Mower County transcript., 1890-04-23

.
absence Of the son and lover Mrs.
Creighton and Laura hould be often to-
Gether. There was afstrong, mutual af-
3ection 70 make the hours Of intercourse
pass happily; and Mrs. Hilton and Rosa
had : new occupation In preparing :
trousseau for the latter, who had con.
sented to make WIN Fielding ! happy
man, rather to her mothers secret dis
appointment
In Mrs. Creighton's house Laura
learned much OF the tastes and habits
Of hor betrothed. and 1t became an all
most painful certainty to her that one
of the ruling passions OF his heart was
. love of beauty in all its forms. His
mother often spoke Of the shuddering
disgust with which, ~ o boy, he had
shrunk from repulsive face or un.
slightly form. And she said that, though
he had conquered the outward express
sion OF 'suoh recoiling, she was sure he
still felt the same repulsion in man
hood.
1AO "ONAu oAOW 1I6uE6 Vuo pVAVAVAAV
OF crayon portraits Max had made Of his
fair betrothed; and Laura, half-pleased,
half-saddened, saw her own beautiful
face in many varied expressions. Now
sad, 1t was madonna; now laughing, q
nymph; now, with inspired eyes, . st.
Cecilia; till it became painfully appar.
ent to Laura that for her great beauty
more than aught else Max had given
her his love.
The second week of Max Creighton's
departure was passing, when his mother
was taken i'll with feverish attack
that seemed slight. Laura had been
helping Mrs. Hilton in some of her In.
terminable shopping, and had not seen
her dear old friend for three days, when
one morning, Rosa burst into her room
full Of bad news.
''Laura!" she cried, "you are cortain-
ly the luckiest girl in the world. TO
think you should have stayed away
from Mrs. Creighton's now of all times!''
Laura looked up inquiringly.
''She has got the smallpox"
''Rosa!" cried Laura, turning very
pale, ''are you sure?"
II saw DR.. Craige this morning. All
the servants have left the house, and
he is trying to have a nurse sent from
Blades. II she does not come to-day,
they will have to take Mrs. Creighton to
the city, and put her in a hospital!''
''Not while can nurse her!" Laura
cried, hastily gathering some articles OF
dress together, and packing sachel. II
will 60 now. OF course, I can not re-
turn, Rosa"
''But you will catch it. You will die!''
Rosa cried. bursting into tears; 'and
mamma Is out, gone to New York by
nine o'clock train, and won't be back till
evening. Oh, Laura, don't go! Wait till
mamma comes, at any rate"
Il must so now," said Laura, firmly.
''Mrs. Creighton may be evon now dying
for want of nurse. can not wait,
Rosa. There, don't cry SO, dear. have
been vaccinated. you know. and may not
catch the disease"
"Yes, You will, and be ali spotted and
SCARED, and perfect fright What
will Max say to that? You shall not 60. "
But Laura had packed her wrapper
and slippers, and what other articles
seemed useful and necessary, and was
rapidly dressing herself for the street.
her very lips pale, but perfectly resolute
In their firm pressure. She kissed Rosa
again and again, as her little cousin
clung to her sobbing and entreating;
and then with loving message to her
aunt, she started upon her errand. Her
arrival was none too soon. The fright
ened servants had left the house open
and in dire confusion, and the invalid
was tossing in delirious agony-calling
for water, burning with fever and fright
ened at her own wild fancies.
It was too late for the kind-hearted
physician to remonstrate, and he could
only recommend some prudent precau-
tions, and be heartily thankful his
patient was in such good care. For, as
the weary days wore on, Mrs. Creighton
drew very near the border of eternity,
and there was long interval when the
shadow of the death angels wings
hovered in the room. But she rallied,
and as the fever fancies passed she knew
Laura, and knew the generous love that
had brought her to her side.
''There was little doubt" the doctor
told her, that the removal to the city
hospital would have been fatal, and
she would have surely died of neglect
in her own home but for the heroic
impulse that had brought her nurse to
her."
And while she was still too weak to
rise Laura sickened. The young girl
was not dangerously i'll, but during the
fever she had no one to watch her as she
had watched her friend, and she tore he1
poor face in delirium when there was nc
cooling lotion to alleviate the torturing
burning and itocing.
The months of absence were nearly
over, and Max was coming home. Laura
had never left Mrs. Creighton during
the four months that followed her ILL
ness; and Max, detained by business,
was comforted by thinking of the two
he loved best ON earth together and re-
stored to health. But now, when the
soft spring airs we're blowing, Max was
coming home. Mrs. Creighton had re-
ceived telegram from New York an.
nouncing the arrival of the steamer.
The six o'clock train came putting up