The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-12-31
face seemedsless swarthy and oppressive

Miss Thundercloud said, in answer to
sweep of Willoughby's right arm dow1
the side street. He had been too mucl
surprised to say more than "goot
morning." and to interrogate with hi
arm. He was glad there would be al
Opportunity to collect himself. "Yol
are feeling d good deal better, aren'
you2" he said, after awhile, in matte
of course sort of way. They were walk
ing together quite at ease; Willoughb,
had recovered his composure.
"Please don't ask me about mysel
any mora, DR.. Willoughby," said Mis-
Thnndercloud ; "please do not eve,
again ask me about myself. I am no
the same young woman upon whom yor
called yesterday afternoon. was going
to surprise you by such change wher
you came again. You let light intt
my lie, more than you thought you did
probably, when you spoke to me abou
the Blind Home After you left,
went back into the parlor and sat sort
of dazed, thinking what waste was
in the world, no one caring for me, nc
one thinking of me, eating, sleeping,
and having everything but purpose,
and I cried for two hours, and didn't
go down to dinner"
"Then I panied you when I only
meant to do good" said Willoughhy,
looking anxiously into the girls face.
"Indeed you did not pain me, DIR.
Willoughby, you did me service. ]
don't know how ever to repay it. IT
made me feel so grateful that some one
had told me where my wrong was; and
how to right it. You know I have no
mother; and papa is always so busy,
and he doesn't like me to bring my trou-
bles to him-he has his own, you know;
But T mustn't talk about it all. This is
what I am going to do; am going
about now where people are poor and
sick and blind, and care for them, and
think for them and advise with them. I
am going to make some of these very
poor and very sick people love me. I
am going to make some of them look
happier when come; and those very
weary ones that have to lie abed all day
in pain. I am going to have some of
them look at the clock sometimes, and
say with smile, "It is almost time for
her" I haven't really commenced yet,
I know, and you mustn't laugh at me
for talking SO, DR.. Willoughby. But
when I think of all I mean to do feel
so important. You will let me send for
you ouce in while; as if l were sick,
you know, won't you, to advise about
me, as you doctors say? I will need
help and some one to show me how to
do right. Once in while You will call
professionally to study my case, will
you not, DR.. Willoughby?
81 will call whenever you desire me
to, Miss Thundercloud, answered the
doctor. Then there was q pause, and
then Willoughby continued: /" I am so
glad that l met you this morning. Do
you know, have heen misjudging you
very much. Yesterday I had some hard
thoughts about you; I said to myself
that you we're young lady that would
never come to any good"
"Tkank you. And now do you know
that ever will? Oh, Doctor Willough-
by, do hope that I may be good for
something, after all. I am on my way
to the Home now. In this bundle I
have ever so many funny little packages.
In one of the packages is some of papa's
very best tea; he is very particular
about it, and always sees to the draw
ing of it himself. l suppose blind peo-
pie like tea, don't they? I know all old
ladies' do that can see, and they like it
strong, am sure. I have some sugar,
but forgot all about milk; and I have
some peppermint drops, nice fresh ones.
You know about such things, Doctor
Willoughby. Aren't peppermint drops
good for old ladies' Suppose I we're to
kill one of them giving too much tea or
too many peppermint drops; wouldn't
it be dreadful!"
"You can't kill an old lady with pep.
permint," put in Willoughby, with an
odd little smile.
"But, DR.. Willoughby, where are you
going" and Miss Thundercloud came
suddenly to halt. eft has Just oc-
Cured to me that you must be going
somewhere"
81 am professionally bound, and am
off my way" replied Willoughby. "I
must leave you, Miss Thundercloud. I
will call in a few days, as you request.
Please be very particular not to over
read, or to lose your way; you are quite
far from home. That is your building
on the next block-the large, red one" !"
"Thank you. Good-by, Doctor Will
lorghby. l will tell you all about the
blind people when see you again.
GOOD by, Miss Thundercloud, good
by" and Willoughby began retracing
his steps. "a remarkable young wo-
man," he said to himself, land will
make some man an honest, faithful wife.
How cruelty misjudged her."
For month, Willoughby called twice
weekly at the great tea merchants man
sion up town, and he and Miss Thunder
cloud planned anew at each interview
for the comfort and good of the sight
less old ladies at the Blind Home, and
for the sick and suffering in other parts
of the city. He marveled at the earnest
ness with which his supposed patient
entered upon her strange new life that
led into the shadow and the sorrow of
many an unhappy home. His admira-
ton for the girl increased daily. Her
sacrifices, her denial of self, her sweet
love of "doing her little," as she e1-
pressed it, drew him toward her as
naught else in her life could have done
he had never met so true q woman.
How cruelty he had misjudged herl
One day he was summoned suddenly
to call upon Miss Thundercloud. In
truth this time it was professionally. He
entered the second story front chamber,
and found the young lady in delirium
of fever, pulse rampant and mind wan
dering. The day previous Miss Thun-
dercloud had been visiting in an un-
usually closely populated part of the
city, and, on returning home was very
weary, felt listless, and was unable to
sleep that night. Then the fever came
on her. Willoughby felt as if his own
life were at stake. He prayed for skill
and thanked heaven for his bitter drug.
It is by suffering that we sometimes find
how strong we are. Great pain does
often make us mighty. Willoughby had
never known his strength until he tested
it at that girls bedside. For a fortnight
he watched and cared increasingly. He
prayed, too, continually for God to
teach him how to save this life. Then,
one morning, Miss Thundercloud smiled
in very natural sort of way, and com
menced to thank him for all he had
done. But he stopped her short, and
from that time she obeyed him like q
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