The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-12-13

outside; the tall old wardrobe b.
cause there was no closet In
.hs tiny room; the pala ceiling,
blue, with faint stars, and the plain walls,
stili blue, with harebells on the dRdo; the
blus cottage furniture and carpet all the
pretty notions that had been birthday
presents from time to time; the cushion
with white head fringe, aud the cover Tor
the clothesbrush, and the cretonne chair,
and the pretty lambrequins, and the toilet
set, all blue to match; and the CANDLE |
stick and extinguishGr-itsell harebell,
with q broken Rtem,
In her start bstween the dark and the
day, astir betWixt the dream and the
deed, Lotto saw all these things as II che
had mover seen them before. Poised on
the edge Of the bed, with sense that she
had bsen walked by rafting blind which
would trouble her father, and that she
must yet up and Hhut It, and that while
she was up she would steal out and 6se
how he was, and go sWeetly 10 sleep again
md finish her dream, and find out II
Eybert really did Jump off Bunker Hill, or
ii the girl (nGme still unspecihsd)
thought better Of It and accepted him
poised, Rs say, in the confusion Of thehe
thoughts and RiRhta, l.oto's still hall,
dreaming ear detected suddenly q sound
which put all dreams to flight at once.
1t was q foolstsp IN the hall.
Thoroughly awsKe-aWake all over,
sense and Roul-L0to spranH, The keen
nerves that grow fine in the house with
sickness, were hers, and every nerve list
ened. ..
Her fathers room was quite removed
from her own, at the width Of the house,
hence the ordinary cares OF the siCk-room
could hardly have been audible where she
Sas, She had longed to be oil use In what
abe called "Tatching," but the physiClan's
wis was too well trained in the good sense
Of sickness, to allow this, and Lotto, with 9
calm, motherly smile, was patted OFT to bed
like u little girl. The nurse was there,
and u mau-Watcher, II needed, q neighbor
By the appropriate name oil Wake, who
slept in tho house. Jake, the doctors
driver, was on hand for emergencies, and
S'reeny was devotion personided. y.
"You are not needed" her mother had
said to the excited and exhausted daugh'
tor. "All goes we'll, Go TO bed md slcep
sweetly,"
But now--surelyI q step, smother, com.
ing near, stealing nearer, not o very quiet
step. How ii equeaked aud creaked on
the old complaining stairs
After moments Listening, Lotto open'
cd the door, and looked severely out into
the great gay hall, There Could be but
one person in the house who could make
30 much noisa as that at dead Of night,
With dangerous sickness under the
roof.
"Slaml" called Lotto, in hosTso, re-
proving Whisper
The steps stopped cautiously.
Solomon! solomon Rollinstall! Is
that you2'
the unseen. "You Just walt till | get
there. I've got something to tell you.
I'm only walking aofLlyi that's what's the
matter With me"
"Wa1kings 2" walled Lotto. "What
would you call wslking-oh, there, there
Slam, you'll kill himW
For Slam, Ia the darkness, stumbling
painfully oil tiptoe, every stair moaning
and every rail Of the balustors ehriekiDg
under hiS determined grip, had tipped
over q OoAl-hod left ungusrdedly on the
landing by s'reeRy on her way to bed, and
With crash like tho last trumpet, that
coal, 10 every point Of the compass went
wildly Gathering. Fora minute 1t was
dreadful. Then, IS nothing happened,
and no one appeared, Slam gathered
courage and came CreAkiNg on again,
meekly, TO I.oto's door,
"Well, SLAM" said Lotto calmly, "you'ye
done 1t now. AT the very least you've
killed him."
"0h, you look hero, said Slam hurried.
ly, mo, haven't either, Don't you see
they're too busy to notlCeP That's the
worst Oft. came to tell you. walked
up and heard EN-. Thought I'd let you
know, ] didn't expee! to be treated this
way" uggrioycdly.
"Oh, Let me know whatW cried Lotto.
"What has happened, slsmH Tell me this
"Weli, you see," chattcrod slam-the
boy was really frightened, as Lotto now
saw, hsli-iressed, too, and cold-"they're
all stirring about, Wake and Jake, and
the round doctor; and ! guess he's worse,
for ! heard 'em say, Shall We call tho
ChildrenY"
"Who sald that? asked Lotto.
Her heart stood still,
"Mother said H." said Slam, nourntully,
"and the nurse Gays, wait o SPELL l
heard 'em. My door was open. So l
thought I'd let You know. wasn't going
to be Dorsed round by that nurse, Il my
father was dying"
Slam lowered superbly, Choked, and
turned away.
Don't do another thing, Slam. Don't move
step-you'll trip over something II you
dO-ttll | come, too"
She threw hor wrapper over her head
and got her bare feet into her slippers,
and 60 out into the hall, where tho gray.
negs was turning TO pinkness, and, hand
In hand with the trembling boy, she
made her way Through the scattered c0al)
ROrors tho house, feeling dizzy as che
went, and wondering II 1t were right to 90.
Dash CsmO from his bed in the hall as
they went together, and Bleepily kissed
their hands. As they approached the
door OF their fathers room, the two child.
ron Baw the light OF the slCk.lsmp etream-
ing out. Hurried steps could be diBtinct
ly heard, and orders aud answers, and
Oh, terriblel-his groaning voice.
At thi1 moment, standing tall against
the light, q form moved toward them. II
was the nurse. She came on with the
composed, incredible manner Of those
whose profession 1t 10 10 care for the sick
who arc not personally dear. 1t was the
best manner in the world for the poor
children Just then. Slam was troubling
still heavily and more heavily, and Lotto
felt herself faint all over. The nurse ad-
vanCed, and took the girl by the arm
gently.
HThgy hsyo Just sent mo to call YOU"
she said, compasslonately enough. "Your
father Is dying, after ALL"
"He has asked for you" she added, as
Lotto hurried, dashing paat her. go
quietly. Do not distress him. The dying