The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-10-11

She can hardly last through an
other winter" one caller said to an
other in guarded whisper. thinking
me asleep in the hammock outside the
window.
She need not have guarded the ro-
mark at all, for 1t would not have
troubled me in the least was lying
meditating upon the affinity OF souls
and my lack in finding one In this
world to respond to my own, and such
a thing as not lasting through another
winter was perfectly in accord with
Ey pleasant thoughts just then
Not that / was so miserable that /
wanted to die. but that it was part OF
my programme TO die young. Did not
all my favorite Arabellas and Ethel
midas do so. or came so very near It
that it amounted TO the same thing as
far as sentiment was concernedP And
as for reality / thought very little
about it Death In the abstract was
what held fascination for me-
So in this frame OF mind i started
for Aunt Becky's. accompanied by my
father. who, as he placed me in her
care at the country station-for he had
10 return Immediately to the city-said
TO her in an undertone:
Becky, do all you can for her.
Cure her. If possible; but humor her.
as she seems not long for this world" "
She gave a sharp glance as she
seated me in the low basket phaeton
and gathered up the pony's reins; and
she kept up her swift glances as we
rode out to the farm, varying them by
occasional terse questions.
been sick long. Rue?''
For nearly a year." / languidly
replied.
What's the matter?"
81 don't know"
Have aches and pains or cough?"
'No-that is, not much" / had for
gotten that a cough was usual in cases
OF decline, and forthwith proceeded to
give n little one-a very unnatural one
Gelt it TO be at the time
Another sharp look
THAT ain't any consumption coughi
Well, how do you feel. any way?"
20. Aunt Becky. just as il it would
be perfectly heavenly to lie right
down and die"
AOOh do PAdlcu
the blue sky was intended to settle
forever the question as to my condi-
tiOn; and it seemed TO. though not In
just the way had expected
''Pishr' was her contemptuous elac-
ulation. '.Diei Well. you amt going
to just yet-not from any thing you've
got now"
had no chance to reply to this un-
feeling remark. as we had reached the
farm.
For several days l wandered idly
around. swinging in the hammock 1
had brought with me, arrayed In
clinging white wrappers and slippers
When the weather permitted / took
my maps out OF doors in the most ap-
proved attitudes-a book OF poems
clasped in one hand, one arm thrown
gracefully above my head while the
other hung limp by my side, and one
sHppered foot peeped from beneath
my skirt over the hammock's edge
felt that my affinity might possibly
hover near me unawares and Il be-
hooved me to keep my lamps always
trimmed and burning; for even IL I
could not live, we must al least recog-
nize each other-hnd how could that
be If did not live. while l lived, up
to my ideal?
But a few days after my arrival,
ready for my day-dreams. missed my
favorite poemsi in fact novels as well
were gone
Where are my books. Aunt Becky?"
asked. as she was about to drive TO
the village
I've put them away. The doctor
says you mustn't read much, she an
swered as she drove of.
had not heard Of that edict before:
but knew some poetry by heart and
that would do as we'll; so | Law think-
ing-my breast swelling with emotion
as l made myself the heroine of a most
romantic tale passing through nv
brain My eyes were wet with tears
and ! was sobbing with the excess of
emotional excitement to which pitch 1
had worked myself when she returned.
What are you crying about. Rue?"
she brusquely exclaimed.
20, nothingi only Ipaused un-
decided how to express myself
Only what? Homesick?''
mo. indeed. Aunt Beckyl but you
can't understand me- 1t Is delightful
to cry sometimes. / do love when I
am alone TO lie and think and-feel-
that's all"
''Fiddlesticksl Well. 1 got some
thing to-day for you to take that'u
make you feeL-better," was all she
said.
That night she came to my room.
Two OF the stats are out of my bed
stead, Rue; / guess I'll have to sleep
with you," she announced, tying on
her nightcap as she spoke.
What's these?"
She had opened one of the bureau
drawers in an ostensible endeavor to
close it properly.
"Only some soft slate-pencils have
with me-" answered. family.
''Well, now. child, II going to take
them every one / amt going TO have
you fggerin' one bit while you are
here" she shrewdly remarked as she
confiscated my whole stock upon the
spot
Gloves. too. Why. Rue. your ma
must-ve sent these to me- Enough to
last a housekeeper a year. and | want
some In my pickles tomorrow! I'll
take them right out, because you don't
want your clothes scented up by them
sweet clovsr's best tor that"
i could not say a word; but / won
dered how should keep up my pallor
without those condiments to nibble.
Then, too, how was 1 to enjoy my
sentimental soliloquies which often
kept me awake far into the night and
left me so Interestingly wan-eyed in
the morning? should have to fore
60 this sorrowful happiness. or happy
sorrowfulness, with which my roman