The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-05-15
Miss Carrie p he asked as she let HIN

"The season is remarkably dull, as
they say; everybody, with the exception
Of Miss Parrott, is pre.erpsturally heal
thy just now, so mean to dissipate this
evening. Staccato sings here to night
Could you, will you, make the pleasure
greater by listening with me p
DR.. Gilbert found himself strangely
embarrassed n speaking to this plain
pover,y.stricken girl in the shabby al
paca, with chapped hands and certain
pinchedr expression about the lips. .Bu
how the wan. colorless face frightened
at the request! what warm tint suf
fused the cheek how Der eyes deepened
io, violet and sglitteredsa almost. assff there
were tears IN them while her smile grew
and faded, developing new expression
and shy dimples! No one in all her lif
had ever offered her such pleasure be
fore; and here was DR.. Gilbert begin.
her to accept it as il it were favor I,
him!
81 would give the world to go!' sal,
Carrie. How kind you are! But poo
mamma has headache and there is no
body but me to look after Aunt Parrott
Oh dear! Well, thank you very much
am glad you asked me"
81 shsn't enj,y it half as much with
out vou," he said.
Carrie had gone out marketing whe
Dr.. Gilbert made his next professional
call on Miss Psrrott.
"Dear! dear!" cried that lady, "yol
were here only Wednesday; do 20,
think I'm worse2 Feel my pulse. lool
at my tongue: I'm not a grain weaker
my appetite's growing; I'm good FOL
some time yet. You don't feel anxiou
about me2 I'm an old woman, to b.
sure; but creaking gates you know han,
long on their hinges"
Yes" said DR. Gilbert, $40 they say
hut your breath is in your nostrils. I
bad anything l particularly wished tt
do, any wrong to right, any cherished
Eplan 10 fulfill, should want to max,
sure of it before the breath left them
"You mean you'd pay all your debt.
and make your will il you were in my
situation. That's exactly what Nv,
done. Now wouldn't you like to know
how I've disposed of my filthy lucre
Ha! ha! you'd he coming here too otter
| il l tcld you: Carries no beauty, bu
I've known money to gid palmer face.
Had he been coming to see Miss Par.
rott moro irs quen,ly than was necessary
and had the old lynx found 1t outP
"Ycur affairs are nothing to me, Miss
Parrott," he said gravely; "they are be
tween your own conscience and your
self At the same time fconiess thst
have no respect for those who devise
their estates to Borriboolagha and leav.
their relatives as legacy to the town
By the way / heard OF a curious case The
other day, man, having come into5.s
fortune through the estate of his wife,
father died, leaving her paltry portion
of her own money and the bulk Of it tc
his own sisters and brothers. There's
justice for you"
"Blood's thicker than water" said
Miss Parrott peevishly' "Can't yor
give me sleeping potion, doctor I"
And then he went down and met Miss
Carrie on the staircase and asked if sht
could spare the Tina and had the inclina
tion 10 drive into the country, where b,
bad patient. "It's half holiday a.
your school l believe; am going to.
day instead of tomorrow for that very
reason .
What a charm ng drive it was through
the autumn wood, away from sick bed
from a ragged school, leaving all th'
dusty aud sordid cares of every day be-
hind her! What il fortune were mig
gardly toward her, was not nature rict
in bounty! Leave sorrow and trouble
for tomorrow, bnt for the present mo-
ment it was happiness enough to lister
to DR.. Gilbert, to meet his glance, to
know that he had thought of her pleas
ure and planned for it, That be caret
for her, that be was growing interested
10 her in any but friendly fashion, tha
he might fall in love with her, did no
occur to her mind she was simply lit
tie pauper whom he pitied. She hat
only known him since Aunt Parrott
having qusrrelled with her old physi
clan, had installed him in the other,
place, and she had heard that he wa,
going to be married, and now as sh.
drove by his side and he favored bel
with the familiar courtesy one accords tt
ones best friend. she found 1t hard tt
suppress half-formed wish that tha
fortunate and probably beautiful woman
did not exist.
As Carrie was preparing Miss Parrot
( for the night the latter said, "Now .vou't
like something interesting to read I'll b.
bound. just take the key, the skeleton
key What a hateful word! 1t sng
gests all SORTS Of horrors. However, il
uLlocks nv desk. You'll find nv viii
there; read it while drop to sleep; it,
as good as Eovel :"
81 don't want to read it." said Carrie
Nonsense! You're diving to get 4
this minute. Read it aloud; perhaps i
will lull me to sleep"
Without more ado Carrie produced
the document and tegan, 81. Rabeccs
Parrott. being Of sound mind. this 6tl
day of June. 1860. do hereby"
"Stop! What mess you make OF it
1902 Haven't / made a will since
,hat3 My minds growing cloudy;
must have been dreaming. You fcunC
1t in The desk ?"
"Yes."
"Well, what are you waiting for
Read !'
And Carrie read to the hitter end
then the viii dropped from her hands
upon the floor. and she sat before t1
slight hlsze which the autumn weathe
demanded in sick room, sat and gazet
at it with an air Of depression and hope
lessness quite foreign to her; as II sh
had got over the habit OF making th
best Of everything.
"Only a string OF gold beads" sh
sobbed, sand afI my greatgrandfather'
fortune left to strangers! Only strin,
of miserable gold bsads2"
"Hey1 what did you say ?" aske,
Miss Parrott, waking suddenly. "Wha
have you there, Caroline Fane7
"Your last will and testament" an
swered Carrie picking it up.
"My last will and testament Wher
did you get that, you hussyf Have yo
hoon ranaackino nv thinua hofore tn