The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-09-06

IT suppose he thinks it's too bad for
yer to be tied to fellow like me, and
it's more than likely that you think 80
yourself" Albion continued, bitterly.
The girl wound the fringe of her shawl
in and out between her fingers, and did
not look up.
well, he has limited, and perhaps
you don't mind" she said, vaguely.
II do mind it, jimmy Burr; but if
you've let him hint, that's all want to
know. You may have him If you want
him, for I'll have no girl round me
if you had got hurt and had treated
you SOP"
The excited voice, with its tone of
feverish pain, reached the mothers
ears. She came hastily into the room
and began TO put down the shades.
There, Albion dear, do keep calm.
You'd better not talk any more to-day;
it'll put you back"
jimmy, with look of relief, went out,
az Albion's flushed face, changing to
white, sank back upon the pillows. .
Mother, mother, mother, isn't it
hard?"
Thus appealed to, Mrs. Stickney com.
forted him as only mother can.
About this time the district school was
to be heightened by the ingenious device
of boarding the teacher around in those
families who sent children to school.
The Stickney boys and girls had long
been loud in their praises of the teacher,
and when she came to their home the
overworked mother did her best and
most to make her welcome, but fell i'll in
doing; it was too much. The teacher
proved equal to the emergency. She
made the WORKOUT woman 60 to bed,
and waited upon her faithfully before
and after school hours. Minna Stickney,
the eldest girl, had told her Albion did
not wish to see any strangers. so she did
not mean to 60 into his room; but one
day Minna carried with his dinner the
wrong sauce for the pudding. It would
be spoiled, and she had taken so much
trouble to make it! Without thinking
how she looked, she rushed into the sit
ting.room just as she was, her sleeves
rolled up, and q big apron up to her
neck and down to her feet. Don't look
at me-" she said, "but you've got the
gravy for the meat, child; here is the
right sauce for the pudding;" and, max
ing the exchange, she ran out into the
kitchen.
"Who is that" Albion looked won
deringly after her.
Miss Motley, our teacher. Isn't she
good to take right hold SO? Mother
thinks everything of her already. I
told her you didn't want to see her, and
that why she told you not to look" said
Nina, naively.
"Wnat did you tell her that for? What
must she Think"
"Oh, she don't mind. She says we
must take folks as We fild them. But I
do wish you'd let her come in and look
after you tonight. We wont to GO
down to Charley brakes; he's going to
have q popcorn party, and she could
take care Of you and ma too, if you'd let
her, and we children could go, guess.
Won't you, Ally?"
The children went to the party, and
Mr.. Stickney in search of help. His
wife lay in blissful rest, Quoted and as.
sured by the energetic teacher that
everything was going on right, and there
was no cause to worry; the more she
gave up and rested the sooner she
would get back her strength.
Carrying in the tea and toast, she no.
ticed there was not o book or paper in
sight, and so asked him if he would not
like to look at some illustrated maya
zines she had.
ut is nice to have 80 much time to
read" she said, smiling brightly, and
did not wait, but went at once and
brought the books.
Albion had never thought before of
anything nice being possible in his con-
dition. She had aroused . little inter.
est. He found himself wondering what
she would say next. After awhile, as
they became better acquainted, she
asked him if he had studied into his
case, and if he were not interested in
physiology and anatomy. She told him
she had q cousin who was physician
and surgeon, and she would like his
opinion. he might suggest, possibly, a
more strengthening treatment.
She succeeded IN arousing Albion to
courage and hope from Indifference and
almost despair, and from time to time,
in quiet way, loaned him text books.
These engaged his mind, and ~ he be-
came stronger, occupied more and more
OF his attention.
One afternoon, his days labor ended,
Mr.. Stickney sat on the piazza, watching
his boys finishing the chores. The
teacher sat near him, busy with some
work. This man had not failed 70 enter
tain her with his grumbling, - he did
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