Thomas County cat., 1889-09-05

ure in the former, while the latter l
simply penciled about the eyebrows in
order to make them more lustrous.
As consequence my countenance at
this time was quite striking. So it
pleased me much to see that I had at
tracted attention to my decline.
| The next few days were occupied in
preparations for my departure to Aunt
Becky's. The suddenly awakened
family solicitude at my condition was
evinced by indulgence in all the
luxuries-fruits and other delicacies-
which could be procured. while young
er children were repeatedly told to
'.wait on sister Rue while she is here"
and the ambiguity of this command
was as gratifying as the constant
| attendance which all danced upon me
for those few days.
''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 re-
mark at all. for it 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 l was so miserable that I
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 concerned? And
as for reality I thought very little
about it. Death in the abstract was
what held fascination for me.
So in this frame of mind l started
for Aunt Becky's. accompanied by my
father, who, as he placed me in her
care at the country station-for he had
to 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 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 lOnp- Rue2n
"For nearly a year." I languidly
replied.
Whats the matter?"
81 don't know"
''Have aches and pains or cougn?"
''No-that is, not much" l had for
gotten that a cough was usual in cases
of decline. and forthwith proceeded to
give little one-a very unnatural one
l felt it to be at the time.
Another sharp look.
THAT amt any consumption cough!
Well, how do you feel. any way?'
20. Aunt Becky, just as if it would
be perfectly heavenly to lie right
down and die"
| My far-away look as contemplated
the blue sky was intended to settle
forever the question as to my condi-
ton; and it seemed to, though not in
just the way | had expected.
"Pish!' was her contemptuous ejac-
ulation. '.Die. Well, you amt going
to just yet-not from any thing you've
got now."
l 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
had brought with me, arrayed in
clinging white wrappers and slippers
When the weather permitted l 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
slippered foot peeped from beneath
my skirt over the hammock s edge. l
felt that my affinity might possibly
hover near me unawares and it be-
hooved me to keep my lamps always
trimmed and burning; for even if l
could not live, We must at least recog-
nize each other-and how could that
be if did aot live, while lived, up
to my ideal?
But few days after my arrival,
ready for my day-dreams, missed my
favorite poems; in fact novels as well
were gone.
'Where are my books, Aunt Becky?''
l 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.
l had not heard of that edict before
/. but knew some poetry by heart and
that would do as well; so lay think.
ing-my breast swelling with emotion
as made myself the heroine of mos,