The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-10-03
THAT BLESSED RAIN.

oh, yes said the doctor rising from
tn" bedside of his patient, we are mend
ing-we are certainly mending. All
that your mother needs now, Miss Far
ley, is a nonrishing diet-plenty Of beef
tea and old portland we shall keep her
with US many long year YET
He was large, benign man, and he
looked down cheerfully On Bertha Far
ley he spoke, rubbing his. hatSsN
bis plApp,; white bandsNaad' aItfeeao
ting a delighted answer.
:, There was none. The girls lips
moved, but there was 20 articulated re-
spouse, and a look passed over her face
that seemed one Of actual agony.
Certainly her check grew very pale.
The doctor stared at her in amazement.
Beef tea, SIR she faltercd
Yes; you know how to make beef
tea, I suppose :?
Yes. sir
= A bit of nice bpefsteak or a chop for
- dinner, and very light meal at
kight. Avoid heavy suppers.'
Bertha bowed, and the doctor took
up his bat and went away.
q very singular GIRL he said to
hinself. as he went down the steps.
She has hung over her mother every
minute for the last three weeks and [
low assure her that she will get we'll
--thipe-+bat-seemed- -impossible--three
days ago she don't even smile. l hate
these undrmonstrative people , ex-
claimed the doctor. always impatient of
anything incomprrhensible.
Such eccentricities were almost the
only thing that ruffled him.
And Bertha Farley ? She stood still,
listening to his retreating footsteps. She
stood as pale and still as marble statue.
a far away, strained look in her eyes,
that greatly detracted from her beauty
for beauty she certainly had, at least.
There was the faint dint Of a dimple in
the white cheek, the f'a'ures were finely
chispled; the ripples of dark hair fine as
silk; but the countenapce was pale to sal.
lowness now. and the expression one OF
mopotouous melancholy.
Bertha turned aside to window. at
last, and slipped her hand into the
pocket of her dress. She drew forth a
dainty pearl portemounaie, and unclasp-
ed it. 1t was empty
.NourisI ing diet-her life depends
on it now. and I hav" no money!
No wonder the doctor did not suspect
Tie girl w"rc a dainty wrapper ct rose
co'orsd cashmere. TIL rn"r was fnr'
nished 18th oak aud g:"en velvet. Tie
hancings of the h"d were whit" as snow
and the in ralid was wrapped in camnrlc
and lace.
Yes: the room was beautiful, and the
sick woman had been most comfortably
couched and attended She had suffered
much. and Bertha had kept we'll the Sc
cret that their account at the bank Wa'
overdrawn. and they we're utterly pennl
less. But now she was so desperate II
her emergency that it seemed as If sh'
must cry aloud.
The invalid stirred on her pillow.
Bertha, dear. are you there /!
Yes, mother
Bertha came 10 the bed and put HI"
Young face down beside the wrInkIet
one on the pillow.
"The doctor says | am getting Def
ter
Yes, dearest mother
You must not tire yourself out St
now. Stretch yourself her-'on the bed
poor child, and have nap. Nab vii
wait on me-
There was a moments silence.
Lrt her make me some toast and
cup of nice tea with cream in 1t. Do yol
know. dear with a faint smile, / thin
| am actually hungry!
Still Rertha did not speak:
Are you asleep, dear Bertha ?
NO, mammal was thinking. Ma
has gone away she added. / did no
think we needed her--only us two AN
I will get your lunch
Nab gone? Why, Bertha, there
so much work to do. Stop, child-don'
look so nervous and harasscd. Lie dow
and rest. l.
I must 60 on an errand. mamma
Tn nor b. gone over ten minntes.
Yes, nervous and harassed the 9i
looked She tied a vril tightly over he
face, and caught up her shawl. In a
Instant she was in The street
8 oh. she said shs was hungry! sl
E sobbed. the tears running down ht
,, checks as she threaded several sho
, streets.
, At last she was in the open tho
r touchfare, and looked abcu' her.
5 Right opposite MAS window full
,,L .n5 ;.w.lr, AID abnre huI