Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-09-29
CRUEL KINDNESS.

lies, ma am, WAS the pTOlnpL an
ever; and Martha came in-a quiet,
middle-agcd woman. who had been in
my service twenty long years; who had
nursed my children, now lying in the
cemetery. had been my w devoted
nurse WHOM my husbands sudden death
Frustrated me for weeks. A servant,
but my most devoted friend rs well.
Martha" / said. Il have a letter
from Mrs. joyce"
Martha waited for further informa-
ton.
Miss Bertha" J said. wants TO
come here, and have Dr.. Preston oper-
ate upon her eyes. DR.. Preston says
the operation viii be n difficult and
dangerous one. and the result very
doubtful. But Miss Bertha. who has
been so resigned to hor loss of Sight.
so submissive and patient, has become
restless and irritable, and insists upon
the operation. What / called you for
Martina. was TO ask if you will take tho
care OF her-takc her out, sicep in her
room. devote your whole time 10 hcrP'
GLADLY. ma'am. The poor afr icted
edariing!'
''Ant will you 90 TO Castleton for
herr You will be glad to see Mr..
Fred"
The old woman's face frightened.
Friedrich Stevenson. my husbands
nephew, who had beer our adopted son
AS well, was the very idol Of Martha's
heart. 70 believe her was to believe
Mi. Fred the model OF manly perfec-
ton, physically and mentally.
1t Was only natural that my sister
cl.o,1J ,,,l.o 100. h0,, u,o,nl how,
to him, and | was fearful from her let
ter that it was some hastily spoken
opinion of his that has caused Bertha's
sudden resolution. For ten years.
since she was u child of eight, she had
borne the loss Of ~sight-caused by i'll
ness-without complaint, and had felt
IL rs little as II family of devoted broth
crs and sisters could make her. She
was the darling of all OF them, from
Susie. who was TWO years elder than
herself, and was feet, hands. and eyes
10 her. down TO baby Johnnie, who
carefully led her to her sent i'll the
house or garden as gently and as sue
scessfully as Susie herself. Nobody was
ever too busy 10 wait on Bertha, and
she had often la~ughingly said her af-
Fiction gave her a throne she never in
tended TO vacatc.
Never shall | forget tho first inter-
view we had with DR.. Preston. | had
asked him to call in n day or two after
Bertha's arrival. wishing to give her
the opportunity to rest after the jour
.ncy. Bat she had not been IN hour in
the house when she asked me TO send
for him. or take her TO bis surgery.
She was trembling with cxciiment. and
her very lips were white, so that did
not dare to take her out. and sent for
him. She was not still u moment until
he came, pacing up and down the long
parlors. her shaking hands outstretch-
ed before her. or standing at the win
dow. as if she could watch for him.
When st last the doctor entered the
room, she went quickly TO him, crying:
"DE. Preston. | must see! | must!
You will open my eyes for mel"
He took both her extended hands in
his own, anu led her to n seat.
Every hour of this excitement less
ems your chance" inc answered. You
are IN a fever now and l can do moth
Gng."
And indeed the poor child's cheeks
were crimson, and the veins upon her
aemples throbbing visibiy.
You viii look at them? You will
look at my eyes?" she pleaded. Il
will be so obedient, so patient, doctor.
You viii not refuse mcp"
Il will not refuse YOU" he said;
''but | can do nothing until YOU have
conquered this excitement. You must
be tranquil, or | cannot operate"
IL will be. Give me one ray of hope,
.aDd | will be quiet!"
IL was pitiful 10 see how she tried,
even then, to control her restless fin
gers and quivering lips. The doctor
motionod me to follow him and call
Martha. | sent Bertha to her own
room with the doctors orders TO lie
down for an hour or two.
II will perform the operation. Mrs.
Stevenson he said to me, ''becausc
your niece will have it done by some
one else if refuse. But / tell you
frankly, it is not advisable"
There is a chance, thought" ! ask
ed. almost as eagerly as poor Bertha
herself.
Yes. But what has so changed
uhcr?n
II dare not ask myself" I said sad.
Ky. Il know nothing"
81 will see her again tomorrow. In
the meantime | would strongly advise
you to call in your family physician, to
see il. he can control this feverish ex.
element She seems on the verge OF
brain fever"
4 followed his advice, and Bertha
eagerly obeyed the doctors directions.
She understood that the operation must
he delayed until her nerves were calm
cd; and it was pitiful TO sec how she
strove TO be tranquil, and how the very
effort seemed to defeat its object.
1t was nearly three weeks before DIR.
Preston was willing 10 undertake tho
operation. and in that time l was toe
sorrowfuliy convinced of the cause q
poor Bertha's anxiety to regain hel
sight. Every day. for hours together
she would listen TO Martha's long de
scriptions of my nephew's PROJECTIONS
More than once | Jaw Bertha stea
into his room and grope about there
touching the objects with which he wa
associated. She had Martha tell he
where he usually sat, which was his ia
-vorite chair, and she had taken hi
photograph to her own room, delight
ed to pass her fingers over the flat sur
face. no doubt fancying she could trac'