Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-12-25
lick was afraid to let Mr.. Bingham ,o,r.

bitterly. "She wishes me to know that az
came because she could not help herself'HHS
And he walked beside her, looking 4
grim, that Mollie, who had intended t.
bring about a better understanding. los
heart and walked in silence also. So thr,
reached the old house, where the rest of th'
party were waiting for them-a ruinouso a.,
building: with a general air of sullc,
Wretchedness brooding over it. The ma
OF whom Mollie had spoken lay within in
stlf1lng den, destitute even of a window
matted, begrimed, raving and horrible t.
Q at, as dimly seen in the dark bed-rooAl
Tom made a brief examination and cane
out to the expectant party, carefully shut
ting the door after him.
"Well, what is it." said everybody %
gether.
malignant smallpox" answered Tom
Good h~eavens!n
1t was Bingham who exclaimed, shrink,
ing back, as he spoke, from Toms neal
neighborhood: "Why, we have been he,e
long enough to contract the disease. Aunt
Miss Mollie! pray let me persuade you tc
come away"
Than YOU returned the youngerladv
without stirring, and still looking at Ton
But what are yo@ going to do, Mr.. Du
Cpur!n
Stay here" said Tom.
"In this dreadful den2"
TOMS face lighted up.
"1n this dreadful de1. a man is diving for
want of the commonest care; and l 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
cian.''
Mollie cast an appealing look at Mrs Slap
Derrick.
But how can you live, Mr.. Du Cnui?"
HE can not live! Tom, | will not allow
it!' exclaimed his aunt.
II think you would not wish me to ldave
any human being to Il dogs death . an.
swered Tom, resoiutely. "And for living,
you and Miss Mollie will send me abasket
Dwell, the delicacies of the Season and
such medicines as | shall order evd'y day,
and Dayton will leave it outside tb, door.''
Mollie came close to him with yhe look
that she had worn when she hac thanked
him for her life.
"You are Il hero" she said. "Areal hero!
and a truly brave man! l never respected
a man in my life as I do you. Mr. Du Cpur,
and whatever | can do to help yju shall be
lone"
The mex nj she was shocked and
scandalized at herself and turaed hastily
away; but she could not tale back her
words. AND Tom lived on thm through
all the weary weeks that were to come.
His star was in the a%scendan' now, and
Bingham's luck paled before it. He was
not only Mollie's hero, but .verybody's
hero. Thu packing of his baslet was the
event OF the day. In vain he protested that
it was not a basket for q garrison ora hospi-
tai. T%heladies had a theory tha the more of
a good thing the better, and selthim every
thing on which they could get heir unscru-
pulous little fingers. Mollje's contribution
was always by itself in a dish covered with
leaves and a bouquet ATTACHED, or what
Tom valued moro, a note. reading some
thing like this:
.sIY. ~. rnr,,
"DEAE SIR: How is your gorilla? and are
you sure you are quite wei? And your
aunt. Mrs. Slap Derrick, wishes you would
write. Mr.. Dayton is so unsatisfactory. He
Jolly or living like bricks or something
OF that sOrt. NJ.
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 exacting of persons would have
gave it, though he never answered for fear
of sending them smallpox in an 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. Heiwas but a
poor, drunken creature at his best: ana
Tom came back gaunt and pale. Mollie,
when he did come, turned shy. She was
only brave on impulse; and now he was
by her he looked formidable. \ She
that She had never called him a
hero, never written him any notes. Tom
grew desperate and spoke out:
gorilla"
"Why!" asked Mollie, with a little start
Because then you were kind to md
you seem to hate me.n
.! am sure do not hate you,n answered
raising her eyes to his, and the eyes
said so much that Tom grew holder.
But l am not satisfied with that, Mollie.
want you to love me"
Mollie looked up at him quickly, and
ooked down as quickly, and tried to get
the hand that he had taken, and
dropped her head on his shoulder.
MY darling murmured Tom, in a rap
jure.
What" cried a high voice, that made
hem both start. MARY Miller! | wonder
are not ashamed of yourself"
Mrs, Miller had come upon them un-
awares. Mollie uttered a faint Shrek. Tom
out his arm quietly about her waist. and
explained that he wished to marry her
laughter.
Mrs. Miller, being in u towering rage at
he downfall of her design on the Slap
Derrick diamonds, retorted with something
''beggarly sca~pe-graces."
And why beggarly." inquired another
'hrill voice. Mrs. Slap Derrick coming in in
great wrath. Let me tell you, madam.
hat Tom Du Cour will succeed to three
of the Slap Derrick estate; and Mrs.
Tom Du Cuur will wear the Slap Derrick
liamonds.n
or course in half an hour everybody in
he house knew Just what Mrs. Miller had
aid, and Mrs. Slap Derrick had said: and
Dayton came. beaming, to congratulate
Tom smiled family.
ilD],,,l- hoe dow, ifr u,o,l- IA :. +;,,, So,
ny luck, Dayton"
Stuff ~ said dayton, much vexed.
In the morning Tom was i'll. By night
he was worse.
"Cold and f~atigue,'' said the sanguine.
Smallpox limited tho ~foreboding. 'Ty-
,hoid,n pronol:nced Dayton.
Typhoid it was. Doctors were brought,
md doctors from the first shook their heads.
Generally that is as good for the patient as
Death himself had nodded at him. Butt
think that Dir. Wiseacre's hens and
may be said to have saved Toms life.
must always drive him into a corner
o make him stand at bay. lie kin:iled, as
le had done before, at the apparent espera-
ion of his prospects, and vowed that he
would get up.
Everybody set up a shout of horror. Tom
81 am convinced said he, that it is not
more uhan cold. watching,
nd my luck making q last attempt to trip
ne; and / am not going to be tripped by it:
% you need not look III me as if 1 was
marked for Paradise per Deaths express. [
hall not stay in bed. Aunt Slap Derrick,
nd [ will not be doctored. Mrs. Miller: and
aides, l really beg your pardon, but ] am
,oing now to make my toilet