Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-21

Gus pill-making quacks-tnat you In
league with"
IL assure, you. sir" said Mrs. Delvine,
II am not in league with the doctors"
Nothing to gain by numbering me
by tod cooking; on the contrary, every
thing to lose. This the Fiend murmur-
cd to himself half audibly. Then he
handel Si5 to Mrs. Delvine. telling her
that his name was Bark. and that she
might consider him boarder.
This was the beginning of Mrs. Del
vines good-fortune. The next day she
obtained good paying boarder in the
person of an old crippled lady; and the
next week a couple of deaf mutes Ell gag
ell the third rooms.
The old smile came back 10 the wild
ow's face. She could afford servant
now. and this enabled her to spend u
few hours every day with little George
in the garnet. and occasionally she might
have been seen stealing the child ou'
the back way for journey TO the park.
Mr.. Bark continued rs he had begun.
He ate his meals silent y and voracious-
ly. and his voice was seldom heard ex-
cept when he warne, away some street
musicians from his window on pain of
being shot at. Once. however. he in
tcrrogated Mrs. Delvine on the old SUBJ
jec, Of undertakers.
III they ever come round and make
you an offer 70 chang" your sly le OF cook
ing" he said. let me know, and I'll
double il. no matter what it Is"
Aud all this time Mrs. Delvine
hiding her guilty secret without expert
encing 81 much As a single twinge OF
conscience.
One night. however. sic was aroused
from quiet slumber by the scream of
little George. By the time she had lit
the gas. and throw on n wrapper. the
child was in spasmS.
Mrs. Delvine was terrified beyond de-
scription. but her bitter struggles in the
past had taught her presence OF mind.
4 doctor lived on the square above:
should she leave her child and run for
hima Should she awaken the crippled
old lady? There WAS no hope OF help
from the deaf mutcS. She rushed out
into the hall; the light was burning in
Mr.. Bark's room. for he was in the habit
Of reading till midnight Would it be
madness 10 ask help OF the Fiend?
She hesita,es moment. then tries To
gasp "a prayer. Little George straight
ems h;msell, while his thumbs commence
TO twitch.
In frenzy Of desperation the mother
rushes to Mr.. Bark's door and raps
fiercely.
She is answered by savage growl.
But she only raps louder and iiercer.
Now the door opens with an angry
swing. She is face - face with the
fiend.
The house is on fire, | SUPPOSED Wha.
business have you TO let the house get on
ire?' lac asked in fierce tone, before
she could speak.
NO. no" she gasped. 1T is my baby
my child is in spasms. o. Mr.. Bark,
if you are human. run for a doctor"
Your baby, your child!" he reared.
clu,ching his beard viciously. What
do you mean. woman? Are you mad?'
NO, but I will be il my child dies.
o. Mr.. Bark" she pleaded. my baby
my George, Think of it!'
Think OF IT," he sneered with bitter
sarcasm. III be very apt To think of it
after having it impressed on me so forci-
bly, as it has been tonight. Think OF it!
Well. | guess shall think OF it all night
10 the detriment OF my sleep! So you
decoyed me TO your house under false
pretences. did you' Miserable deceiver,
you have outraged an innocent man!
How do know but you have brass
band secreted somewhere in the cellar"
"Fiend or man, whatever you are"
shouted Mrs. Delvine, approaching her
antagonist with a fearless step and an
appraised arm, if you let my baby die
for the want of doctor. by the sacred
ness of motherhood will hunt you TO
the Poles with brass bands" With
this. Mrs. Delvine hurried back TO little
George.
Presently footsteps were heard on tn
stairs; the front door was opened and
shut. Had Mr.. Bark fled the house. or
had he gone for the doctor?-the widow
asked herself, rs she worked with all her
might to keep life in the child.
These were terrible moments TO Mrs.
Delvine. She was about losing all hope
for the child when she heard the front
door opened quickly. Another moment.
and DIR. Pellet, quite out Of breath, stood
by her side.
The child was in dangerous. certainly,
the doctor acknowledged. But in the
course of al, hour the mother and physi-
clan were delighted to find the spasms
yielding to treatment. And very soon
little George had dropped into quie
natura, sleep, which lasted till morn
ing.
How should she face her boarder? was
the question of the morning with Mrs.
Delvine. She found she had not half the
courage she had when George was In
danger. Trembling she sat in the parlor
while Mr.. Bark ate his breakfast. How
could she apologize? Would he not an
initiate her with one of his terrible
frowns. Oh, dear, the remembrance Of
last nights victory made her coward