Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-05-20

THAT it's wise to let Maggie go alone
to see that poor lad. Folk will get talk
ing, Thomas"
! 1t is the sight of Maggie's figure dis
appearing down the drive that has
prompted this remark and also brought
look of perpleXty to Mrs. LOrtOn's
| comely features.
LET her be, Mary; let Maggie be.
Folk may wag their tongues on before
| I'll say a word TO stop her. It's a poor
/ thing if, after a fellows riSked his life
/ tor her, she's not To go anigh him, and
| he at deaths door,"
II can manage once IN the day." Con-
! tinues Mrs. LOrton, land / wouldn't
miss for worlds; but Maggie's for run
ming down there at all hours, Just to see
If there's any change. II would he diff
ferent if he was himself and could re-
eognize US: but, dear heart, l don't be-
lieve he'd know his own mother if she
WAS 10 come from the grave to hinIl"
Come, wife, let Maggie be, | SAY.
If anything was to happen him, you'd
be glad we hadn't left him to strangers.
Goodness knows, | wouldn't be
likely to neglect him. Thomas. Even
if it wasn't for his saving Maggie, /
couldn't care for one of my own Kin
more than l do for him. Pm sure,
when they got him out, and l saw him
all cut and torn and bruised, so that
you'd hardly know him to be a human
being at all-oh, dear, it makes me feel
all of shake again to think of it'll
never thought he'd breathe again. He's
,N..,- full arn tor.
Jenkins. It's dreadful to think it might
have been our Maggie, isn't it?"
In the meantime Maggie is seated by
the bedside of Dennis Lynne-such an
altered, mangled Dennis LynneI His
dearest friend would with difficulty rt-
cognlze him. Tears gather in Maggie's
eyes as they fall upon the poor dislig-
ured features. She has been sitting
there quite motionless for some time.
''Eh, but this'll do him a power o.
good!' whispers the nurse. ''Won't
ye take something, miss. You've been
sitting here good bit"
But Maggie puts her finger to her lip,
and motions her away.
The afternoon sun streams into the
room, and the nurse rises to close the
Venetian blinds. Suddenly Maggie be-
comes conscious that the eyes of the
sleeper are unclosed-then that they are
liked wonderingly upon her face; and,
Heaven be praised, the light of intelli
gence is in them!
'Maggiel'' comes the feeble whisper.
"Am l dreaming?"
"No, Dennis, / am here-be quiet
now; you are not to speak," says Mag
gle, wondering at her own calmness.
So a look of perfect peace and dreamy
happiness spreads over Dennis Lynne's
pale face.
The sick man mends but slowly,
which is not matter of surprise TO
most people, who wonder that he mends
at all.
AT last cone the cOnvaleScent DAYS.
Upon the first of these he lies, covered
up with rugs. upon couch which has
been wheeled into an adjoining room
Welcome down again, Mr. Lynnein
cries Maggie gaiiy, as she enters, bring
ing with her delicious gieams of fresh !
ness from the outside world. "But you
have too strong light upon your face.
Ilclp lllrs Silos luuu, " tulu luc ilcdu I
of the couch. There-isn't that bet |
temp
"Where did you learn to be such a
good nurse, Maggie?" asks Dennis, with |
a sigh of content. Come and sit |
where can see you. Now talk to me-"
"Then III leave you to attend to Mr.. |
Lynne, Miss Lorton," says the nurse,
"while go and see to things below a
bit.''
"You're to be quick and get strong,
Dennis; we're going to give you fort |
night, say. to do it in. We've been lay |
ing our heads together. and we've made |
all sorts of plans for you"
slave youP You are all very kind. |
What are they?"
"Well, in the first place, we are going |
to take you away with US. You know |
Doctor JenkIHs advises more bracing |
atmosphere, and papa wants holiday, |
50 it is arranged that we are all to go |
together-not very far off, because ycu |
must not be fatigued with travelling. |
We want to find some nice quiet little |
wateIing-place, says Maggie, knitting |
her brows in perplexity; ''and it seems
about as difficult to light upon as the |
philosophers stone. Have you any
choice, Dennis?"
"None in the world, Maggie" he an
swers.
"Then We'll fix it all ourselves. We |
shall see you grow stronger and stronger
every day, and the salt sea breezes will |
soon bring the color into your cheeks"
"Maggie, L saw myself in the glass |
to-day for the first time.v
"Then you are not so cOnceited as"
Don't, Maggie don't joke; you
know what mean" A painful flush
covers the poor disiigured face.
''Poor Dennisr' murmurs Maggie.
"But wait a bIt-wait until we have
had you by the sea-"
81 don't think shall ever go to the
sea-
''Not go to the seal Why not, Den
nis?n
Il don't see how am to get there"
he says, with a ghastly attempt at
smile. 81 must stop at home and learn
how to use crutches first. L am lame,
Maggie-I shall be lame for lIfe."
Strive as he will, his voice trembles,
and he breaks down now ard shades his
face with his hands. There is silence
for little time. Maggie will not dis
tress him by letting him see how terri
bly, she is shocked She makes a great
effort to appear calm.
''Doctor jenkins did not tell us so,"
she says presently.
II told him nOt-I wanted to tell you
myself" explains Dennis, recovering
himself.
But you are quite sure. Dennis?
May there not be some mistaken" in
quires Maggie.
L wish L could think So" says Den
mis- with a long gdrawn breath; then,
after a pause-'It isn't that | care so
very much about it-a fellows a cow
ard who cannot look thing like this
in the face without perpetual whimper-
ing; but, Maggie, you remember what
you said that day in the boat?"
''Oh. Dennis, don't remind me of it'll"
cries Maggie sharply.
"Well, you know L have never given