Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-12-05
ONLY ONE KILLED.

Old Nurse Edwards sat on the tiny porch
of the gardeners lodge, TRANQUILITY knit
ting, with her spectacles, as usual, pushed
high under her cap. She had been told
that it was a rest to remove them from her
eyes occasionally, though whether the re
lief were to the eyes or to the glasses she
case, however, she felt it her manifest duty
to spare them all she could.
1t was glorious summer afternoon, and
from her wicker chair she looked out over
wide expanse of velvet lawn, luxuriously
shaded here and there with clumps of ven
cradle trees, in whose branches the birds
were holding high carnival But Nurse
Edwards did not hear the birds, for there
was a cricket just under the edge of the
veraEda, who had quite as much TO sry as
they, and who had no one but her to say il
to nor did she need to look over the lawn
Tor her sunlight, when a beam had come
purposely to seek her out and was lving
across her lap, like long needle, tremu-
lousy waiting to be taken up and fitted to
some wonderful golden work. 1t is only
disconnected people who must search afar
for their pleasures. Nurse Edwards found
all that she required close to her feet.
Presently she put down her knitting, and
sat stiffiy upright, with look of recogni-
ton on her placid face, that took the place
OF smile and seemed to express almost
more of pleasure. She had caught the
sound of coming footsteps-light, dancing,
happy steps that only belong 10 a child. or
to one who had not yet unlearned childish
gadness and, truly enough, the slender
figure of a girl, still in her teens, soon APP
peared around the corner, and in moment
more she had bounded breathlessly to her
side
Eth, Miss Anna, dear" said the old
woman, fondly, taking the young girls
hand and patting it affecionately, what
brings We here in such haste the day2'
Oh l couldn't come slowly" Annie
replied, with that little, inconsequent
laugh. that indicates happiness rather than
mirth. don't think l could walk to-
day, if il were TO save my life. My feet
wouldn't let me if | asked il of them
Nursie-' she suddenly stopped and kissed
the faded cheek" Fred is coming to-day
and I've run down to meet him. He'll be
at the gate in half an hour. The train is
due at ) O'Clock"
The old woman took the pretty face be-
81 can't think how we've so soon grown
up to have n sweetheart, my bonnie dearie,
We that I've nursed on my knees and
crooned to sleep this many time gone,
till looked for We never to outreach the
cradle. Needs was some on We should be
grown women in the end and didn't say
nothing against it when twas only Miss
Meg and Miss Caroline; but | did hope to
keen the last born for my ain Eth eh I.
s II, =
my Jem turned man OF sudden with a
home to keep me in; him as I'd held a lad
till it was no that easy to put faith in his
beard even with my two eyes upon it.
He'll be getting him a sweetheart next, l
tell him; but he says nay, he wants no
sweetheart but his mother Ny Jems a
good lad. God bless him And so We are
looking for Mr.. Fred, are We, Miss Annie?
And it's for him that yere so gay in all
your brave ribbons?"
t'Of course it's for him, returned Annie,
joyously. And am l quite fine enough
say, nursie, dear? VIII he say he never
saw me look as nice before?'
"Ah, to be sure; that viii he" replied
the old woman, fervently. Though it'll
no be the ribbons he'll mark. He'll say as
my Jem says when | put on my smart
gown of a'Sunday; It's the face | mind,
mother, and naught besides he says. Te
LOOK as well IN the ClueSG gown We wears ),
mother he says"
~ am afraid Jem is an arrant fatterer, -
laughed Annie. You've positively
grown conceited since you came to live
with him. You had much better have
stayed on with US at the house
Ney, there's nothing as could keep me
from my Jem, now, Miss Annie, dear,
answered the old woman, soberly. He's
the only one left me of all had, and my
sight is ailing and I'm no that quick
was on my feet but its all in the way o.
Nature, he says. Them as sows in the
spring shall reap in the fall, and I'm to
reap now, whilst he's to work at the sow
ing deal of trouble l had in my day
but 10 fingers touch will he let anear mC
in my old age, he says. En- but he's {
good lad. May heaven grant We a son like
him. Miss Annie, when we've stepped
down out of the spring time yerself'
Yes Jem's very good, assented An
ME, carelessly. Father says there is no
place anywhere around so well kept al
he keeps ours. Oh IT,. bark Isn't that the
train -
She sprang to her feet, throwing back he
head and listening eagerly, with bateC
breath, raising an imperious little hand Il
silence all other sounds. 1t seemed as if
at this spoiled darling's bidding, the yer,
birds stopped singing. and the leaves for
bore their rustling, all was suddenly 81
still. Nurse Edwards listened, too, but les
hItently, and the chirping of the cricke
beneath the piazza ledge was The only soun(
she caught.
Hev. what q noise he makes" she said
admiringly, as Annie turned back with
gesture of disappointment d" If it's then
as IS happiest sings loudest, yon fellow ha
the best of us all"
ooh will it nercr be o'clock?" criet
Annie, mindful only of her impotence
This day has been hundred days Ion;
already
Now, don't We be in haste with Time
my dear, said the old woman, reproving
". Yell not hurry it. though We fret i
never so. We must just bide the time, m,
lem says, and all things i'll come in turn
first life, then growth, then death. Thing
is best taken natural as they come. Tn
rose that We torce'll only be sooner don
blowing
But can't wait" the girl complained
childishly. ] always want things imme
diately and l want o'clock this minute
What time can it be, nursie? Oh, do 81.
it's o clock ~
It'll be nigh upon it, sure, by the Sian
of the shadows the old woman answered
peering out across the lawn. a. Y e can lool
at the sun-dial yonder, if We viii.
Nonsense rejoined Annie. contemptu
eusly. As if a stupid bit of wood and
rusty shadow kept any count of the tim
the train goes by. I'll look at the clock in
side
Then We may spare yerSelf the trouble
my dearie; for the hands stopped at fiv
minutes TO this morning, exactly as m,
Jem started out for the city: and five min
utes to it'll be till my Jem gets home
which may be the night or the morrow
And I've been a-thinking all the day as
sat here how its with me and with every
thing about me just as it is with the oil,
clock inside. It's him that keeps US going
and were all run down and stoppe,
together when he's gone, biding the tim
till he comes back 10 right us
Then I wish he could come back nov
and make it o'clock, sighed Annie
:. Surely il nnnsf he l.n'clnck and the trail