Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-11-12
VANITY HARDWARE.
By ALAN MUIR
CHAPTER XIV.

l6h AlNs
DEIIRIUM
Poor Vanity The doctor had pronounced
her safe from all danger, but some inscruta-
bic speck Of infection had found its way
into her blood, and the face, whose beauty
she had an hour before regarded with
thrill Of vindictive pride, was at the mercy
of this destructive disease.
The whole establishment was upset, and
the doctor, in his fresh alarm, insisted that
the family should depart. Maud Neville
made one bold proposal to nurse Vanity her
self, but this was sternly forbidden, and
Sister Catherine, who happened to be In the
neighborhood, declared that she would wait
upon Vanity and see her through the disease.
Accordingly the house was vacated, and the
good sister, who feared neither death nor dis
figurement, was placed in authority. She
was assisted by a hospital nurse, and two old
female servants undertook the slender house
hold duties. In this manner the fitful life of
Vanity Hardware wound its way into the
valley of the shadow of death.
Vanity realized her position. The disease
brought with it q certain stupor; but while
this made the patient apathetic about many
things it did not obscure the great staring
fact of her life Her beauty was her all.
Her beauty was her sole weapon in the fight
She had resolved to winl
~ don't care about hfe,n she murmurcd
impatiently to the doctor" when he said
some hopeful word ''But If my face be-
comes like faces have seem
She could not finish the sentence. She
drew in her breath with o shudder of fear.
Sister Catherine overheard this outburst,
but saw nothing more in it than an expressiDl
of passionate concern for her imperilcd
beauty, which was natural in pretty woroan-
As the malady progressed Vanity grew de-
lirious. Her imagination was quickened;
prudence no longer guarded her tongue, and
in her wanderings she told in hot, restless
sentences, the whole story of her heart. A
few Of these sentences, such as most conveyed
her feelings, she repeated again and again,
until Sister Catherine knew each by heart,
and. thinking the words over, the sister filled
in the spaces between and interpreted their
significance.
7sWillie, Willie!n Vanity murmured, i, a
voice deep as the note Of a nightingale,
and just as though she were breathing
the words on his breast, 1--WE will be SC
happy-far away-over the sea, living and
loving together. Away, away from this
horrid England! Oh, how hate England!
She threw that out in the midst OF her
dreamy speech, and struck the coverlet with
her clenched hand; but she forgot the nex'
instant, and went on as If she were chanting
"Oyer the sea, over the sea!
Hear what bonny bird whispered to mer
The notes, low, rich and tender, sounded
strange, coming from the sicK-bed. A lons
silence followed; then Sister Catherine wa!
startled to hear mocking laugh;
'sNo, Willie, not hers Mine, forever mine
They might read words, and you might say
Il take thee, Nancy, to be my welded wife;
but the words had no power. You wer
mine before
She paused; then in low voice she added
Sand you shall be mirte again"
So collected was her tone that Sister Cath
crime thought she must be in her senses. Bu
no; the sight Of the sisters face sent he
fancy back on the old track.
'aThe old dream shall come true Willie
When look at you you will love me again
You and will fly away together, to liv
and love-away from this horrid England
inst as we always said-to New Zealand
Oh, what happy placeW
Then with deep sigh the refrain stole ou
ITOll Dcu uEttin, AoW oiiiA ooAo eAAANs e''SS
lover the sea, over the sea!
Hear what bonny bird whispered to me!
Sister Catherine knew greatdeal of Var
ity's former history. Listening to these war
derings, which were repeated with signif
cant persistency, she gradually discerned th
flament of real feeling and intention o
which the whole was threaded. To hel
accustomed as she was to regard life an
character from the religious point OF view
the sick bed became invested with new an
singular interest.
The sister looked from the end Of the be
upon the delirious girl.
''If you live" she said, speaking alout
4spoor wandering child, will try to teac
YOU that there is another love than thisF'
Vanity heard the words, and answers
still wandering:
"Oh, Willie, it is too late nowI'
"Oh, our Fatherr' the sister cried, ''sla
this child's beauty, and then raise her up
be Thine for evermore!"
r,urr,r,