The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-01-17

ly. 81 forgot all about it"
ave great mind to bundle it
downstairs again." said Anna with con-
siderable pique.
''Oh no; don't do that. OF course 1
want to see it. 1t is China silk. isn't
it? Hand-embroidered, did you sayP
How beautifully those wild roses are
done! Oh, it is lovely, Aunam she
cried, growing interested in spite of
herself. "WhO did you say did it?"
A lady in Sullivan-street She is a
lady, tOo-very much reduced, |
imagine, and an invalid. She works
beautifully. Lucie Knight got her to
do her troaSSeGu work, but she has
been i'll lately and can't do much.
"You must give me her address. I'd
like to see her when l 90 in town to-
morrow" Maya said. 81 never saw
anything SO lovely"
Anna chatted a while, but it was
growing late, and Maya did not detain
her long.
Il wonder what she would say if
she knew that 1 went down on the
beach to speak to Professor Wiener
auskyP" Maya thought, as she un-
coiled her thick brown hair. at was
mean of him not to speak To me I-Pll
never forgive him for that!'
Something like a lump came up in
her throat, but she swallowed it brave
".
LAS long as | was willing" she
began; and then she said suddenly:
''He is going to give another enter
tainment tomorrow night at the
Beach House. am glad am going in
town."
She left by an early train and had a
long day before her in the city. The
little business with her lawyer that
summoned her there was soon trans
acted, and she had Il long wait till
the afternoon train back to the sea-
shore.
What shall 1 doP" she qucried.
Everybody is out of town-even my
dressmaker's away think 1 will go
and see the lady who embroiders.
want screen for Annals birthday"
Miss Anderson, who embroidered
Miss Hartwell's gown lived in an out
of the way place, but Maya found her.
! I'm afcard she's right sick, ma am"
said the Irishwoman who let her in.
| "Tve been up to see her twice the day,
but it's awful busy / am, an I'd be glad
if some Teddy would come and stay a
bit wild Miss Anderson. It's awful
worrt am about her all the toim, an
she to be left alone so!'
| Maya found her way to a little back
room and knocked.
| A faint VOICE bade her enter.
She walked in, and there on the
! pillows, her face Il peculiar blue color,
| lay Helen Grafton.
Aud then the excitement seemed to
overpower her. Her face grew dark
purplish hue; she gasped for breath
and seemed on the verge of dying.
"Helen! Good heavens, how i'll you
are! What can we do for youP You
poor girl!"
There, there, l am better nowr'
gasped the sick girl. "a little water,
please. Thanks! that will do. 1t was
good of you to come, Maya. How did
you ever find meP"
"By accident. l never knew till
opened your door. But Helen dear,
you are very i'll. Have you sent for a
| doctorp"
mo. 1 was waiting for Mrs.
Moriarty to come up again. was
taken worse at noon"
"YOu must have doctor at once.
And your BROTHER" Maya added, after
q moments hesitation-''shall | send
for himP"
mo. no! 1t would only worry him.
He will be back at midnight"
"How could he leave you here all
alOne?" Maya cried. "He oughtn't
to have done it,"
A flush suffused the sick girls face.
"You do not know what you are
saying" she replied. "There never
was brother like mine-kind, de-
voted, self-sacriiicing. Why, do you
knew what he is doing now for meP
Yes, it is for me he is doing It,. He
lost his position, and we were very,
very poor. He wanted to send me away
to some great cure, and he could not.
| But he was always clever you know,
| and he found that he could earn money
| by giving entertainments ut the sum-
mer hotels; so he has been doing that.
He is a slight-Of-hand performer" she
said bitterly, "but nObler man never
trOd the earth"
81 am sure of that" Maya said fer
vently. 81 know his pride of old.
/ know what he must have suffered,
but it was right for him to do anything
honest, dear. There, there! you must
not excite yourself"
These words were echoed by the
doctor when he came. He pronounced
it sudden and dangerous complica-
ton of the heart.
"I will not leave her." Maya said.
And when a sleeping-potion had
been given that night, she sat down by
Helen's side to watch.
1t was after midnight when she half
| IL hn, ,l,ni af bn nf
footstep. The door opened, and
Walter Grafton came in.
"Mayam he cried invOluntarily.
"You herep"
.'IIush!" she commanded. "Helen
is very ill.,"
No word of explanation passed be.
tween them. He accepted her presence
as Joyous fact and said nothing.
Together they watched and tended
Helen's bedside; but it was of no use
that skilled physician returned aftel
midnight to minister to the poor girl.
She woke and knew her brother
Fond words passed between them, bu
ere the sun had risen on the morrow
her soul had fled.
, her poor brother grOaned, as he sanl
! OIL Ills kIlCtS Nv htI UcNtSRlC' w
little Helen! There was so little
, could do for her."
! You did your best" Maya SAT-
-: softly, laying her hand on his arm
/ Don't regret anything. She is bette
I in heaven. Think how i'll she was
how long she suffered, and how much!
"Oh, / know ought to be glad fo
her sake; but am all alone" he addc
t with something like sob, land life
Il so dreary."
o II will be your friend" said Mays
once more laying her hand on his arm
D ..No, nor' he said with sudde
! passion. al do not want you for IN
O friend. would not be content wit
. that. You must leave me alone, May;
O IL love you-oh, you know how
love youT'
"Then," she said in low, thrilling
voice, as she drew nearer to him, .
o will be more to you. | will be you
), wife, if you wish it. Walter dear.
have always loved you, bnt-you wei
d away, YOU know, and-and-"