The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-12-19

her"
''She is afraid lest should misconsA,,,o
even this small! favor" thought Ton,
bitterly. "She wishes me to know thatsba
came because she could not help herself .
And he walked beside her lool,ing CO
! grim, that MOllie who had intended 10
| bring about a better understanding Lost
heart and walked in silence also. So tbev
reached the old house, where the rest of tI;a
party were waiting for them-a ruinonsold
building, with general air of sulien
wretchedness brOoding over it. The man
of whom Mollie had spoken lay within in q
sitting den, destitute even of a window.
matted, begrimed, raving and horrible TO
look at as dimly seen in the dark bedroom
| Tom made brief examination and came
| out to the eXpectant party, carefully shut
| ting the door after him.
'Well, what is its' said everybody to-
| gether
Malignant smallpox, " answered Tom.
Good h6avensn
1t was Bingham who exclaimed, shrink
ing back, as he spoke, from Toms near
neighborhood: "Why, we have been here
long enough to contract the disease. Aunt
Miss Mollie pray let me persuade you to
| come away
'Thank you" returned the youngerladv
without stirring, and still looking at Tom
But what are yo~ going to do, Mr.. Du
| Cmur?"
''Stay here" said Tom
''ln this dreadful denn
TOMS face lighted up.
sin this dreadful den a man is dying for
want of the commOnest care; and know
! the people of this country. Neither man
nor woman could be hired to act as his
nurse or argued out of their fears. | have
no such fears, and it is my duty as q physi.
| clan"
Mollie cast an appealing look at Mrs. Slap
Derrick.
''But how can you live, Mr.. Du Coeurs,l>
B1e eau not liyel Tom, [ will-not aYioff'
itF- exclaimed his aunt.
Il think you would not wish me to leave
any human being to a dogs death" an
swered Tom, resolutely. "And for living,
you and Miss Mollie will send me a basket
| of-well, the delicacies of the season and
| such medicines as [ shall order every day,
and Dayton will leave it outside the door"
Mollie came close to him with the look
that she had worn when she had thanked
him for her life.
you are a hero" she said "a real hero
and truly brave mani | never respected
a man in my life as | do you, Mr.. Du Coeur
aud whatever | can do to help you shall be
| dOne.n
The next moment she was shocked and
scandali2ed at herself and turned hastily
away; but she could not take back her
words. And Tom lived on them through
all the weary weeks that were to come
His star was in the ascendant now and
Bingham's luck paled before it. He was
not only Mollie's hero, but everybody's
hero. The packing of his basket was the
| event of the day. In vain he protested that
it was not basket for garrison or a hospi-
tai The ladies had theory that the more of
good thing the better and sent him every
thing on which they could get their unscru-
pulOus little fingers Mollie'S contribution
was always by itself in dish covered with
leaves and bouquet attached or what
Tom VDlnn1 n note raaHiDU
thing like this:
Mr.. Dlt CoSur:
DEAR SIR: How is your gorilla? and are
! you sure you are quite well? And your
| aunt, Mrs. Slap Derrick, wishes you would
| write Mr.. Dayton is so unsatisfactory. He
| never will say anything but that you are
Jolly. or living like bricks, or something
! OF that sort. NJ. MILLER.'
And though this may not be a model note
! in style, and certainly was written in q
schoolgirl hand, M Miller herself, not
| the least eNacting of persons, would have
been satisfied with the reception that Tom
| gave it, though he never answered for fear
of sending them smallpox in Gp envelope
during his whole six weeks of trial.
But the weeks themselves were done at
last. Toms gorilla restored-no great
benefit to society in that. He was but a
| poor, drunken creature at his best: and
| Tom came back gaunt and pale, Mollie,
who had been most anxious for his coming,
when he did come, turned shy. She was
| only brave on impulse; and now he was
| close by her he looked formidable She
wished that she had never called him a
| hero, never written him any notes. Tom
| grew desperate and spoke out:
Il wish that | was back again with the
! gorilla"
'Whyl" asked Mollie, with a little start
Because then you were kind to me.
! Now you seem to hate me-"
Il am sure do not hate you" answered
Mollie, raising her eyes to his, and the eyes
said so much that Tom grew holder.
But am not satisfied with that, Mollie.
| want you to love me-"
Molle looked up at him quickly, and
| looked down as quickly, and tried to get
away the hand that he had taken, and
! failing, dropped her head on his shoulder
My darling" murmured Tom, in rap
| ture
"Whatn cried a high voice, that made
them both start Mary Milleri wonder
| you are not ashamed of yourself"
Mrs. Miller had come upon them I'M
| awares. Mollie uttered a faint shrek. Tom
| put his arm quietly about her waist, and
| explained that he wished to marry her
| daughter.
Mrs. Miller, being in towering rage at
| the downfall Of her design on the Slap
| Derrick diamonds, retorted with something
about 'beggarly scape- graces."
! "And why beggarlyl" inquired another
| shrill voice, Mrs. Slap Derrick coming in in
| great wrath. Let me tell you, madam,
| that Tom Du Cgur will succeed to three
fourths Of the Slap Derrick estate; and Mrs.
| Tom Du Cour will wear the Slap Derrick
| diamonds
Of course in half an hour everybody in
the house knew just what Mrs. Miller had
said, and Mrs. Slap Derrick had said and
Dayton came, beaming, to congratulate
Tom.
Tom smiled family.
'Pluck has done its work. 1t is time for
my luck, Dayton"
''Stutf ~ said Dayton, much yexed.
In the morning Tom was ill. By night
he was worse.
Gold and fatigue" said the sanguine
Smallpox" limited the foreboding. ely
| phoid," pronounced Dayton.
Typhoid it was. Doctors were brought,
and doctors from the first shook their heads.
Generally that is as good for the patient as
if Death himself had nodded at him. But
really think that Dr.. Wiseacre's hens aud
haws may be said to have saved Toms life.
Fate must always drive him into corner
to make him stand at bay. He kindled, as
he had done before, at the apparent despera-
ton of his prospects, ami vowed that he
would get up.
Everybody set up a shout of horror Tom
persisted.
81 am convinced, - said he, chat it is not
yphoid-nothing more than cold, watching,
and my luck making last attempt to trip
me; and am not going to be tripped by it;
so you need not look at me as if | was
/ .