The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-12

She used to holler and sing, and laugh, and cry.
and tear the bed-clothes, and try to Jump out of
the window and carry on generally In the crazy
fashion that people will carry on in when they're
down with the fever. OF course she couldn't be
left alone minute. Someone had TO De
a-watching her. and aguarding her. and a-keep-
ing her from making bad enough worse, all the
time Poor Mrs. Riley it mighty little
peace she got. and mighty little sleep
Jake when he was to home he used to take her
place at the woman's bedside, and do little odd
Jobs for her around the house and relieve her ev-
cry way he could, but from the hour when he
went to work till the hour he got back Mrs RI
ley had to run the shebang by herself, and as she
wasn't as young nor so hearty as she had been
once the strain told upon her. The doctor, he
come every day, and when things was extra bad
he come twice a day. Jake knew that that doctor
wasn't doctoring for the good of his health, or
because he liked it, and that he'd have to be paid
off by somebody some fine day; so Jake, he quit
using tobacco, and riding in the elevated and 60
ing to the theayter on his night off, and he began
to save up.
Well, as I say, this state of things went on
steady for seven weeks. But at the end of them
seven weeks the tide turned, and the woman
started getting better. She begun to sleep and
to eat, and she grew calm and rational; and the
doctor promised that unless there was a relapse
which there wouldn't be. if we were careful
he promised that she'd be up and about inside OF
a month, or two at the farthest. At first the
doctor wouldn't let her open her mouth for no
talking was strictly prohibited. But after a
while he said she might talk some; and I'll
never forget the first talk that she and Jake had
together, not if l live to be hundred. Jake
had been sitting in tie room with her ever
since he reached home. at about 345 A. NJ, and
she'd been sleeping. Well, sir, now it was be-
ginning to get light; and Jake, he was looking at
her face, pale and delicate there among the pill
lows, with her fine, black hair-which afterward
dropped out, and then grew in again-fowing
loose all around,-he was looking at her the way
l say, and thinking how sort of sad her case
was, when all at once she opened her eyes and
she turned 'em slowly, from side to side, until
they lighted on Jake, and then she let them stay
there still, and she smiled. and she says in q
weak voice and very gently. says she: Are you
ARE you JakeW
That's my name, ma'am," says Jake.
'Well, them" says she, MRS. Riley has told
me how you saved my life; and though it was a
poor thing and hardly worth saving" says she,
II must thank you and must thank you for
all the rest of your goodness to me, besides, !"
says she.
Them was the exact words she spoke. That's
what she said. And now sir, that wasn't saying
anything very particular, sir was its But 1t
made Jake-it made him feel like the confound-
eldest, silliest fool that ever was born on this
here planet. 1t wasn't what she said, SO much
as how she said it. her weak voice, and her gen
tie manner and that smile of hers, that touched
Jake But his throat begun to fill up, and his
eyes begun to water; and if he hadn't brought
the lever down mighty sudden. he'd have boo
hooed right out, like frstclass baby. But he
didn't He took good big swallow, and gritted
his teeth. and Don't mention it, ma'am," says
he, as light and easy as he could manage.
That, sir, was the whole of their first CONVEX
sation; and seeing how little there was to it. you
might have thought he'd have forgotten all about
it in the course of time But he never did; and
to this day, sir he remembers it just plain and
just as clear as though it had only been vester
day that it happened.
Well, after that she and him they talked good
deal together. Whenever Jake wasn't working
or sleeping he used to sit there with her in the
sick-room. Sometimes they'd just stay quiet
and say nothing. Sometimes she'd doze off.
Sometimes Jake nd read aloud to her at her
request. She liked to be read aloud to un-
commonly. But most generally they'd talk
And they talked about pretty much every sub
ject under the sun, except one; and that one
her. She never said nothing about herself; and
Jake-though / don't deny he was curlous-he
never asked no questions, not even her name.
He thought to himself whatever she wanted him
to know about her. she'd tell him of her own free
will, and what she didn't tell him, he considered
was none of his business. But Mrs. Riley, she
felt different. She felt that she had right to
know the womans name, anyhow. SO one day,
Jake being present, she up and asked it,
Excuse me- ma'am," says Mrs. Riley, shut
would you be kind enough to tell me and Jake
here your namep
The sick woman, sir. she sort of started and
she My name is Henrietta"
Henrietta what2r asked Mrs. Riley.
Henrietta, she waited moment, and then she
answered. Henrietta Madge."
Which seemed to satisfy Mrs Riley, because
she said nothing more and pretty soon she went
| off.
I'm called Hetty for short, Jake" said Hen
rietta, after Mrs. Riley was gone.
! Well, time passed along; and Hetty she got
better and better. By and by she was spry
enough to sit up a few hours every day in Jakes
| big easy chair, by the window. This was in
April; and she'd sit there by the window and sun
herself. Then gradually she got still stronger,
SO that she could sit no there in that chair pref
| ty much all day And then before long she
could move about little on her feet from room
| to room And finally one bright dav toward
the first of May, the doctor says to Jake, at
| would do her heap of good to 90 out and take
| a little walk in the fresh air" says he, the
only trouble being about her getting back up
| stairs
"Pshaw" says Jake. "There needn't be no
trouble about that. I'll carry her" says he.
| And that's what he done He carried her
| down; and they walked a little In the sun, she
a-leaning on his arm, and most ready to jump
out of her skin for the pleasu s, she took in be-
ing clear of the house, and he feeling uncom-
monty happy, TOO, without exactly knowing the
why nor the wherefore-thev walked. as say,
little in the sun; and then Jake he carried her
back upstairs again. 1t made his heart beat
like q sledge hammer to hold her that way, close
against him IN his arms; but he kept his own
counsel. and she didn't appear to take no notice.
When they reached her room she said that she
felt rather tired, and she guessed she'd lie
down a bit. Jake fetched shawl to cover
her up with; and she went to sleep, whilst he sat
near by and watched her. and thought how pretty
and sweet she looked, and wondered whether
she was dreaming, and if so, what about, and
kind of hoped, you know, that it might be about
himself. And then, by and by, she opened her
eyes and woke up.
For while she laid STILL looking at the ceiling
and saying nothing. But presently very soft,
Jake" she calls.
YES" says Jake.
Jake" says she, chow shall ever thank you
and Mrs Riley enough for all the kindness that
| you two have done for me!" says she.
"Oh," says Jake that amt nothing"
81 was thinking of that. Jake" says she ''be
cause now that I'm strong enough to walk out
! doors, l must get ready TO go away"
Jake, he give jump. go away" says he,