Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-12-28

the carpet. and turned my head over
on the pillow A young woman
stood beside me, with the same gray
eyes smiling into mine, the same
heavy coils of hair bound back by the
narrow ribbon-it WAS the face of the
photograph, the face of my disordered
imagination, the face Of Lillian June.
"Then am deadl" | could not keep
back the words, and my nurse laughed,
and laid her soft, white hand upon my
| forehead.
''Oh, no, Mr.. Randall. l trust far
from that" she answered pleasantly.
INSTEAD, you are mech better, and
your fever is gone"
A current Of air swayed back the
heavy white curtains just then, and
let the sunlight pour in over my bed,
and she turned away to fasten it into
place. lay still, watching her with all
my wonder in my eyes.
"1hen where am /? Have | been
here long?" | said, at last, with an
effort, for it hurt me yet to speak.
"YOu are here with mother and me
in our house" she said, coming back
beside the bed. "Where you were
hurt-don't you remember
nodded, tYes," looking straight up
ward, into her face.
"You nave been here a long, long
time" she continued. "But you must
not try and talk any more now, see if
you can 60 to sleep. You must mind
me. for am the doctor. VIII you try
and sleep?'
Not waiting for al answer, she turned,
as if to 90 away
Don't 90, pleased" l cried, weakly.
touching her sleeve.
"Well, then, l will stay here, only
you must try and 90 to Sleep" and she
seated herself in the low rocking chair,
and commenced to do some sewing be-
fore the fire. Presently, she looked
up, to see my eyes following her every
motion.
"Come, come, this will never do"
she said, pleasantly; 81 will go, and
then | know you win sleep, and when
you wake up again, | will come and
talk to YOU" and she turned away to-
wards the door.
"Please stopl" cried out "What
is your nameW
"Oh, is that alp" with a sunny smile.
at is Margaret Chase" and she closed
the heavy door behind her very quiet
ly, and all the house was still.
l know I must nave slept for long
time, for it was evening when | awoke,
aud a shaded lamp stood on q little
stand, near the bed, and an old gray
haired women sat before the fire, NY
mind was clearer now, and | greeted
another figure, advancing towards me
out Of the shadows with smile of
welcome. | ate, with relish, the few
things they allowed me, and then
listened to her telling the story of my
sickness, and of how | had been nursed
back unto life. / learned that the two
women lived there alone, and chat she
the younger, was teacher in the
schools. Listened patiently until
worn out and tired, again fell asleep,
only to awake when another days sun
frightened the room through the frost
ed window-glass. And so the days
passed away, and grew gradually bet
ter, and stronger, until fell at last into
the habit of resting in the low easy
chair, before the window, and looking
down the street for Margaret to come
home from school, and in the long
evenings of sitting with them-mother
and daughter-by the bright wood fire,
and watching the blaze of flame light
up her clear-cut face and play hide
and seek in the waving masses of her
hair.
One night she came in with her
cheeks red from the crisp air, and af-
ter supper said, as the chairs were
being drawn up near the fire:
"Not for me to-night. | must help
trim the church, for tomorrow, you
know is Christmas"
"Then, may not go with you?" l
asked, quickly.
mo it would not be safe would it
mother9'
81 cannot leave it to any one, Miss
Chase, | Fastened to say. won't
you help me into this overcoat. She
did so without word, and soon, bundl-
ed no from the cold air and leaning on
her arm, | passed down the long street
to the church only to find it full Of
young ladies, all busy all talking, and
soon all coming to me for suggestions
and advice. 1t was n hard position to
be placed in, but the excitement flush
ed my cheeks and gave me strength,
until WAS soon putting up evergreens
rs fast rs the rest.
1t was in truth busy party, pratt
Ting here and there As they worked.
Finally, running out of subjects, some
one COmmenCpdt telling what she eXppct-
ed sent her on the morrow, and of what
she intended to give, and then they all
took it up in turn.
Now it's your turn, Mr. Randall,
cried out a merry blonde, from the
chancel-rail, rs she held up to me a
large wreath of eyergreens. Confess
sir; what do you expect?'
You expect something hard to
answer" l replied, from my elevated
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