Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-07-11
TERMS $500 per Annum.

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on tiptoe in my unshod feet. essayed. t
convoy my beating heart as far as poss;
from the high old fashioned bedstead
1t almost seemed Aunt Margery nigh
hear it in her sleep. The low night lamp
sent a thin thread of light across tho
floor; it rested on the heavy drapery fes
tooned to the ceiling, which gave this
couch: an awful dignity in my childish
days. And there, just opposite it. l stood
transfxeu. There lay Aunt Margery
with eyes wide open. looking out at me.
I returned the gaze steadily: frozenly. I
know not how long we might have re-
gardea each other thus, but the parrot,
in his covered cage within, croaked un-
easily. Aunt Margery turned sleepily
on her pillow.
EYou are late, Jenny she said quer-
ulously. "What kept you SO, child?
Hand me the camphor yonder, my head
aches dreadfully."
I handed the camphor silently, and o
habit proceeded to bathc her hands and
forehead as usual; and then came the
usual innumcrabe orders. A little warm
water from the bath room. and a little
mixture from the medicine chest. Her
pillows needed adjusting, her lamp need
ed trimming and thus was I chained to
her side prisoner, with that doubtful
time-piece in my pocket, and my brain
dizzy with schemes for escape. Oh, what
would Dick think of me, recreant that
was in his time of trial?-poor Dick,
watching vainly all this time at Kate
lCatterby's cabin, or wandering on the
road, mayhap, all the long nightfall,
meditating on the faithlessness Of woman :;
then in the morning. discouraged and
hopeless, he would drift away somewhere
out of my reach. I hardly dared think
of this contingency. To let go my hold
on Dick was to give up my hold on life.
Utterly exhausted with the long watching,
I iell asleep at last. the heavy sleep Of
youth >and WEAKNESS. -.*
was aroused from this dreamless
slunber by a sudden loud crssh, a rap
ping and tearing at the window.
Aunt Margery started up aghast.
"Robbers!' she exclaimed, clutching my
arm. But there never could have been
so bungling robber as this. l stood up
and faced The intruder with wide-staring
eyes.
"All right" said loud, CHEEKY voice.
"The confounded SASH" And there stood
Dick.
"Why, bless my heart, auntie, beg
your pardon. But, Jenny girl, I've been
walking the road till 1 couldn't stand it
any longer. Thought you'd been robbed,
or waylaid, or something-.'
Propped up on her elbow among the
pillows, Aunt Margery looked out ma
jestically and interrupted this TRADE.
"Richard," said she s'sare you foo2'' .
"Couldn't exactly state tonight, auntie,
Haven't time to analyze. l only came
to look after Jenny. She's all right it
seems, so I'll bid you good nightp
"Dick," said the invalid, shaking. her
long forefnger at him authoritativley,
you'll stay just where you are. I can't
do without Jenny, I fnd-she can't do
without you, it appears"
"Of course not" said Dick, deliber-
ately taking chair. Il always was an
appendage Of Jcnny's you know and
shall be tor the rest Of my natural life,
I'm fraid-''
Just So screamed the parrot, one
bright summer sunny morning, as l stsp-
ped down stairs in floating aridal veil,
and with my mothers watch in my
girdle. aunt Margery's wedding gift.
Dick was waiting for me below, with
besming face and arms outstretched'