Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-04-11


was with. his mother waiting to "go
on"
"It's the gentleman who was kind
enough TO write that notice about YOU, g"
she said to him. you must thank him
for IT,"
''Oh. IL was you. was ftp" he said,
turning his big blue eyes up ut Ray
mond. You're an editor, amt you5"
The awe with which be asked this
question bought n smile to Raymonrs
face.
mot exactly" he replied. "Iwri,e
for the newspapers"
"DO youY' said the child, eagerly.
How clever you must be- And Il was
YOU who wrote that about me. Thank
you ever 50 much. You are very. very
good.
He placed his hand to his forehead
and held it there n moment. Raymond
noticed il and looked grave.
Are you quite wellP" he asked.
kindly.
Quite well," the child faltered.
Only-only I'm little tired and-my
head aches. Hurry. mamma" as the
call-boy appeared ut the door; and.
turning TO Raymond, he held out his
little hand. Goodbye" he said.
"lt's time for me TO 60 on
Little lot fastened with his mother
through the dark and gloomy passage
leading to the stage, and stood at a wing
waiting for his cue. His mother sta
toned her.elt near by TO assist him in
making his changes.
Raymond and the manager sought
the front OF the house.
THAT youngster is going to be sick"
said the journalist. with conviction, as
they parted. lie looked half in now.
It's too bad that such weak, delicate
child should have to be out nights in
such bitter weather.
Eth, what was that3 Sick, did you
say?' cried the manager, with alarm.
| hope not / hope not. 1t might affect
business. you know, IL he didn't appear.
lie Is the strongest card on the bill this
week.
Raymond curled his lip slightly at the
other'S hear lesSness, and walked of.
Somehow Littl9 lot interested him
strangely. IL might have been that he
regarded the tiny favori,c Of the foot
lights with plying tenderness, for the
sake Of his own children
The next night he returned to the Va
rieties 60 find the fears ha entertained
realized. The manager met him with a
note in his hand.
Read it," he said. with scowl upon
his face
Thus aGiured. Raymond took it. and
glanced hurriedly at the contents. 1t
was to the eject that Little Dot was
dangerously low with the scarlet fever,
and. Is consequence, could not per-
form the rest Of the week.
The words he read brought up n vivid
recollection of the two babes who had
lain in the terrible grasp of the scarlet
hend until only the great mother-love
had won them bac< to fc. A lump
took possession OF his throat
Poor Little Dot he murmured.
81 wouldn't have had it happen for
hundred dollars grumbled the man
ager 1T places me in deuce of a
fix. Ii almost impossible To put any
one on in his place at such short no
ticc.
You're in hard lines, said Raw
mond. coldly.
Something impellcd him before ne
went TO the newspaper-oifice that night
to seek the second-class hotel where the
child and his mother were stopping.
Passing florists on his way. he pur-
chased bunch of the creamy, full
blown roses that were temptingly dis.
played in the window. These he seut
up to the sick room with his card and
request to know how che little fellow
was
Presently the answer came-no bet
ter. Would he 60 up? Mrs. Whitley
would like To see him.
Raymond followed the boy upstairs
and softly entered the darkened room.
The mother. with the marks OF weari-
ness about her ewes, came from the
window where she had been standing
and led the way to the bed
He was taken i'll last night on his
way back from the thcater." she whis-
pcred, in n hOarse, strained tone. Il
thought IL was nothing but a cold and
and did not call in a doctor. But he
grew so much worse in the night that I
had To send for one, and he saws it's
scarlet fever in its most MALIGNANT
form. He has been dclirious nearly all
the time. The doctor did not ell me
so, and yet-I'm sure he'll never 0ct
well again. She gave a bitter sob. but
her eyes were dry-her tears had been
exhausted long ago. ''Oh, why doesn't
he come. why doesn't he Gomez"
She resumed her place by the win
dow, looking vacantly out nj the wild.
back night Raymond remained by
the bedside and gazed compassionatcly
down at the small face marked with
livid spots. Near him stood n stand
upon which his fragrant Offering and
several walls Of medicine were placed.
Suddenly the little sufferer opened
his eyes with faint moan. For a mo-
ment they rested upon Raymond and
then YEARLY closed again.
Dad! the parched Inns formed.
His mother approached the bed noise
lessly and bent anxiouSly over him.
Is, Dot she said, soothinglv.
''he will soon be here-soon be here.
you won't have long TO wait now, dar-
ling; and looking up at Raymond, she
continued, in choking voice, che
wants to see his father. have sent for
him. but-but don't know whether he
will come. He drank and-and we
parted. God forgive me, have been
10 blame. too. Oh. do you think that
he will Gomez
Raymond looked at his watch. The
time lacked few minutes OF eleven.
Eyes, / am sure he W L." he said.
pityin-yly. He is ut the Globe, think.
The performance is scarcely over. No
matter how heavy an actors grief may
be, he is obliged TO disguise il some
times and play his part. Yes, he will
come, without doubt
Slowly the minutes dragged by.
Finally faint knock was heard ut the
door. She wen: and softly opened it.
A man entered on tiptoe. 80,
Thank Heaven, you are here at
lastr' she said.
II could not come BEFORE he ut
tered. hoarsely. "How il he-better?''
She mournfully shook her head He
went, and looked down at his child.
His lapRarI face toll ~ tto ,-,olo..