Wichita eagle., 1890-02-11


sent? She must certainly come out
again in the afternoon, if only to tell
him the delightful news. 1t was the
first time that any real live flowers had
been given to her, had actually belonged
to herself. Why, they were quite soft,
like velvet, not grimy and gritty like
most things, and with perfume-y
that must be the meaning of the word
perfume something quite, quite Devil
dering. m
The road was free Of carts and cabs
now, surely. This was the moment
one rush forward-oh, the cramp in her
stiff legl Forward No, back, in haste!
A noise of horses hoofs, with 1 900 voices
ringing in her ears, and, in the midst of
all, vision of Jim's face, white and set
as it had never been before-then the
earth rising up to meet her violently, as
something large and dark loomed before
her eyes, and seemed to strike her down.
''She is coming to, poor little thing"
These were the first words that MiIly
| heard.
|
Her own voice sounded farther off
than the other voice. She was in pain
all over, a pain that would have been
| fierce had it not been SO stunningly dull,
and, above all, so universal. Even her
little finger ached, she thought, and that
| thought made her half inclined to laugh.
She could not see, she knew not why;
she could not move, but that was no
wonder, for she was 80 tightly strapped
and bound up. On bed, too. "Where?
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 quicklyit 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 wheel ran
| over her."
"How terrible!"
'The little humpback boy did his best
to save her, but he ran up too late-it
was a plucky thing, anyhow"
"He seems very fond of her-it will
break his heart if she dies"
"Hush! lest she should hear you"
Milly 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, lfilly, the clever
little needlewoman? Was it she whe
had dwelt opposite the florists window?
She opened her eyes yet wider; it seemed
a little lighter now. Was this the hos
pital? She had often wondered what a
hospital might be like. There were peo-
pie here who sighed and groaned 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
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 to
much light or air. Nor to strangers,
strange faces, strange voices. All, where
was little jim? And had he really come
to her in her danger?
The tears began to trickle slowly down
the child's pale cheeks.
"What is it, dearT asked the nurse
"Jim," said Milfy, with quivezing lips.
''Oh, my little Jimmy own little Jim."
"He shall come to you-presenGy-
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 Milly heard not this.
The nurse returned.
"Shan I read to your" she asked. "Are
you in too much pain to isten2"
"No. read" said Milly, gently. "Only
let it be about flowers"
about flowers, deaT?"
"Yes-about flowers" returned the
child, dreamingly. ''Are there flowers
in heaven?"
''Surely. And we know that it is God s
garden. He garners them there-even
the poorest child flowers of this earth"
Then there was . cry.
"Oh, Niily, Milly! Oh! you will not
die Oh, promise me that you Il not die.'
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 unrecognizable, and
sharp anguish distorted her features.
Was this death? She knew not-she had
no time 10 think. Only for him-only
for Jim, the poor, homeless, friendless
little crossing sweeper. he who had risked
his own life for her-Milly's very temples
throbbed with tumultuous shoughts.
"Oh, Milly, speak" cried the boy in
agony. why couldn't die for youy
Il am glad," murmured Miilv's lips
TREMENDOUSLY.
But I'm not. Oh, it's cruel of you to |
be glad when I'm SO sorry: Oh, hate, |
hate, hste myself. that l couldn't save |
you. If had only been stronger"