Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-10-17
DoctOred to Death.

John Borie sighed. No need for ono
to ask why. a glance at the untidy
room revealed the cause. He looked lik,
man of pluck, John did, and he was
His shop had grown into goodly Gimcn
sions, for he did most of the plumbing
for rapidly growing village, SO that
he had taken the whole of the Ettlt
house in which he commenced life as
a married man for his business and
moved his family into little cottage
not quite mile away. The people OF
Laketown talked of John as rising
man, but they shook their heads al
sight or mention of Alice Borie, his
wife. Alice had been a little beauty al
eighteen, and that was ten years ago.
Now she was only twenty-eight, but
looking more than ten years older.
"How do you feel this morning, my
dear?' he asked, "a the door opened
from an adjoining room and Alice
came in, her hair uncombed, her soiled
morning dress dragging behind her,
her cheeks white and flabby, her eyes
glistening unwholesomely.
II don't know: wish ] did, {" drawl-
ed Alice, in the plaintive voice Of one
ill-used by circumstances.
"Any pain?"
"Why, no, | haven't any pain.
almost wish | had. There's such a
sinking. Aunt Milly used to have such
turns; a sort of goneness and faint
ness. You know she died Of heart
disease"
''At the age OF seventy. Yes, re-
member" replied John, rs he shook up
the pillow in large rocking-chair and
drew a carpet-cricllet under her feet.
"Shall send Jenny in with some
breakfast now?"
Alice shook her head.
"No, Ill take the wine bitters If
you'll pour them out; and please get
the iron stuff that Doctor Ford left
yesterday, and a spoon, aud draw the
little table MP. Oh, such a languid
feeling!"
John did rs he was desired.
"Thore. now you are comfortable, T"
he said. an tell Jenny TO look in.
You may need cup Of tea, and you
would better eat something 10 keep up
your strength. | dressed Benny and
Minny the best / could, and they took
breakfast with me, after which | sent
them Off 10 school. / tried to tidy up
the room before you came out, but
hadn't time. Jenny will do that, though
she is washing, and very cross. Now
for business. III come home to din
ner as soon as / can. Do try TO get a
little color, dear. can't bear to see
you SO sick, he added, as he stopped
and kissed her.
"Colorg She?r shifted Jenny, who
was a very distant cousin and availed
herself of the privileges of relation
ship, though she was only "the girl"
She had opened the door as John spoke,
and now retreated with an angry red
in her face. ~ wish he could see her
eat sometimes. If 'twasn't for him,
poor soul, wouldn't stay and do the
work ! do for the wages, not l."
Then, as she heard the door shut,
she retraced her steps and entered the
living room.
al wish you would clear up little, I"
said Alice, fretfully. alt makes my
head ache TO see SO much dirt"
"Then I'm afraid it'll have to ache
till the washing is done, Mrs. Borie, T"
retorted Jenny, her manner entirely
wanting in respect. 81 came TO see if
you're going to fake any breakfast.
There's some slapjac1s aud a cold sau-
sage; and If you must have ii, | sup
pose | could toast you some bread"
"Don'tl don'tl" calculated Alice,
family. al don't feel as if l could
touch a thing, unless it was some Cruel
with raisins in it. Doctor Ford said
raisins would agree with me-"
s'As for gruel-in this hurry-there's
no mentioning it. The fires all took
up, but I'll fix you bit of toast and a
cup of coffee. | guess that won't hurt
you"
Aud without waiting to hear yea or
nay she founccd out of the room.
ooh, that miserable grill and nv
ncves in such a stated" moaned Alice,
leaning back upon her pillow and clos
ing her eyes. elf l only could get
well and see to thingsl"
Nevertheless, she made comforta-
bic breakfast on toast and coffee, a
dozen little cakes that John had brought
home the night before, and bunch of
delicious white grapes. Then she so
laced herself with some nerye-bitters,
two pills and a novel, which bore on
its ilashy sides and back the mark OF
many thumbs.
Rattle and dashl the sound of a
horn, a flourish on the sweep in front
of the house. What is it? Jenny
came in, bare arms uplifled, and apron
white with suds.
1.-The land protect us, Miss Boriel
Company's comel" she said aghast.
ssThere isn't a mite of cake in the
house, nor bread, nuther. No, nor as
much as a taste Of yeast, and the but
ter's all out. The children drunk the
last speck of milk, and l scraped the
flour-bag yesterday"