The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-04-19

hand, but took the hand. too, and held
me, saying wildly: I've got you at
last, dear. and l mean to keep you.
though ii is as breezy up here as the
Steamers deck"
And he held me fast and put out the
| fire at the same time. while mamma,
who dare not mount. kept calling:
WHO is up there with you Mary?"
And all this time Bayard the Knight.
who was ever ready to anticipate our
slightest wish, sat by the fire in the IL
brary and smoked cigars. for it was
too cold to venture out when there
was so much help. you know"
And mamma didn't say a word, even
when Jack helped me put on my cloak
after our toilets were renovated, and
boldly took me for long walk. sup
pose she thought fate too much for her,
taking the trouble to land him on the
roof to find me for once alone.
But Dorothy was angry and so was
Alice. ITO think Of y0u. who always
said you had a career. and would never
marry. taking mp with BOY like Jack"
said my eldest sister. who gloried in
Fenwick being dozen years the
senior, and then Dorothy began: Eyes.
and after all the study you have done,
to give yourself away like that" but
when looked into dear Jacks dark
eyes | was amply contented.
/ did want to study medicine. and had
pictured to myself the good | would 90
in the world when got through college
and put up my single. ! had studied
many books. practiced on many cut
fingers. and made bushels of poultices.
And when | washed out the clothes
after some patients linsced poultices,
| used to think that would not fall to
my share when l became a doctor, for
noticed they were very fastidious
about the actual work. Then l had
helped mamma pull all The children
through the measles and scarlet fever,
taking both diseases myself after they
were all better, and helping the doctor
set Toms !eg and cure Harry's gun
shot wound, when Dick mistook him
for a partridge. all made me handler
than most girls for hospital work For
/ had to be married before Alice. and
Jack and | went back to the sea-and
all through my brain during long
siege of sea-sickness. ran the refrain:
Sailing. sailing,
Over the stormy MAN.
and then, as deeper lurch would be
given to the vessel, | would mentally
repeat:
MANY a stormy wind shall blow,
Ere Jack comes home again.
| was with Jack now, and home was
afar Olive were on our way to the
British Honduras for a cargo of sugar
And one day as l lay in my berth
sea-sick and home-sick in spite of Jack.
he came in looking very pale. l asked
languidly what was the matter, as
big green wave dashed against the
portfolio.
Don't be alarmed, DEAR" he said,
"but there is smallpox on board. and
and l must leave you and keep you
isolated, with the other three first cabin
passengers.
And then l arose in my might and
asked him what he took me for, to keep
myself like baby when he was in dam
ger. And got out of bed, and dressed,
and took down all my medical books.
and packing away all unnecessary arti-
cles, told him l was ready for any thing.
And l put on an old blue silk, for
knew that goods resisted contagion best.
and wound up my hair on the top of
my head. Where thou goest l will
go. Jack" said.
1t is no use 10 tell what we did then,
for the long days and nightS-of death,
and loathsome, slow recoveries. And
as we reached that summer land, Jack
told me he was in for it. and kissed me
goodbye" just before he lost con-
seriousness. Over his handsome face
came the fearful scourge, but l painted
the sores faithfully, and held his hands
when he would fain tear off the terrible
scars. And when months after we left
home, we We're once more purified and
on our way back to civilization. he
asked me if l ever regretted giving
up my career for his sake. You are
A successful failure, dearest" he
said, and | acknowledged that | had
been instrumental in Gods hands of
1oing good and helping the afflicted.
But knew l should have been a doctor
f hadn't met Jack, for he was my
only, only love. and | was willing to
give him the first place in my coveted |
career. as well as in my affections, 10
lelp him and those he wished to cure, |
o be his in sickness and health. But
hen did not want to be thought his |
and when we reached home |
md the boys called me little brick"
md Alice Toptree gave me a warm well
'ome, and Dorothy told me she was en-
jagged to Phil, l just walked up to
mamma and said: What relief it
must be TO your troubled soul, mother
lear. that you can not much longer be
accused of being a mother with mar
'iageable daughters.
And when Jack calls me his blessed
failure" l often think,
hough l do not confess it, that if 1
yer have to teach boy how to be
rue Bayard, | will not begin by teach
nc him dancing attendance on the
Cedker ser, but will teach him in plain
english the meaning of the motto:
'Roni soft qui NAL u penSe''-Eyil to