Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-12-12

She had grown calmer now. She did
not cover and tremble before her own
conscience any more. She began at
once to consult about the best treatment
for her child. The city was ringing
with one name just then-a name that
had thrilled her heart in the old time,
that had power to thrill it still. She
held back for a while for the sake of
those old days. She scarcely dared to
face the past yet in the person of Dr.
Mel Collamer; but when her child's
health is in question a mother forgets
everything.
DIR. COllamer, receiving, one by one,
the throng of visitors that waited in his
anteroom, looked up and saw lady in
deep mourning leading a golden haired
child by the hand. He drew himself
very proudly, and there was only an ad-
ditional chill in his voice as he said,
Mrs. Leonard"
Nora grew pale. Perhaps he would
not undertake the case. She had for
gotten almost that he had cause for re-
sentiment In the memory of her own suf-
fering.
Excuse mel" she faltered. II would
not have intruded, but for my child. Oh,
Mel, she is all | have; your skill is so
lauded l could not go to anyone else
with the same confidence! Oh, save
her, ifyou can! Ihave suffered enough.
For the sake of the days when we were
10 have been Ill to each other, save my
childw
Madam!" exclaimed DR.. Collamer,
quietly; "you agitate yourself unneces-
Sarily. l am physician. / refuse no
one, my best skill is at your service.
God forbid that any memory, however
painful, should stand in the way of my
duty"
Nora sank into q chair and burst into
tears. The revulsion of feeling was so
great, the old love so strong in her
heart. To see him take her child on
his knee in such caressing way, to hear
him question the little thing with all
that tenderness of tone that had 50
thrilled her in the old days was oh, so
bitter-sweet, so full OF rapture and of
pain!
1t would be q tedious case, of course,
all such diseases were slow to yield
even the most hopeful. So Nora settled
down to a daily expectation of those
visits which made the charm of her life.
And DR.. Collamer, too, began to feel
the icy world of pride in which he had
shielded himself melt and break beneath
the smiles of the only woman he had
ever loved. So,
Glove took up the glass OF time, and turned
it in his glowing hands,"
and Nora, in surprise, one morning,
suddenly recollected that her husband
had been dead just one year that very
day.
At the thought came back a memory
of her struggle and crime. 1t had
haunted her occasionally, ofcourse but
security and success had hushed her
fears, and the unwelcome visitant came
schooner now. This morning, how
ever, she was in somber mood because
Bunny seemed feverish, perhaps because
her own heart was growing restless and
questioning painfully about her own
future.
She sat down with Bunny in her arms
at the open window, and somehow the
faint, subtle odor of magnolias seemed
to steal in with the soft south wind. 1t
was like breath from vault to Nora
gloomy, funeral. She hastily turned
away and laid the child on the bed. As
she looked into the pale, worn little face,
her heart misgave her. Had she grown
so absorbed in her own self that she had
ceased to note the changes in her dar-
ling?
"Does Bunny feel very sick?" she
asked.
mo; God is coming to cure Bunny"
said the child, confidently. "He can
do more than DR.. Collamer, you know.
To do l,liOd 70 70 To-
people to walk. and l want Him for my
doctor. So | just asked Him, and |
know He'll come; maybe to-day, OF to-
morrow. I'm waiting for Him."
Nora felt Il strange chill at this words
Could it he that the day of revenge was
at hand? Was this the lamb for the
sacrifice, this child for whom she had
sinned, whose life she had bought with
such priceP
She had dared to believe that she,
weak, erring, sinful mortal as she was,
held in her hands the keys of life and
death; and now, perhaps, God stood
ready to show her that only He could
fulfill or mar the schemes of men, that
the mysteries of life and death are His
alone. She looked anxiously into DR..
Collamer's face when he appeared.
1.-The child is worse" she said. 81
see it now; she has not been gaining at
ALL"
Il am glad you see it for yourselfr'
he said kindly. "I have not been able
to tell you. There was no hope from the
first, complication with the brain.n
Bunny lay in feverish sleep, and the
mother stood by her with a startled,
g., fcl,o ,,,n,,1I S., l,
her up then and hold her back from the
gates of death.
mo hopew she groaned. "Oh, my
God, am punishedr'
Punishedp" echoed DR.. Collamcr, in
a questioning tone. my dear Nora,
you are not, | hope, one of those who
fancy God is argry with you for loving
your childp"
Nora did not speak. She buried her
face in her lands. What was all her
wealth to her nowP 1t could buy few
feet of earth for her child-nothing
more. God was breaking her idol be-
fore her eyes, that she might see where
her idolatry had led her. Suddenly an
unusual hustle in the hall startled her,
and then low knock at the door.
"Bress de Lord, honey, Use foun' you
out!" exclaimed well-known voice,
which made little Bunny open her eyes
and stretch out her arms. Eyes, Use
come hard road to trabbel to get to
my pore lamb. My hearts been a
breakin' bout her, honey, and l was
boun' to get to her eff it took my last
cent. And how is my petp"
"Chloe!' said the child, in a quick,
excited voice. when you came in ]
was in heaven, and my back was
straight, and l had wings like the
angel in the picture over there"
Chloe knelt down by the bedside and
kissed and fondled the little hand.
lone OBJ de Lords lambs" she cried,
81 always said so. Does yer mind
honey, dat las day when de master
died. I was bringin' in de beef tea,