Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-01-10

ana bound up, On bed, too. Nv mere!
where!" she repeated, gasping.
"In the hospital, dear child. answered
the nurse. mo, do not talk. We are
going TO take great care of you.
Milly sighed and shut her eyes for
what seemed to her but a few minutes.
When she was conscious again she saw
that something lay between her fingers
it was her own precious bunch of flowers.
How quicklyi it had wilted, though. She
tried to lift her hand, but could not. She
was afraid she had done wrong even to
try. But no one was needing her. Two
shadowy figures were talking near her
bed
''She was so lame, poor dear, she could
not run. And the great dray horse
knocked her down and the cc' ran
over her.
"How terrioler
THE little humpback l. Jest
to save her, but he ran Il. it
was plucky thing, anyho
HE seems very fond Of D.. II viii
break his heart if she dies.
"Hush! lest she should hear YOU
llilly had heard it all 1t scarcely af-
fected her, nevertheless; scarcely seemed
to concern her, in fact.
Was this manned, motionless thing on
the hospital bed herself, Milly, the clever
little needewoman? Was it she who
had dwelt opposite the florist window?
She opened her eyes yet wider" .emed
Iss.l,e
pital? She had often wonda lat a
hospital might be like. There ,.e!e peo-
pie here who sighed and groancd around
her; she had not noticed them before.
1t tired her to watch them now; had
they all been run over in the street? she
marveled. What sad. sad faces! What
a room full of pain
Clean it was everywhere, with tidy
white bedclothes and whitewashed walls
and the sunshine coming in so that her
head ached; she had never been used 20
much light or air. Nor to strangers
strange faces, strange voices Ah, where
was little Jim? And had he really come
to her in her danger?
! The tears began to trickle slowly down
the childs pale cheeks.
"What is it, dear asked the nurse.
"Jim," said Milly, with quivering lips
"0h, my little Jimmy own little Jim!"
"He shall come to you-presently-
yes, very soon. l will give the order
now"
The nurse murmured something to an
other nurse.
"Of course; there is no time to lose,
was the answer.
But 0lilly heard not this,
| The nurse returned.
"Shall Tread to you?" she asked. Are
you in too much pain to listen?''
"No, read, said Milly, gently. only
let it be about flowers"
"About flowers, dear?"
"Yes-about flowers" returned the
child, dreamingly. care there flowers
in heaven?"
"Surely, And we know that it is Gods
garden. He garners them there-even
the poorest child flowers of this EARTH"
Then there was cry.
ooh, Milly, Milly! Oh! you will not
die! Oh, promise me that you'll not dier
1t was Jim-Jim who had pressed close
to the bed, who was sobbing as if his
| heart must burst. He stretched out his
little wan hands. The doctor held him
back and sought to quiet him. The
weary occupants of other beds raised
! themselves up and tried to see the two
children.
Milly moved as much as she was able.
A gray shadow had passed over her face,
making it almost urrecognizable, and
sharp anguish distorted her features.
Was this death? She knew not-she had
no time to think. Only for him-only
for Jim, the poor, homeless, friendless
little crossing sweeper, he who hadrisked
his own life for her-Milly's very temples
throbbed with tuulultuous thoughts
"Oh, 0Iilly, spealn cried the boy in
agony, Why couldn't 1 die for your
Il am glad" mmmured Miily's lips
tremulously.
But I'm not. Oh, it's cruel of you to
be glad when I'm so sorry! Oh, hate
hate hate myself, that l couldn't saec
you. b had only been stronger"
"IigrA nash, said the doctor and til
nurse
"Iiu seemed to say an invisible
presence
| The Young girls head bad fallen back
apon the pillow: the pain was passing
outof her face. She lu.~l yer more
toward her little friend
4