The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-04

so I went up to see if I could do anything for
him, but Mr. Cummins wouldn't let step my
foot on the lot"
''And there's no one to wait on the sick man,
you say, JakeP
Not Lords soul. Miss Betsey Mr. Cum
Minis told me that hisself I'd go if you'd low
me- bein' as I've had the smallpox"
No, Jake, you can't be spared from the farm
There's that corn to be cribbed, Monday, and
that bottom got ready for oats"
The perpendicular lines between her brows
grew deeper as she picked up her knitting and
began to roll up the ball of yarn. Jake knew
she was revolving some disagreeabe project, so
he stood waiting her decision, although the COWS
were lowing at the meadow gate.
"Well there's nothing to be DONE she said.
rising, "but for me to go and nurse him 1t
would be a sin for us to let human being die
at our very doors without offering him aid. Nan
sic, you run over and get Miss McBrune to come
and stay with you while I'm gone. Tell her I'm
not coming till the mans dead or well, one. AS
I've had the smallpox, 1 amt scared of it. Jake,
turn the cows in, then hitch up the spring wagon
and drive round to the gate"
In half an hour Aunt Bet stood on the porch
of the Indian Queen. "Umph" said she, sur
veying the empty benches, ''t's the first time in
twenty years I've seen this sight. 1t must be
powerful bad case to scare away them lazy crea-
lures"
'Iiss Betsey," said the landlord, coming
through the hall to meet her, his face shade
paler than usual, ~ suppose you don't know as
'Nobody's forbid me- and L don't know any
man that has got any right to tell me where
shall or shan't 60" shifted she.
''Wall, we've got case of varulent smallpox
here. One of them city fellers fetched 1T up,
and everybody's skeered to death"
Gust what knew; that's exactly why come.
] amt heather, to let man die like a dog and
never turn hand to help him. You see, I've
had the smallpox, and amt afraid of It's spelling
my beauty so, if you'll show Inc where he is I'll
tend to him."
Mr.. Cumnins led her through the hall and
pointed to dilapidated out building, which she
well termed shanty Followed by Jake, carry
ing her bundle, she walked away from the hotel
as he was saying in his blandest tones
miss Betsy, hope you won't take no offense
at my asking of you not to come into the house,
for my wife and children are in thar, and I'm
bound to perfect EN-"
"Of course Warren Cummins I'll not come
You reckon l nursed whole family through the
smallpox and don't know what to doi Besides,
I'd be afraid of going in there, for I've heard of
folks being scared to death. Jake" she con-
tinued as they approached the cabin, put the
things in that room and come tomorrow and
see if | need anything. If the man gets well
may be here for spell"
While Jake deposited the bundles in an unoc-
cupied room, she entered the apartment to
which the sick man had been confined Its one
wooden shutter was open toward the North, and
the cool evening breeze blowing over the straw
pallet was laden with feverish exhalations
used and part of the puncheon-aoor had fallen
in, while the stack-chimney was crumbling
away and the roof was rocking with moisture
and decay. Rats and mice played hide and seek
through the fallen floor, and lighting candle
she esped black snake crawling along one of
the rafters.
The man started up, with his eyes glowing
like frefes, but as the Pickering light fell upon
her rugged features he fell back with gasp and
closed his eyes. She leaned over and scanned
the disfgured face with the eagerness of mother
gazing upon the lineament of her frst-born.
Her gray eyes seemed to gloat upon the marred
visage, and the hand holding the candle above
his head trembled so violently that the melted
tallow fell uDon his forehead.
elizabeth Aire can't you leave me in peace,
even my death-bed" exclaimed he in fexi-
BILE, low-toned voice, whose passionate intona-
lions even reminded you of the music of a brook.
In tones very soft for her came the reply:
Robert have came to nurse you. What do
you needW
A mocking smile fitted over his face as he in
quired, This is what you Christians call heap
ing Goals of fire on your enemies heads is it
Elizabeth"
mo, had known it was you 1 might not
have come Jake told me stranger was here
i'll with the smallpox, with no one to tend him.
God led me hther, and will gladly do what L
can for you"
Eyes, they turned me out to die like a dog
You'll think that was Gods vengeance, because
deserted Ruth. But as live l swear to you
''She was your wife!" eagerly asked the
woman.
Eyes she was my wife. You didn't believe
evil of my pretty little Ruth, did youl We were
married the day went down to Coweta. She
promised not to tell till | gave her leave. but l
never thought she would suffer shame rather
than break her promise. You'll find the record
of our marriage there
THANK God" exclaimed Aunt Bet. failing
upon her knees. ''The shame that had come to
honest folks was the bitterest drop In our cup,
and brought down the gray hairs of our father
with sorrow to the the grave"
81 have paved the way to hell with good in
tentions with vengeance said he almost fierce
ly; adding in a softer tone, 81 went back after
nv fathers death to acknowledge her as my
wife, but she was so changed by this cursed dis
ease could not carry her to my people. 1t al
most broke my heart to find her beauty gone,
for you know how worship beauty. But have
been true to her. for L have called no other
woman wife,
Aunt Bet looked scornfully upon the hand
some, irresolute face. Eyes, true to her when
you left her to die under the weight of shame
and your child to live under the brand of dis
grace OH my pretty Ruth! to think was hard
on you, when all the world turned against your
and she Swayed to and fro, while tears of re-
morse trickled down her wrinkled cheeks
The man closed his eyes to shut out the scene
for, like the brilliantwinged insects that irradi
ate the atmosphere of tropical Chimes ne had
basked in the sunshine of ease, and wealth, and
beauty.
"Our childr at length he asked, almost tim
idly.
''Ts girl she hastened to reply, 'and 1 call
her Nansie."
''Why did you give her such homey names!
Is she not pretty like her mother?'
'Thank God No! She is almost as ugly as I
am" and light CLEAN of joy fickered in her
eyes. as he WINGED at the blunt words. He had
sinned against her ana hers through his idolatry
of physical beauty, and what more just than
that a mans bosom sin should prove his aveng
| ing Nemesis
She rose and kindling fire upon the hearth
prepared a cup of tea, which he quaffed from her
hand eagerly.
| She placed the candle where it would not shine
in his eyes, then drawing a log to the fire, light
ed her pipe. and sat down in the chimney cor
| ner By the fre-lights Pickering CLEANS. one