The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-05-24

ike me would never make out at all.
There was nothing she did not think of;
no task too heavy for her. And | was
/ to repay her four-fold some day. That
was her way of putting it. She would
have a double pleasure, the pleasure of
helping me, and of getting her own
back with interest when l was sure of
my footing"
He stroked the cold, nerveless hand
that lay limp in his own; softly, now,
with dry eyes, kissed it again and
again, and, kneeling down beside her,
bowed his head in prayer.
Through the long night he knelt
beside her. When the attendants
looked in upon this picture-the brother
kneeling beside the sister he had
travelled thousands of miles ioyously to
meet-when they saw his haggard face
and burning eyes, they stole softly out
again.
Mrs. Britt, who was Frustrated
throughout the night, was up betmes
in the morning. As she flung open her
window shutters and looked out on the
reddening sky, the sound of voice
beneath her arrested her attention. 1t
was the brothers voice praying for his
only sister. Mrs. Britt stole softly to
the side of the crib where Benny and
Oscar lay with arms interlaced, and
bending over, kissed first one, then the
other. Then she descended to the living
room. The disorder noticeable every
where reminded her of the dying serv-
ant. Nelly's dress-the dress the sur
geons removed with single movement
of the scissors, was lying over chair.
Mrs Britt lifted it mechanically and
removed the articles from the pocket.
Among other articles was piece of
yellowish, tough paper A crumpled,
yellow envelope attracted her. A foot
step approached at that moment, and
her husband looked over her shoulder
"Why, she must have known he was
coming, Oscar. This is the saddest of
all.
Mr.. Britt read the telegram slowly.
Poor Nelly-that should have been
given to her the evening before,
And she got it at noon yester-
day. Don't you see the date
here?" His finger pointed to the
hour the message was received. "NO
matter. 1t is not worth making fuss
over now," he added, sadly, for he APP
preciated the excellent qualities of the
dying maid of all-work.
81 will never-neverfo forgive myself, "
said Mrs. Britt, sobbing. "If l had
even taken the trouble to talk to Nelly
of her brother more-if had looked at
this dispatch yesterday knows?
Her life might have been saved"
tINbot M. D,,;.1
out the crumpled paper covered with
eccentric lines and curious marks. at
is rough map of the city. Here are
the rivers-the point-Court House
and what are these? This is really
wonderful"
Mr.. Britt looked at his wife wonder
ingly, who in her turn now examined
the paper. ''Why what made the poor
girl waste all that time when she could
have bought a good map of the city for
half dollar"
"You do not underestimate" said Mr..
Britt every mill in the city is down,
every large manufacturing establish
ment-all the principal points of inter-
est. Plainly this was made for her
brother-a guide for him. With this
in his pocket he could never 90 astray.
He would learn the city thoroughly in
weeks time, or less. The thought
fulness that girl displayed surpasses
everything" He folded the paper al
most reverently, and carefully placed
it in mis- pocket Il will give this to
her brother when she is dead"
The sun was gliding the eastern
horizon with its wealth of summer
beauties, when the watcher fancied he
saw the dying girls eye-lidS move. He
bent closer, gra:ping the hand he had
held the livelong night.
"Speak to me, Nelly. Open your
eyes that l may see their light before
you pass into glory"
Instead of opening her eyes, Nelly
startled him by saying very quietly:
Hands off now. Give one a chance.
There's never one of you can beat me
across the burn, an give me fair play
But no holding back now. There! l
won't run at ALL Listen, Hush!
Hould yer claverin'. Listen to the
lark. Be quiet, Jamie. See! That S
the sweetest bird ever sung-the bird Of
birds. Seel You an I'll never be as
high as that, Jamie, till we are in the
arms O. the angels.
"You are all gay an merry this morn,
as if We hadn't hard days work be-
fore you. Well, it's work yell have
without let or stop till We 90 to
America, where they've nothing to do
at all, they say, but eat and drink, and
wonder what new dish they'll have for
supper. If I'd few more years over
me, I'd 90 there myself, and take you
along, jamie"
"Whist! There's the lame Mcguire.
Sorra one of him will ever pit sound
fut on the ground again, I'm afeerd.
Patience! Look at the sack on his back.
Come now who'll be first to give him
liftP Sure there's rs much fun in it
as paddlin' over the burn. Do good
turn when you can't costs nothing. "
Snow, Jamie -hOot! ain t We ashamed
to let your sister beat We runrin'
Now then. Hold That's no fair.
Jamie. Come backbone back, an
take fair start. I'll give We as far as
from here to the road-an' beat We
across the meadow. Come Away now
away, Jamie, an no trippin'.n
And so the spirit of the maid-of-all-
work sped heavenward, -David Lowry,
IN the Current.