The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-11-08

closed Mrs. White. 1t cannot be
SAID that her face was clean. Her
dress was in holes; it was fastened
at her throat by tawdry brooch.
Once, however, she must have been
quite a pretty woman.
LA, sir, is it you? I'm glad to
see YOU back. Such worries as I've
had-these people in the first floor
not paying their rent. III tell you
what that man is, sir. He's nasty,
low, good for nothing, rum-drink-
ing fellow. And as for beer, he was
at home one day. and it was nothing
but send, that young Bob to
the Kings head, round the corner,
for piiti of half and half, till the
child got that tipsy with the sips he
took going, and | assure you that
put him to bed in a really disgrace
ful condition. As for his wife, she's
no better than he is. She's TIE kind
of a woman that | wouldn't trust
for five minutes with sixpense of
my monev-no, nor a penny,
eithefll"
II see, my dear Mrs. White, that
you are a good deal troubled" re-
marked Clarkson, when the sound
of grief had somewhat subsided /;
but now let US leave che culprits,
and tell me how is Sarah ?n
That's Just the worst part of it,
sir. Sa-ah's down with something
dreadful bad the doctor saws it's
consumption, but | don't believe in
what doctors say"
Tell me all about it at once.
said Clarkson, who was most genu-
inely panied.
"Well, sir" began Mrs. White
well you had mt been gone above a
week when it seemed to me that she
was getting bit lazy and off her
food; but l didn't think much of
that, girls are often that way. Per-
haps she may have eaten less than
| noticed. Lord, when you're as
worried as am, you can't be count
ing how many mOuthfuls of food a
child takes to-day, and how many
tomorrow there's 70 fear Of nv
boys not doing their share. We got
some very cold weather at the end
of July, and one night, when she
was playing at the Crown Theatre,
it came down one of those nasty.
cold rains She was much later than
usual coming home that night, per-
haps | wasn't in the best of temp
ers, for young Bob had been more
troublesome even than he is gener-
ally. 1t was just one o'clock when
she walked in, the rain streaming
from her.
Il couldn't get q buss,'" she
says that's what makes me go
late. It's so cold and wet, mother,
| thought you might have had bit
of fire.
Fires in July ?" 1--WE can al
ford that, can't we Perhaps you
expected a cold bowl and bottle OF
port wine? Eat your bread and
cheese and drink your beer, do.
say. and get to bed that's the best
place for YOU. She took a little
bread and beer, but | saw shs
couldn't stomach the cheese; then
she began shivering and crying, and
saving she was so cold. Well, / got
her to bed, but she ooughed through
/ the night. In the morning she felt
very hot. and didn't seem to know
what she was saying, go | sent for a
doctor-not that / in most cases.
hold with doctors. He said that she
had taken a bad, feyerish cold. and
that it had gone to her lungs. How
ever, she seemed to get over the
worst of it; only che don't get her
strength up, and sometimes she has
Dad tits OF coughing. The doctor
says be can't do anything more. i
say it's a good thing we don't de-
pend on doctors its nature that
will bring her round. You see she
eats hardly anything-not even tha.
nice fried fish, which ! got from
Kings. opposite, where you can al
ways count on getting it sweet, and
gust done on a turn"
'We must see what can be done.
Mrs White; suppose I may see
her ?"
Yes, and it's my belief it will do
her good. She has often wondered
when you would come back. I'll
Just 90 and tell her you're here.
And away went Mrs. White.
As Clarkson sat there IN the drea-
Iry room, Uttered with unwashed
things, he thought very sadly Of the
sick girl up stairs. He was in deed
reflection when Mrs. White returned
and showed him up TO Sarah's room.
I IL was very small room, half way
up the stairs; il had no fireplace ;
there was just space for the bed to
stand between the door and the win
dow. Ii looked like hard, uncom
Portable bed on which the sick girl
lay. One hand which had grown
painfully thin, rested on the thread
bare coverlet. Her long, golden hair,
brushed out, looked ike sunligh, On
the pillow.
Il am so glad yoa have come, T."
Sarah went on, in a tone of voice
that sounded hollow and already far
away.
1T has been so dull. I've been
so Ill | can't atanything now, and
I'm not strong enough to get up but
suppose | shall some time get
stronger, and then l shall be all
right"
And hungrieE than ever"
20. yea, hungrier than ever, be-
cause shan't have eaten forso long,
you know. Please tell me where
you have been, and all about il.
Have YOU been far p
We'll, Sarah, my child began
Clarkson. you haven't much room
for receiving visitors here, have you?
1t isn't the room should desire for
an evening party.
No" she answered, with a faint,
sweet smile; -and wish the bed
wouldn't shake SO every time the
street door closes
Here Mrs. White pus in with
Now don't you mind thai She's
got a fancy into her head that when
,to b.-1 cna Eoc a ii-tIa hit \, docs her