The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-23


! never spoke. Every little wfiie Minty looked
around at him to see if he was safe. When she
did so ner face was wonderful with the love and
strong patlencs shining through it. Those days
or watching over this honest distressed soul,
whose love for her was so unquestioning, had
caused all the good elements in her nature to-
work out change in it. This was Minty's true
flower time. Everything worthy in her was
awake, ana astir and glowing She, dragging
her SICK husband like a beast of burden over the
rough country road was as perfect woman as
she ever would be in this world. She seemed to
rise triumphant from any lower level where she
might nave been before by lis noble abase-
ment
She fastened along as fast as she was able
She was not conscious of any great fatigue
though, occasionally, she stc-ped to rest
moment
She reached Bassets about noon. She drew
the sulky into the yard of large, white house,
the nrst which she came to, and knocked on the
door,
Can you-tell me-where-the doctor Ivesl
she asked the man who opened it.
She was leaning against the house. painting;
her face was almost purple
Inc man stood staring He was old and large,
with sunburnt face and white hair.
What in creation, said he at last, 'does this
meanF Who We, anyway! What ails himq"
pointing at David lying back with deathly face
ia the sulky.
Minty told him their pitiful little story in a
few painting words. Then she asked again
where the doctor lived. She felt almost as if
her strength were failing her, now that the
struggle so far over
You don't mean to say" said the man, "that
you dragged that sulky all the way herea It's a
good three miles"
Eyes; it want much"
"Good Lordt Mother come herei"
his wife and daughter who had been peep
ing, came to the door with wondering faces
just look here. mother! This young woman's
come all the way from the old Shaw house down
below here. Dragged her sick husband in that
ere sulky to see the doctor, she says
Wont you please tell me where the doctor
lives2a asked poor Minty.
whats your nameq" questioned the old
woman
MAY"
They've come over hundred mile, lookin'
after work. she says" the man went on, IAN he
got sick, an they've been Twin down there in
the old Shaw house; an she wanted to get the
DOCTOR an he wouldn's let her leave him; so
she's dragged him all the way here in the sulky.D
Does the doctor live fur from herel" asked
Minty piteously.
He's asleep. amt hep said the woman.
Il guess sol want to git to the Doctors"
yes
All of sudden the woman stepped forward
toward Minty, and away, as it We're, from her
New England suspicion and curiosity.
"You poor thing" she sad with the tears
streaming down her sallow cheeks, and her wide,
thin mouth working II never heerd anythin'
like it in my life"
You come right in, an we'll get him in an
then Cyrus shall go fur the doctor Mary, you
go and git the bed liz the spare rum ready"
The daughter went in. wiping her eyes. She
was thin and sallow, like her mother and
black calico gown. Her own husband was
dead, ard she had come here to live with her
father and mother While she was making up
the bed in the best bed room, her tears dropped
down on the white sheets.
II would ha' done much fur him if I'd had
q n III RI VIZ hn live oh cnhn cd 70
herself.
In little while poor David May was lying COM
fortably in that clean, cool bed. Minty was rest
ing; and they had sent for the doctor. He was
skilful man for a country town, and he did his
best for David for his wifes sake
The story of the journey in the sulky spread
fast through Bassets Whatever there was of
sweet romance, whatever there of sweet hui
man pityin those simple, somewhat contracted
country folks, awakened. Poor. pretty,
faulty Minty, dragging the sulky, with her sick
husband in it, three miles to Bassets, in the
heat and dust was to figure henceforth the
heroine of one of the unwritten folk lore songs,
which are handed down from mother to daugh
ter.
Everybody was kind to the poor, young couple
When David began to mend, and there was more
opportunity for them, there was no end to the
kindly services which were proffered.
One day, when they had been there about FIVE
weeks, and David was decidedly convaescent,
Mrs. Marsh, the woman who had taken them in,
was STANDING at hef door, talking TO nelghDOr,
who had just brought over some custard for the
sick man.
Eyes, said she, 'he's got through the worst
ont now, eff he's careful"
you are goin' to keep EN- while longer2'
keep 'em9 guess l am. I'm goin' to keep
'e1n till he gifts real strong She's the crate
fullest thing you ever see, an dretful afraid of
maxim trouble. She keeps sayin' she guesses
he's most well enough for 'em to be startin. But
l tell her, No; you're goin' to stay jist where
you are till he's able to git out"
Il heard Sampson was going to let him have
work in the tub factory soons he gets we'll"
Yes; he came over bout it. If they want
tickled. They're goin' to live up stairs in Mis-
Eaton's house They've got some things they
left in the place they used to live in, an
they're go!n' to send for 'em. He keeps frettin'
cause she amt got any more clothes here. He
seems to think sight on her; wants her to hev
everythin', an be dressed up They seem list
as happy as the day is long, now. Hark, there
she u.s. singin'.
Mintys voice rang out from the best bedroom,
clear and sweet, in joyful psalm tune The two
women stood, listening.
Il declare, said the neighbor, finally, 'she's
got pretty voice, amt shel All kin think of
is bluebird singiE', when he first comes back in
the spring
Waiting for Spring Clothes.
Do the little brown twigs complain
hiatt hovb laaP 10