Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-09-05
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cret of his power, that be could always
mean what he said.
1t being still so long to the time for
which my rooms were engaged, ! wrote
him to come as soon as he wished. All
the old time when Jane Willoughby-
Jane Barton then and | were together
came back to me; and her sweet face
seemed plain to me as yesterday. 1t was
so strange to think of her son older by
years than she when / saw her last
1t was just at the edge of evening when
the coach stopped at my door, and tall
young man got out-a little slowly aud
YEARLY. | thought. | went down to the
gate to meet him. James own boy! If
only his mother could have seen him
Such a clear-cut. handsome face. and
dark. true. straight gazing eyes' He
grasped nv hand with smile that won
my heart in moment. They tell me
you loved my mother he said
As he came into the lighted room | saw
that he was very pale, and there was a
drawn look about the lines of his face.
which did not ike. Supper was wait
ing, but he scarcely tasted it. at must
be the tedious ride that has made me feel
so i'll" he said at last IL think I'll go
TO bed now, and wake in the morning
quite made over new -
But he did not rise next morning, poor
boy nor for many morning alter
When the break fast bell had rung two or
three times and he did not come. ! went
TO his room to see what was the mater.
There he lay. moaning to himself. half
wild, and every vein one throb of fever.
As good luck would have it-though in
deed | doubt if it is right to call such
things luck at ala great doctor from
Boston was staying at the house. who hal
been i'll himself and forced to leave his
practice awhile for a rest. 50 bad the
best advice for Harry from the first. |
sent for no one from abroad TO hello me
nurse him for. as | told you, he had no
near relatives, and | thought my old love
for his mother which had seemed TO pass
over TO him as soon as | saw him. ght
stand him in better stead than the bare
skill of hired nurses. But with all that
We could do. it was three weeks before
the fever turned, and he began to mend.
so slowly, at first, that we could scarcely
trace the change from dav to day.
Just then what should my old black cook
Rosetta do but fall i'll and have to 90
away, leaving me with only young, in
experienced girl in her place. ! was at
my wits end. for Harry was in that state
OF half-childish weakness that he needed
constant watching, and some one in read.
mess to soothe and amuse him whenever
he grew restless.
All at once, | thought of little Faith
Denham, up In New Hampshire. Faiths
father was a Woodworking man, with six
children to support off one of those rocky
farms that seem hi for nothing but sheep
pasture. Faith was the oldest of the chill
dren, and she did her best TO keep along,
sometimes teaching a class OF little chi-
dren in the summer time, or copying for
the Portsmouth lawyers, or going tor n
few weeks together to some one who had
sickness or company. ! had myself sent
for her two or three times, when had
been over-busy. | knew she was a good
reader, which Harry would be sure to
like; and so bright and helpful and cherry
that her face would light up the sick-room
like spring morning. So | wrote, ask
ing her 10 come, and the second week
after, there she was | could have cried
for relief, when she came running in and
kissing me on both my checks, put up her
hand with gentle, caressing motion, say
ing, "How pale and tired you look But
you shall rest now
wish l could make you see my little
Faith as she looked to me then. You
would not have called her pretty. | think,
but there was something in her lace better
than mere prettiness. Only her eyes were
beautiful never saw loveIier. Fear
less, trusting eyes. like her name, Faith.
Harry fretted a little at thought OF new
face, but felt sure that he would not mind
Faith after the first. 1t was odd, courted
as he must have been with his money and
talents and handsome face but he seemed
to have known but few women, old or
young. / suppose it was because OF his
loving study SO much, and never having
had any real home.
Surely enough, after few days he
seemed as easy aud happy with Faith as
If she had been his own sister. Seeing
this, and my household matters needing
me so much. | left him more and more TO
her care as he grew stronger. | used to
Ike to hear, through the open door, the
steady rise and TALL of her voice as she
read aloud from some OF the books he had
brought with him. Alter time the res d.
ings grew shorter, and | would hear the
two voices mingled. and peal of merry
laughter now and then.
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