The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-08-23

order 10 make them more iuatrouS
As consequence my countcnance at
this time was quite striking. 20 IL
pleased me much 70 see that ! had at
tracted attention 70 my decline.
The next few days were occupied in
preparations for my departure 70 Aunt
5ccky's. The suddenly awakened
family solicitudc ut my condition was
cvinccd by indulgence In all the
luxurics-fruits and other dclicacies-
which could be procured. while young
or children werc repeatedly told %
await on sister Rue while she Is herc;'
and the ambiguity Of this command
was rs gratifying as tho constant
attendance which all danced upon me
for those few days.
.'She can hardly last through an
other winter" one caller said 10 an
o: her in Il guarded whisper. thinking
me asleep in the hammock outside the
! window.
| She need not have guarded the r'-
mark at all. for II would not have
troubled me in the least was lying
mcditating upon the affinity Of souls
and my lack in fin ling one IN this
| world to respond 10 my own: and such
a thing as not lasting through another
winter was perfectly in accord with
Ky pleasant thoughts just then.
Not that was so miserable that ]
wanted To die. but that il was part oi
NIX programme to die young. Did not
all my favoritc Arabcllas and Ethel
midas do so, or came SO very near it
that it amounted to the same thing q
far as sentiment was conccrned' And
as for reality thought very little
about it. Death in the abstract was
y hat held fascination for me.
So in this frame Of mind started
for Aunt Bccky's. accompanied By my
father. who as he placed me in her
care at the country staiion-for he had
to return Immediately 10 the city-said
to her in an undertonc:
becky. do all you can for her.
Cure her. II possible; but humor her.
as she seems not long for this world. Z
She gave sharp glance as she
seated me in the low basket phaetor
and gathered up the pony's reins; and
she kept up her swift gIances as VIZ
rode out TO the farm. varying them b
occasional icrse questions.
''licen sick long. Ruc?'
For nearly year." | languidl,
replied.
Whats the mattcr?"
II don't know"
Hare aches and pains or cough?
..No-that Is. not much had for
gotten that cough was usual in cases
OF decline. and forthwith proceeded Il
give little one-a very unnatural on'
felt il to be at the tine.
i Another sharp look.
THAT amt any consumption cough
Well. how do you feel. any way?'
20. Aunt Becky, just as II 1t woult
be perfectly heavenly to lie right
down and die"
My far-away look as contemplated
the blue sky was intended 10 settle
forever the question as to my condi-
tion; and it seemed to. though not III
just the way had expected.
s'Pish." was her contemptuous cjac-
ulation. die. Well. you amt going
10 just yct-not from any thing you
got now"
had no chance to reply to this I'M
feeling remark. as we had reached the
farm.
For several days wandered idly
around. swinging in the hammock
had brought with me, arraycd in
clinging white wrappers and slippers
When the weather permitted took
my maps out OF doors in the most APP
proved attitudes--a book of poems
claspcd in one hand, one arm thrown
gracefully above my head while the
other hung limp by my side. and one
slippered foot pceped from beneath
my skirt over the hammock's edge.
felt that my affinity might possibly
hover near me unawarcs and il be-
hoovcd me to keep my lamps always
trimmed and burning; for even II
could not live. we must at least recog-
nizc each other-and how could that
be II did not live while lived, up
TO my ideal?
But few days after my ar ~ival.
ready for my day-dreams. missed my
favorite poems; 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
swcrcd AS she drove on.
had not heard OF that edict before
but know some poetry by heart and
that would do ~ well 50 lay think
ing-my breast swelling with emotion
IS made myself the heroine OF mos,
romantic tale passing through my
brain. My eyes were wet with tears
and was sobbing with the excess Of
emotional excitement TO which pitch
had worked myself when she returned.
what are you crying about, RucY'
she brusqucly exclaimed.