The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-05-17
cousin. Randolph Massey. "a

pick up peanut shell if any one hap
pened to drop one. We all thought his
manners perfect, and l held him up as
model to the boys, he was really
more polite than Jack.
But one night as we sat in the draw
ing-room singing, there was sudden
cry OF fire from the kitchen; we didn't
stop for Randolph to hold the door
open and bow us out, l assure YOU. 1t
was in the laundry, and cold north
wind made it dangerous for the house.
VIII was away, there was only papa,
who had rheumatism, and Tom, who
was dizzy with a raging headache, to
go up on that roof and hold the hose.
went up the icy ladder. and was busi-
~ drenching the roof of the laundry,
when | felt myself held up by strong
a1rns-and turned resentfully to find
Jack. He took the hose from nv
hand, but took the hand, too, and held
me, saying wildly: 1--we got you at
last, dear. and l mean to keep you,
though it 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 Ii
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 word, even
when Jack helped me put on my cloak
after our toilets were renovated, and
boldly took me for long walk. l 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 you. who always
said you had career, and would never
marry. taking mp with boy like jack"
said my eldest sister. who gloried in
Fenwick being q dozen years the
senior, ;sad 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 l would do
in the world when got through college
and put up my shingle. had studied
many books, practiced on many cut
fingers. and made bushels of poultices.
And when l washed out the clothes
after some patients linseed poultices,
l used to think that would not fall to
my share when became 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 leg and cure Harry's gun
shot wound. when Dick mistook him
for partridge. all made ME handler
than most girls for hospital work. For
had to be married before Alice. and
Jack and l 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 a deeper lurch would be
given to the vessel, l would mentally
| repeat:
MANY stormy wind shall blow,
Ere Jack comes homo again.
was with Jack now, and home was
afar olive were on our way to the
British Honduras for cargo of sugar.
And one day as I lay in my berth
sea-sick and home-sick in spite of Jack.
he came in looking very pale. I asked
languidly what was the matter, as a
big green wave dashed against the
port-hole.
Don't be alarmed, DEAR" he said,
"but there is smallpox on board. and
and / must leave you and keep you
| isolated. with the other three first cabin
passengers"
And then 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 / 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 I will
60, 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-
sciousness. Over his handsome face
came the fearful scourge, but 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