The Osceola times., 1880-05-01
A FRAGMENT FROM TWO LIVES.

REGIONS OF Pennsylvania, and stopped AZ
the house Of a preacher. 1t was an old
brown house st the foot Of sterile rock,
seemingly as remote from civilization as
the heart of an Arabian desert. The
Rev. Paul Hume had already spent here.
so far as vitality went, the best years OF
| his life. He had of late been glad to find
the old rebellious longlngs, the fierce
ambition and latent hope OF the future,
becoming more dim and dull, and began
to believe. as the years went by, he
would De able 10 live out those allotted
TO him honorably, and in a measure re-
| signedly. He had gwen up the old fool
ish fondness for putting life and fervor
| in a long Sunday discourse. He was
quite content that some of his congrega-
| ton should sleep quietly through the
sermon, and others ruminate over what
ever fleshly ageravation or JOY was up
| permost in their minds. Probably his
sole spiritual companion, even IN the de-
gree suited TO her capacity, was his serv-
ing woman Hagar-blacK. straight-fea-
tured, reticent, but given 10 bursts of re-
| ligious enthusiasm that in measure re-
lieyed the dull monotony OF the life they
lived alone together.
Hagar ought 10 have known her mas
ter better than 20 believe he would re-
fuse succor to any helpless fellow crea-
ture. and il was foolish for her TO shorten
the chain that barred the door that
night in March when the driver of the
coach begged that they should take tenn
porary care of sick passenger. She
had been getting worse and worse, the
driver said, for the last ten miles, and
a. has.l ttal
nor nothin' handy" he had made bold to
bring her to the parsons house. But
Hagar shook the crimson turban on her
fine Egyptian head and declared 1t was
not the parsons business to risk his life
with pestilential fevers.
Even Us she spoke, however, the par
son had unloosened the chain, and gone
out in his scant gown and close cap to
the coach, and lifted the Door woman out
in his strong arms. Hagar followed him
and his burden up tine stairs, and the
light from her candle fell upon tangled
curls and braid, bits of ribbon, and a
long strip Of embroidered lace that hung
from the head of the sick woman, a gold
chain about her neck and other personal
gew -gaws that appealed to the contempt
OF Hagar.
The lady's trunks had beendunp ped in
after her, and presently they had TO be
pried open, for the lady's lips and eyes
were closed, and she could not tell
Hagar where the key lay to these fine
treasures.
But Hagar went to work with will,
and the preacher had saddled his gray
cob started off on a five-mile journey
across the mountain for doctor.
Hagar had put aside the ribbons and
bits of travelling adornments for a long
white muslin robe, which struck the
preachers heart with a chill somehow
and made him speed the poney on his
way.
The doctor had some broken bones to
set, and told Mr.. Hume, frankly. that so
far as fevers and disorders OF that kind
went, that black woman of his was
worth q dozen ordinary practitioners,
and that he had long counted upon her
in extremities of that sort; and trotting
over to Dir. Hume's the next morning,
the doctor called out to the parson 10
know il he was not right about the capa'
bility of Hagar.
The sick lady's wrists and ankles were
bandaged up with cooling herbs, and the
strength of some cooling decoction OF
Hagar's reached the surgeons nostrils
The pupils of the eyes were dilated q
little, crimson flush burned in the
cheeks of the unfortunate traveller; but
the doctor declared that Hagar was do
ing well, and, with good care, in d
week or SO the journey could be pur
sued.
As yet the parson had been alone con-
cerned for her safety; for many days II
did not occur to him that the condition
OF his guest appealed to tribute of his
nature save pity and reverence. Hagar
however, strongly disapproved of fem
mime charms, especially when the owner
endeavored to add to them by friyolity
of dress or demeanor. The poor lady
who felt that she owed, perhaps, hei
very life TO these good peoples care and
skill, opened her heart to Hagar, ano
told her all about her long journey IRON
the Pacific Coast, where she had lost hel
husband many years since and had long
ed TO come home to the East, but
dreaded, as well she might, the dreary
waste of miles between. Hagar knitted
stolidly on, and listened, but not witt
that ABSORBED interest that the minister
gave to the story of the traveller.
Mrs. Delplaine was too i'll to be lef
long alone, and Hagar had her house
hold duties to attend to, SO that the
minister was often compelled TO brinl
| his book and make the sick-room hi,
study. This chamber, which had beer
somewhat bare and desolate, suddenly
became glowing and warm, and made I
| sharp contrast with the room on the
/ lower floor, lined with moth-eaten vol
umes and choking with accumulatinl
dust. Mrs. Delplaine had begged that !
| few sticks might be lighted on the
| hearth, and had pleaded that quantity
| of light wraps and shawls should be
taken from her trunks to soften the glare
/ at the windows, TO add to the scanty
covering of her bed, TO throw over the
/ grim leathern back Of her chair; and as
/ Mrs. Delplaine's favorite color seemed to
| be of the faint warm tint OF the rose
the whole atmosphere of the room took
this soft coloring, and tine hungry soul ol
the Reverend Paul delighted therein
without kiiC wing why.
He was walking Just now in the big
gloomy room below, the scant tails of his
threadbare coat tapping in the chill air
of March, but his soul was warm with
the memory of the last hours he had
spent in the room above.
And Mrs. Delplaine, having nothing
else to think of in this queer, pictur-
esque region, being somewhat applied
by the big, sterile hills and the gray
gloomy sky, which her crimson shawls
could not altogether shut out, having
nothing else to think of but the tender
interest that this haggard but handsome
recluse of parson took in her misfor.