Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-01-13
"Oh, mamma, please let me stay in now

"Oh, mamma, please let me stay in now
1 don't want to 60 out just yet. | feel quite
well this morning"
"You have nice color" said the anxious
mother, with wistful gaze. "But if you
stay indoors all the time, darling, poring
over letters and books, you will get your
headaches back again.
"Just let me write this one letter, please do. y
"Very well. Only don't let it be too long" "
With this parting injunction she went away,
closing the door after her. Instead Of imme-
diately going On with her writing, Louise
leant her head upon her hand and fell into
her usual fashion of musing.
Mamma is always worrying about my
health, "she thought. 81 wish 1 did not
cause her so much anxiety. She has cares
enough without. Of course, I know shall
never live to be grown up; at least, it isn't
likely that I will. Papa died Of consump.
ton, and so did Aunt Mary and l suppose
I have it too. But may live good while
longer, and don't see why any one should
think or fret about it. After all, it isn't a
bad thing to die young Only the others
would miss me, know. And | would like
to see Cyril with church Of his own, and
maybe his own home, before it happened.
I'd like to have little room in his house,
and keep my things there, and have him to
talk to me there sometimes, so that after
wards he could associate it with me, and re.
member me sitting there with him, and al
ways call it Louis ROOM 1t would be pleas.
ant to know that he would always think of
me as part of his home. Yes, l hope | wont
die very soon. But perhaps it is wicked in
me to wish that. I must be ready whenever
God is.
She unused little while longer, then took
up her pen and went back to her letter. She
had great gift cf writing. The words flowed
from her pen as easily as from her lips and
she never altered a sentence or erased sylla-
BILE. Her whole heart was in her present task.
1t was as though her brother was at her side,
and she was poring into his willing ear all
that she had to say, Needless Of the lapse
of time, and forgetful of her mothers warn
ing, she wrote on, and on, until two sheets
were filled. Then, reluctantly, she signed her
name at the bottom of the last page. She
would have wished to continue writing for an
hour longer-there still seemed so much to
tell him She could not refrain from adding
a postcript-a brief one, but so full of love.
Dear Cyril, keep on thinking Of you all
the time, and l dream of you every night. |
love you better than anybody in the whole
world, except mamma. Don't forget your
little Lou"
A sort of WEAKNESS came over her, as she
finished that last line. An odd, confused
feeling in her head, which made her involun-
tarily put her hand up to her brow, and Won
der what was the matter. The next instant
everything grew dim around her, the room
seemed to swim before her eyes, and she
tainted away.
1t happened that Mrs. Hope was very busy
that morning with some domestic work
Leila had gone to neighbor's to inquire af-
ter sick child, and Mary, as usual was at
school. A long time had elapsed before Mrs.
Hope, going up stairs to fetch something out
of her own chamber, opened the door of
LOUIS little room, and looked in to see what
she was doing. The child sat with her arms
crossed on the table and her head resting upon
them, and at first her mother thought she
was asleep; but going nearer, the pallor and
fixed expression of the partially hidden face
alarmed her. She took one Of the passive
hands, and found it limp and cold.
"My God she is dead!" was the first fright
ened cry that broke from her lips. But soon
she found that life was not extinct. AS she
raised the dropping form, tenderly pillowing
the fair young head upon her breast, a faint,
gasping sigh told that chance of restoration
existed, and with frantic, trembling haste
she set to work, alone and unaided, to bring
her child back to consciousness By degrees
faint tinge of color crept back into her white
lips and cheeks. and by and by the soft eyes
opened, and fixed themselves wonderingly on
her face.
"Why, mamma w she half inarticulately
asked, "what is the matter ?"
"You tainted, dearest, and found you
lying agaist your little table when came in."
Mrs Hope was trembling so much, from the
sudden revulson of feeling, that she could
scarcely control her voice; but she spoke as
steadily as she could, that Louise might not
perceive her agitation.
"Did 1 faint? Why, wonder?"
"You had been writing too long, I suppose
and were over-tired. Are you better now?"
"Oh yes; there isn't anything the matter
with me-" She tried to rise, but fell imme
diately back on her pillow, growing very
white again. Her mother bade her remain
quiet, and Leila fortunately coming in soon
after, she dispatched her fora physician who
lived near by. Before he came, Lou tainted
second time; and though Mrs. Hope sue
ceeded in reviving her in little while, she
betrayed degree of weakness so unusual, and
in measure so unaccountable, that the keen
est fears of her attendants were aroused. The
doctor gave her some strengthening mixture,
and towards evening she seemed good deal
better, and entreated that they would not
write to Cyril, as her mother spoke of doing.
"I1e would just be anxious about me,
mamma, and it's not worth while. shall be
we'll again by tomorrow, if get a good sleep
tonight. Please don't write"
Mrs. Hope yielded to her request, mentally
resolving if the morning should not find her
materially better, to write and beg her son to
return at once. But Lou, after quiet night,
really seemed almost as we'll as usual, though,
in obedience to the doctors command, she
made no effort to get up.
at seems so lazy to lie here and do moth
ing" she said, but in reality the rest was
grateful to her. 1t seemed hard to account
for her sudden attack The doctor said it
was merely a case of debility, and would only
give her tonic but he thought, as soon as
she grew a little stronger, change would be
the very best thing for her.
"And change she shall have" the mother
resolved. She determined to write and ask
Cyril whether it were not practicable for Lou
to 90 to him for little while. He might