Doane. How bright her face made
the room, the minute it passed the door
1t made it SO cheerful to David that h
was afraid his design in getting her there
was failure She wouldn't dream of 1T
being bare and cherries, if it looked tt
her as it did to him. #
"Mr. Graham told me you were sick,
she said, sitting down by the window. g
got some extra work to do, in conse
lquence;" and then, while Mrs. Scragg
busted herself in putting things to rights
she explained what her errand was; ant
David instructed her in regard to tn,
Il writing to be done; and made the ex
PLANTATION as elaborate and minute as pos
sible, in order to keep ner there. Sh
began to think she had undertaken fear
fully responsible and important task be
fore he had got through his instructions
| When she was gone, David groaned
The mean little room seemed more dis
NAL than it ever had before. ABut-sh
had been tferei and there was som
mysterious influence left to linger wher
she had been, like the subtle breath O
fragrance the rose leaves behind it, whel
it has been borne out of sight
i And that night he watched the ligh
/ upon the wall, and dreamed more dreams
and every one was sweet with thoughts @
Ruth, and love and home. The next. da
: he confidently expected to be able to visi
the store, and ssee to things In his pal
ticular department. But he didn't. Ell
couldn't get rid of that miserable feelin
of dizziness and languor, and every tim
he tried to exercise much, he felt such
chilly sensation, and such q rushing, roar
ing sound In his head. that he was gla
/ to keep still.
i s1Here's somethin' as Miss Doane sen
over" said Mrs. Scraggs, coming ii
, with some Cruel. At first David sur