Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-03-08
promised cooperation, she was mora

promised corporation, she was moro
than coutent.
There are many plans, all secret, of
course. to be 'natured within the next
fortnight Several times of morning
or afternoon, DIR. Worthly's sleigh was
seen before the Wyllie's door. And
ono garrulous and inquisitive neigh
Dor made bold to inquire, though
she had seen all the family,apparently
well, if any one was sick. To which
Mrs. Wyllie replied, as was very true.
that the doctor had business with Sues
father. Though" she soliloquized.
''he'll be coming after Tuesday, and
when be has no business with us old
folks, if Pm not mistaken And
indeed the glow of acommon generous
purpose, the high bond and kinship of
Christian service and charity was
proving warmer and more lasting and
stronger than any pastime of Hallow-
cen orTwelfth night. y Z llllsEs
Sue was at her best in these days,
bright sunny sparkling, full of wom-
anly thought and expedients. And
her friend, the doctor. certainly was
seen to better advantage as the wise
physician, kind, generous, full of pa
tient remembrance of others need,
and using time, talent strength. skill
in cases where neither money or fame
were to be won by the expenditure.
And she in whose behalf they were
conspiring-her need was great and
sadder than they knew. The friendly
doctor, visiting his little patient.
guessed that her lot was growing
harder as her face grew paler, and her
eyes brig and enlarged by darker
shadows; but he did not dream how
her direful perplexites deepened and
multiplied before her, till she knew
hardly which way to turn, or how
long. going on in her patient way, she
could see even one short step before
her. Fear and anxiety pursued her by
day, and at night she pillowed her
weary head beside them And faith
and trust grew weak, and hope and
fortitude almost gave way.
Valentines Day had been mild and
sunny, but at night clouds gathered.
There was no moon, and the stars
shone but dimly. A sleighing party
had gone from the neighborhood to an
adjacent town early in the evening.
They would not return till near mid
night, and just before it was time for
them, Mr. Wyllie, Jack and the doctor
were to go with their loads as silently
as possible; by different roads, though
starting all from the Wyllie farm, to
the Bradford homestead, where Mrs.
Lane was now near overcome of anx-
ietys and. want. It-Tas wonderful how
bountiful were the supplies they could
carry, though none of the family nor
the doctor himself felt himself or her.
self unduly taxed. A load of hard
wood, another of coal, third of pota-
toes, vegetables and the like, with a
barrel of flour, ham, bundles of tea,
coffee, sugar and other groceries, were
ready early in the evening. A pair OF
blankets, coarse, but new and strong,
roll of flannel, also new, another OF
heavy factory CLOTH" a warm shawl
for the mother, and a gay little wrap
per for the crippled child, Mrs. Wyllie
and Sue had made ready.
And now it remained. while they
were waiting later, stiller hour, to
put with the purse, in which were one
or two bank bills, label, declaring
che destination, but concealing the
source of these gifts of St. Valentine.
They must also disguise themselves
little, SO that in case of discovery
their id entity might not be at once ap-
parent. HON. it. was that, amid all
this merry hustle of preparation, some
few words were said which gave each
to each, which gave such uncomputed
wealth in the others life, the doctol
and Sue best knew. But no lady evei
buckled the armor of her knightly
lover with proudor love- or tenderel
pride, than did this little New England
maiden help make ready her knigh
: for his peaceful tournament with foes
it was part of his life work to fight
, poverty and need and pain.
II was successful sortie. No in
mate of the little brown house wa
astir, or seemed to hear or suspect
, I'VE were all rs whist as mice, ant
every thing was as still as could be,
said Jack, as after they returned. they
sat enjoying the delicious coffee an'
dainty lunch Mrs. Wyllie had mad
, ready, "till one of those big roly-pol,
bundles of flannel, or whatever, role,
off of Il barrel, and father didn't see il
and of course -canght his foot in it an,
went head firsti l almost hawhawed
but the doctor caught hold of me, an
made me keep quiet" s-a
1t would be hard to describe tn
wondering amazement of the Lane
l next morning. An entrance had beel
made into large, rambling shed
y connected with the house by she
: and passage way. And here wer
Q piled the coal, the wood, the grocerie
and provisions and the other supple
their friends had brought, That
/ was for them the label left no doubt
e but of the donors there was, then an
! thereafter, no trace. Mrs. Lane ha
& often irresistibly connected the affai
/ with her kind. motherly friend. Mrs
r Wyllie, or with Mrs. Wyllie's daugf
r ter, DR.. Worthy's wife and helper i
d every good work, whom they knoN
/ now and love, or with the doctor him
self But she is never sure, and afte
a all it is mystery. But the labe
# printed with pen in Old English. sll
Il keeps among her treasures. She ha
e written on it the date, a date hardl