Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-09-01
we!l-Deloved names moaned out again

and again from the feverish lips.
One evening she was seized by an in.
spiration. Letters had come in lust as
regularly as if their recipient were able
to open them, and this evening had
brought an envelope bearing the Black.
water postmark.
Polly knew Blackwater was David's
birthplace; she had gathered, too, from
the wanderings that in all probability
it was a quiet country town where his
name would be known. After some
hours, thought and planning she man
aged to write the following epistle:
ITO Mrs. CONWAY;
"MADAM..Please forgive the liberty that !
am now taxing. Qur minister is took bad here,
and other names in his sleep, but he can not
write. The Doctor thinks he may or he NAV
not get Better. It was all through his sleep
ing without a dry thread on him last Christ.
sM MARIE B'hows."
Three days afterward the answer
came.
A cab ratified up to No. 8, and two
ladies alighted. One was Young. slim
and fair; the other, evidently her
mother, was richly dressed, and wore
a thick veil to hide traces of tears. The
younger lady was quite calm, and
deciphered the card hung to the door as
she gave q cautious ring at the bell.
"Better!" she exclaimed. ..There,
mother, did l not tell you 1 felt sure the
worst was overp"
Her, NJ asys broke into fresh weep
ing, which lasted till the door was
opened by q thin, pale-looking girl,
who flushed with sudden joy as she
heard the visitors name.
(which is his room?" she asked, and
Polly silently lead the way.
Mrs. Britton was keeping watch, and
rose from a half-nodding position by
the darkened window. Polly Just heard
a few whispered words, saw the mother
go quietly up to the bedside, and then
closing the door went down stairs into
her lonely kitchen, and cried as if her
heart would break.
David was at first too occupied in
getting we'll and looking at his mother
and sister to remember much about his
devoted little nurse. After two or three
days he missed her, and inquired where
she was
care you not content with us, dar-
ling?" Frances asked, smoothing his
hot forehead with her cool, soft fingers.
"That is not the question:" he ans
wered, with something of his old firm
ness. "You say Polly wrote the letter
which brought you both to me, and is
it not natural 1 should want to thank
herr"
II will take any message you like"
Frances persisted gently, and in sheer
weakness he yielded the point.
Fortunately David was blessed with
a splendid constitution, and as the DAYS
went by he recovered strength rapidly.
He was soon able to enjoy long chats
with his sister, hearing all about the
old home-life and other scraps of news
as well. A conciliatory letter came
too from his father, who had been de-
tanned in his room by a sharp attack of
govt, and when a week or so had
passed Mrs. Conway declared she must
go back to nurse him, leaving David in
charge of Frances until he should be
well enough to bear the journey home.
could you spare half an hour to
Polly this EVENING"" David asked his
sister the afternoon Mrs. Conway de-
parted. "Poor child, she must miss
her weekly lessons, and I really feel
quite strong enough to see her for a few
minutes before you begin"
Frances flushed uneasily and was
silent.
.What does all this mystery meanp"
David asked impatiently "You are
hiding something from me, Frances; [
insist upon knowing"
Seeing that prolonged ignorance was
now out of the question, Frances
thought it best to enlighten him.
"Polly is not here, she has gone
away" she answered.
"Gone away? Why the child has no
home? What has Mrs. Britton dis
missed her for:?"
"Well, the truth is, David, the very
day we came she fell ill, and begged 50
earnestly to be taken to a hospital that
Mrs. Britton consented"
ssAnd now?"
David controlled his quivering tones
so that he might learn, if needs be, the
worst.
81 am afraid to tell you," Frances
answered, suddenly rising and bursting
into tears.
"Poor little girl! and they say she
would hardly leave your room all these
weeks. She has no strength at all, and
the doctors are afraid she can not get
over it."
There was a long silence. David lay
back with closed eyes, going over the
countless little services the work-house
waif had rendered him so cheerfully.
He must try and get well in time to
thank her for all she had done.
With the very best intentions, David
was not allowed to carry out his plan of
visiting the hospital for nearly another
fortnight. Even then it was under
pressure, and with a wrung-out consent
from the little doctor, that he found
himself driven toward the hospital,
Frances by his side armed with stimu-
lants and smelling salts. He would not
let her come farther than the entrance
for fear Of infection, though she argued
with some justice that she had faced all
possible chance of risk. Is.
How cold and bare and white the
long wards looked! The 1eeting sum
shine of the February afternoon shone
into the room where Polly lay, the
screened bed forming a point of inter-