The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-08-09


until after sunset, >" she said dryly "meau-
time, wait here and will 60 for the buggy"
mol will walk back -
Nellie's ample sun-umbrella was help on
the return walk but Craig fully justified
his aunps fears by the condition in which
he entered the house. Nell pelted him with
sarcastic inquiries, all the time keeping cold
water on his head and otherwise taking
such precautions as seemed best against in
furious effects.
"Yon see what n useless animal an, !"
he said to her.
see that you chose wrong time to
walk after living in this cell all summer, +"
was the reply. "This room il like vauit
| sheuld die here"
Int you are strong"
every true. And keep strong by &C.
tivity and plenty Of fresh air. IL took a
drug shop every day am not snre should
live week. 'Three times day." she
read, taking up one bottle. cater each
meal " was on another. "At bed .time,n a
third directed. " Do you know, Craig, my
whole ward in the children's hospital would
not puzzle me so much as keeping track of
that table Of bottles"
But cannot sleep or eat without medi-
cine"
"Poor fellow !"
Craig WINGED. Nell had an infection on
those two words that .cut him to the quick.
lie saw very little Of her during the next
week. DR.. Warrington, rightly judging that
work was the best cnre for loneliness, had
hunted up few cases during his week 3
stay In the village, where Nell could minister
to the suffsrings caused by overwork and
poverty, and Nell, missing her daily labors
in the hospital, entered heart and soul into
the field Of duty. The first cases led to
others, and home hours were taken up with
sewing for some Of the poorest of the children.
But IN the intervals Of work Nell took a
mischievous delight in upsetting Craig's
nervous system. She sang only her most
dashing bravuras at the hours of MONDAY
repose. She stole bottles of tonic and filled
them with molasses and water. She made
bread pills aud put them upon the tray of
dainty food, especially prepared for the pa
TENTS delicate appetite. She put red pep
per In the eaude' cologne, pins in the lounge
pillows, and paste on the afghan. She
reused Craig TO energy, II only TO protes.
that she was the plague of his life.
He tried to salve his conscience by Offering
Nell money for the proteges, and she told
him brusquely that she had all she wanted.
Letters from Nice informed Nellie that her
aunt was far too i'll to return home, and
after two months death released her, and
DR.. Warrington, being in the city once more,
sent for his daughter.
A sudden dismay seized Craig. For the
first time he realized how much of sunshine
Nell would carry with her. He studied 1t
we'll, and, to his cousins unbounded aston.
ishment, made her an offer of mrrriage.
Thank you," she said, shortly. al do
not fancy home hospitals" Then, seeing
the panied face, she added, more gently
:" When marry, Craig, my husband will be
man doing mans work. Not miserable
hypochondriac, whining out his life upon
sofa.'
1t was caustio medicine, and Craig rejected
it at first. Bat rs the days wore on, the
sting, ranking deeper, touched chords of
conscience, and Craig Warrington reused him
self to self-cOnmuning that was bitter but
wholesome. 1t was not easy to cast off
habits that We're lifelong, fostered by some
actual suffering, encouraged by Bis aunt,
and most assuredly not discouraged by the
village physician drawing yearly income
therefrom.
Nell's establishment reached climax at
the New Year, when Craig Warrington
walked into the room where her father was
giving her lesson in practical chemistry.
"Uncle Rolf" Craig said, "Nsll objects to
home hospitals, but have come to you pro-
fessionally."
"My dear boy, what can do for you
Look out, Nell. II you mix those acids we
will have an explosion"
"To avert which calamity will retire
while Craig tells you all his new ailments.
Poor fellow 20
She flashed away, and Craig, looking after
her, said:
'Uncle Rolf, love Nelliel'
Dear mel thought she tormsntsd yOu
to the verge of insanity
g So She does. Nevertheless 1 want her
for my wife. She objects to nerves, so I
have come to get rid of mine. Seriously,
Uncle Rolf, want you to take me for your
patient, and see if there is stuff in me for a
man, useful and honorable-a man, in short,
that you will not reject for a son-in-law, If
Nell will have me-"
With all my hearth"
Nell was saucy and sarcastic when DR..
Warrington told her Craig was to be their
guest, and yet the invalid knew that she
gave him sweetest encouragement in thou
sand ways. 1t was hard task to follow DR..
Warrington's rule, and Craig might have
often tainted by the way only Nellie was
there to see, 10 rOuse him by her wit or by
her gentleness to help him on.
With physical strength came a mental
health, q desire to be up and doing in the
worlds work. Wealth, seen through this
healthier medicine, was ennobled as means
of usefulness, and even labor became hon
orable where there was good TO be wrought
out.
1t aroused Nell's respect first TO see how
selfishness was trodden down, how actual
physical pain and weakness were conquered
by resolution. And where Nell's respect
was given her heart followed, till she bent
her proud, saucy head and owned her
master.
" But II | marry you," she said, half
laughing, f." may be the death of you, as
You feared.''
:" Not now. 1t will kill or cure, and
think | am cured"
And DR.. Warrington finds In his life works
Of charity and usefulness an active helper,
not only In the child his love trained to the
duty, but in Craig, his SON inlaw.