Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-07
the needs of my friend, the absolute

the needs of my friend, the absolute
rightfulness of what was dong, and,
strong in my resolution, glided across the
hall-sllently, slowly, lest the ghost of a
football should rouse the vigilant sleep
ers within. There was something dread
full in this, after all. This strange adj
vent among familiar things that look OH
the intruder with sinister eyes is not
desirable experience. True, was on
mission Ct mercy: but this fact failed to
support me as I stood poised on my
Aunt's door sill. A weak-minded doubt
fulness creeping in for moment paral-
lied my activity. This bauble had been
in Aunt Margery's possession for years.
Was it mine? was it hers2 The sacred
rights of property" [ had heard talked
OF so often: were my mothers, sacred, or
nv aunt's? All! what would become OF
all the property in the world if righ,ful-
ly diyided2 Would then Dick go out
starving and houseless from Aunt Marg.
ery's surplus of laxury? Dangerous spec
ulations, but brief I swept them all
aside like cobwebs Never should de-
sert Dick in his time of need Stepping
on tip.oe in my unshod feet. | essayed to
convoy my beating heart as far as posi-
from the high old fashioned bedstead.
It almost seemed Aunt Margery might
hear it in her sleep. The low night lamp
sent thin thread of light across the
floor; it rested on the heavy drapery fes-
TONED to the ceiling, which gave this
couch an awful dignity in my childish
days. And there, just opposite it, stood
trans6xeu There lay Aunt Margery,
with eyes wide open, looking out at me.
/ returned the gaze steadily, frozenly. |
know not how long we might have re-
garded each other thus, but the parrot,
in his covered cage within, croaked I'M
easily. Aunt Margery turned sleepily
on her pillow.
s:You are late, Jenny" she said quer-
ulously. "What kept you so, child!
Hand me the camphor yonder, my head
aches dreaufully.'
handed the camphor silently, and OF
habit proceeded to battle her hands and
forehead as usual, and then came the
usual innumcrable 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 | chained tc
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
Catterby's cabin, or wandering on the
road, mayhap. all the long nightfall
meditating on the faithlessness of woman
then in the morning. discouraged ane
hopeless, he would drift away somewhere
out of my reach. hardly dared think
of this contingency. To let go my hole
on Dick was to give up my hold on life
Utterly exhausted with the long watching
fell asleep at last, the heavy sleep o
youth and WEAKNESS.
| was aroused from this dreamles
slumber by sudden loud crash, rap
ping and tearing at the window.
Aunt Margery started up aghast
"Robbers!" she exclaimed, clutching my
arm. But there never could have beer
SO bungling robber as this. stood III
| and faced The intruder with wiGe-starine
eyes.
All ilSuI. SdlI q lOQu, CuCCIy FOlCt
'The COMPOUNDED sash!' And there stood
Dick
"Why, bless my heart, auntie, l bes
your pardon. But, Jenny girl, I've beer
walking the road till couldn't stand il
any longer. Thought you'd been robbed
or waylaid, OF something
Propped up On her elbow among thu
pillows, Aunt Margery looked out ma
! jestically and interrupted this TRADE.
Orchard" said she "are you foo?"
,sCouldn't exactly state tonight, auntie
Haven't time to analyze. | only cam
to look after Jenny. She's all right,
seems, so I'll bid you good night"
Dick said the invalid, shaking he
long fore6nger at him authoritativley
you'll stay just where you are. I can
do without Jenny, find-she can't d
without you, it appears"
"Of course not,' said Dick, delibel
ately taking chair 81 always was a
appendage of Jcnny's you know an
shall be for the rest of my natural life
Pm a fraid."
Just 500 screamed the parrot, on
bright summer sunny morning, as stsI
!, ped down stairs in a floating bridal vel
and with my mothers watch in M
girdle. aunt Margery's wedding gift
Dick was waiting for me below, wit
beaming face and arms outstretched'