Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-12-02

She went on her way to church, promising
to look in on her return. The church
choir, of which Lucy and May were mem
bers, were greatly concerned at the serious
illness of the latter, and the solo which May
was expected to sing had to be omitted
from the musical programme OF the DAY.
After church service, as Lucy walked
homeward, she was overtaken by MIR. Des
PLANES, who asked for Miss Randolph, say
ing:
81 did not hear your friend in the solo
assigned to her. l trust she is not i'll ?'
He was astonished at Lucy's reply:
''She is quite sick, with indications oil
brain fever.''
"Can do nothing for her? Is it pos
sible am the indirect cause of her illness ?'
asked the minister
81 fear nothing can be done but to wait
patiently until sunset, when decision may
be reached. l think an overwrought brain
and a highly sensitive Crganiz ization have
produced her illness. She was greatly
shocked that you should have heard her
! express herself in such rude manner
We will hope for the best, however"
"WilI you take her some violets, Miss
Lucy?" asked Mr.. Desplaines, as they
neared a florists within whose windows
were displayed some lovely flowers.
"Yes, it can do no harm. Perhaps she
will recognize me, and she is very fond of
violets''
A bunch of the sweet-scented flowers
was soon procured and carefully covered,
that the chill air might not affect them
Lucy carried them to her friends house
Mays delirium had turned, and as Lucy
came in Mrs. Randolph said May had ask
ed for her. She softly entered the sick
I1I,o 11av %1,a .,,E1
BILE once mole IA Nays eyes, held up the
violets.
"Oh how beautiful !'' said May, family.
''They are ior you," was the reply.
"Where did you get them ?-and in
winter, too ''
cat the florists; now don't ask another
question, dear, but get well quickly" said
Lucy, as she left her friends presence.
| Mays recovery was rapid as had been
her prostration, and in less than week she
was able to be out again.
'How very pale and pretty you are"
said Mrs. Madison one day on meeting May
at the library. 'But what has come over
Mr.. Adams? supposed he was your spe-
cial property, and yet he is with Lily Ha,-
sted wherever she goes. 1t is really pro-
voking to see how she keeps him in her
train.''
II have no objections to it, !" said May
awe disagreed on certain points, only
agreeing at last on one thing-that was to
walk separate paths"
sCome in, May, and rest YOURSELF" said
Mrs. Madison Us they reached the house of
the latter on their way home from the
! library. s'Mrs. Desplaines did not arrive
until yesterday. She is now stopping with
me. You will like her very much; she has
| fray ic nj
| linguist, and is very interesting in CONVEX
sation."
| May was tired with the fatigue conse-
| quent upon exertion after her recent i'll
ness and felt it would be better to go in
and get over the disagreeable part of meet
| ing Mrs. Desplaines for the first time as
quickly as possible She was pleased to
| find quiet, yet very motherly kind of
| lady-one whom she fell in love with at
| first glance: That she was very much old
er than her husbands brother was evident.
She informed May that the minister would
take possession of the parsonage the COM
| ing week as soon as their furniture arrived,
| and that ''brother,' as she called him, was
delighted with the people and the place.
81 used to wish he would marry, but
we get along very nicely, and now / don't
| fret about it at all. Must you go, dear?"
she asked, as May arose.
"Yes," replied May, who had seen from
the window the minister approaching. As
she turned from the door Mr.. Desplaines,
who had crossed the street, held out bis
hand, and, grasping hers, lightly said:
81 am very glad to see you about again.
Have you fully recovered?'
''Oh, yes," was her reply. ''To-morrow
will be New Year, and l could not endure
to be sick on that day, for we keep open
house, Shall look for call from Mrs.
Desplaines and yourself?''
Certainly; with pleasure" said he as
May bade him ''good bye."
She had gone but a few steps ere Will
| Adams and Lilly Halstead were seen ap-
preaching. They were in earnest conver-
sation, and did not notice May until nearly
in front of her, giving her only strained
recognition then. This did not disturb
May in the least; friendship so lightly lost
was of but small account to her. It was
evident Will would not be one of her callers
on the following day.
Snow fell steadily during the night, but
early in the morning the sIorm abated and
the sun shone out with brilliancy. Every
tree and shrub was loaded with the feath-
cry flakes, which glistened in the sunlight,
making picture fair to see. When Nays
callers began to arrive, her cheeks were
flushed with excitement of the day and the
mental strain she had so lately undergone.
Mrs. Desplaines' first salutation was:
'My dear Miss Randolph, you are going
beyond your trength. l shall have to tell
my brother lie must give you medical advice
as well as spiritual"
shaken hands with dozen or more friends,
advanced to where May was standing. AS
she handed him a cup of coffee, he said al
most authoritatively: ''Will you not sit
down, Miss Randolph, and let sister relieve
you for little while? You are really ex-
crting yourself too much.''
May relinquished her position to Mrs.
Desplaines, and sitting down near by, en-
tered into conversation with the minister,
relative to friend she had just heard was
very ill with typhoid fever.
cit is very prevalent" said he, ''and as
sister is always looking after the sick,
very much fear she will sometimes contract
the fever. With only house girl to help
her, and far away from all her relatives, she
would indeed be helpless should such oc-
cur.'
Mays presence was now needed else |
where, but she recalled the conversation
few days later when she heard that Mrs |
Desplalnes was quite i'll and that hospital
nurse had been sent for Lucy Emerson
looked in just long enough to inform May
that she had been to the parsonage and |
found the girl trying to take care of Mrs.
Desplaines, and the minister endeavoring to |
cook piece of meat.
Said Lucy: "It was piece for roasting, |
and he put it into cold oven, and was go
ing to make a cup of tea with cold water,
but l called his attention to the uselessness
of the attempt. | would have stayed and |
tried my hand at the work, but mother is
quite sick and must hasten home to her,"
After Lucy had gone, May told her moth
er she was going over to the parsonage. "It
is a shame" said she, ''to let them suffer
for help, when there are SO many who could
at least sit with a sick woman until nurse
comes. If do not come homo tonight you
may know that am making myself useful"
On reaching the parsonage May received
no response to her rap, and, opening the
door, walked into the doctors arms, much
the same as she had done into the minister's |