The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1888-06-01

W NNFf"ih psS"H w psssS W. u'7 INV
he weight. Despair Is an excellent medicin
sometimes, especially for minds to which 1t
nc extremely unpalatabc. Lansing reveted frol
IN the bitter draught Fates hand profiered 5
a., persistcntly, and the energy of resistenc
caused diversion in his favor. He was AZ
nc tualy beginning 10 combat the foolish long
Is ing to see again those "unforgotten eyes,
and getting courage to walk up town by a dit
ferent route. when Fate interferred again i
his affairs, and from quite an opposite drcc
ton.
Is 1t nh came about through the uneXpecte,
illness of Bake. He had been absent iron
= business day or two, and then word wa
y sent that he had caught cold, but would short
y ly reappear at his post. Meanwhile peace ant
tranquility reigned in the Office and prayers
!, were offered up daily, but not for his speed.
;. recovery
;, "Mebbe II he's kept on his back for a month
or two he'll not be so full of his tricks here
AFTER" old Patsey said, hopefully. However
when week had gone and calm remained
still undisturbed, Tatt senior addressed his
forces generally one day just ut closing time.
: "See here, boys, some of you go up to town
. near Seventy-siXth street, don't you"'
q Mr.. Phillips felt constrained by truth to an
swer that his station was at SiXty-ninth.
"Nery well, wish you'd take Bake's salary
} to him, and find out just how he is. I'll feel
obliged If yon'll attend to this tonight, and
report to me.7
Mr.. Phillips bowed and went back to his
l IN a toI 81 tn of mind He
had promised to meet his cousin at the Grand
Central and 80 cut of town, by five O'Clock
train, to pay long planned visit, and here
his arrangements were completely set aside
| for the benefit and convenience of Bake, who
was never in the slightest degree known to
discommode himself for the benefit or con-
| veniencc of any one. However, there was
nothing for it!but obedience. AS soon as Mr..
TAFT had gone he lost no time in teephonng
his cousin this change of plans and his disgust
thereat. Then, buttoning on his overcoat, he
tried to walk himself into a state of resigna-
ton. Falling in this, he boarded the elevated
at Fourteenth street and rode up to town.
"DOes Henry Baker live here."
"Yes, sir. Did--did you-wish to-see
him@'
And then the fair young creature who had
stammered out this question made little
backward move out into the hall and burst
into flood of tears.
Mr.. Phillips stood aghast tor two reasons.
The sight OF beautiful woman SO overcome
by painful emotion was enough to agitate any
man not utterly hardened to tender influ-
ences, but the wild and sudden heating of his
heart was due to an entirely different cause.
In the soft eyes and voice. in the lovely face
and form before him, he had recognized his
divinity of the street crossing, the vision that
had haunted him, vaguely yet ceaselessy,
with its bewilderng memory.
IL beg your pardon" He faltered out the
words, afraid to advance. or even to speak.
yet conscious of tumultuous joy within. lis
Harry-is he-' ;
"Oh, my poor, poor brother"
Mot deadH' said Lansing, shocked into {
something like firmness, "Oh, surely not!' :
''N-no-bu so ill-so III. The doctor has
prepared us for the wOrst-'' l
on. now, now /; take courage. Don't give
way like this" Lansing heard his own strong, s
CHEEKY tone with surprise and admiration. $
Harry has a splendid constitution. He is !
SO strong; so full of life. We've often spoken ]
of it at the office [they had, indeedl young. /
chances. Is he too i'll to see anyone? Mr.
TAFT sent me up; he wished me to report \
If you think it would not harm o
your brother.
"He is very quiet. He knows us ALL" with $
a sob.
"Well, you might ask him--you might say Il
to him that Phillips is here y a
She looked up with a little half-drowned fl
smile in the eyes so like Bake's own.
Il have often heard him speak of YOU" c.
she said. gently. II think ii he would care p
% see anyone, he would like to see you"
A faV ..ftn nrI I ,,pir, 10,
lshered noiselessly into the sick room.
'Hello," said Bake family, and with a fee if
Die wink. His visitor sat down on the bed d
de and put his strong hand over the thin eli
myers outheld to him. Could this be Bake's
,igorous young fist. this poor. limp member
hat lay SO loosely in his clasp? h,
"Helo, old fellow, hello. DO you know this
Won't do? We can't spare you from the 81
fce any longer" re
He felt IL litlle qualm at this unconscious
lie invention, but Bake evidently had faith NJ
n the statement. s,
"Oh, well, IN week or two," he said with al
ifhcultv. but reassuringly ''How's Patsey
all of 'enl-old Tatt?" OF
',He sent me up here-salary dGy, you ed
now" Lansing laid the money on the coun- 1t
nrpane. ''He says you're to be down on tr
londay." w
Ionday after, sure. That was Eda, my
ster. Mothers in England-she's coming al,
)On."
The beautiful eyes wandered and closed, alb
ut the frail fingers kept their grasp. tn
''1lave you any message-anything you'd sal
Ike to sayw Lansing asked, clearing his mi
lroat, after moment.
'Tell them I'll be down. Tell old Patsey toe
e's a first-rate fellow. won't tease him :
ny more. Tell him that" or;
''Ies Bake" in husky tone. v
Another silence. Presently Lansing moved we
lightly and the large eyes opened again. low
Say, Phillips, don't go.' hal
"What. my boyT' hei
'Don't go. Stay here. can't you. All COZ
omen round me and-they cry. You won't 9
ind sitting up one night, will you? Eda, hin
les tired out. Iii feel better tomorrow, goi
lly-you stay" :.
.Of course, old fellow, of course I'll STAY" pre-
I'D Lansing, tenderly. The strangest sensa- g
ons seemed to crowd round his heart and g
,press him. This bountiful turn of DESTINY tina
I'd brought him face to face with what he g
id longed for too suddenly for a realizing s.
nse of happiness. especially in the midst of live
d conditions. "But ! must 90 now, you -
now, and report to the fat boy" which was Mr.
axes name Tor the head OF the firm, and hur
hich he smiled to hear, land then I'll come -
ok and stay. III stay as long as you want hap
e. Is that all rights me
. Nj right, but hurry, you Know" 50
And Lansing did hurry. After a short dep
inference with Eda on he stairhead. in ide;
hich his eyes worshipped and his tongue g
lie was of across town like light 80
ng. When he returned, DIR. L., the emf wol
mt specialist, came with him. This visit, ="
appeared. was made at the ear. q"
st personal solicitation of Senior TAFT him. will
II. The great physician asked few cues -,
ms. but looked long and grayely at the free
let. listless face on the pillow. then beck b
ed Lansing to an adjoining room, where yer,
Ia waited. ham