Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-05-22

Creighton and Laura should be often
together. There was strong. mutual
affection to make the hours Of inter-
course pass happily; and Mrs. Hilton
and Rosa had a new occupation in pre-
pairing a trousseau for the latter who
had consented to make win Fielding a
happy man, rather to her mothers
secret disappointment
In Mrs. Creighton's house Laura
learned much OF the tastes and habits
Of her belrothed. and it became an al
most painful certainty to her that one
of the ruling passions Of his heart was
q love OF beauty in all its forms. His
mother often spoke of the shuddering
dlsgust with 1lcn, as boy he had
shrunk from repulsiye face or I'M
slightly form And she said that,
though he had conquered the outward
expression Of lCh recoiling, she was
sure he still felt the same repulsion in
manhood.
She would show Laura tho portfolio
of cray0n portraits Max had made Of
bis fair betrothed; and Laura, half
pleased. half saddeued, saw her own
beautiful face in many varied ex-
pressions Now, sad it was a
madonna; now laughing a nvmph;
now, with inspired eyes, a St, Cecilia;
till it became painfully apparent to
Laura that, Tor her great beauty. more
than ought else, Max had given her his
love.
The second week Of Max Creightons
departure was passing, when his
mother was taken I'LL with q feverish
attack that seemed slight. Laura bad
been helping Mrs Hilton in some of
the intrrmuable shopping, and had
not seen her dear old friend for three
days, when, one morning Rosa Durst
into her room full OF bad news.
Laura She cried, you are certain
ly the luck est girl 10 the world, TO
hink you should have stayed away
from Mrs Creightou's now all tlmesv'
Laura looked up inquiringly.
"She has got the smallpox.
Rosa" cried Laura, turning very
pale; ARE YOU sure?n
II saw Doctor Craige this morning
All the servants have left the house,
and he S trying to have nurse sent
from Blades II she does not come to-
dag, they will have to take Mrs. Creieh-
ton to the city and put her in the
hospital
Not while | can nurse herl" Laura
cried hastily gathering some articles
of dress together, and packing sachel
II will go now. OF course, / can not
return, 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 BIO
back till evening, Oh, Laura, don't
80! Wait till mamma comes, at any
rate.
II must 20 now, y said Laura, firmly
Mrs. Creighton may be even now
dying for want of nurse. can not
wait, Rosa. There. don't cry SO, dear
have been yaccinatcd. you know, and
may not catch the disease
yes. you will, and be all spotted
and SCARED and perfect fright
What will Max say to that2 You shall
not go"
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 reso-
lutte in their firm pressure. She kissed
Rosa again and again rs her little
cousin chung to her sobbiug and en-
treating; and then with a loving
message to her aunt She started upon
her GRAND. Her arrival was none too
soon The frightened servants had left
the house open and in dire confusion,
and the invalid was tossing in delirjous
agony calling for water, burning with
fever, and frightened at her own wild
fancies.
1t was too late for the kind-heartcd
physician to demonstrate, and he could
only recommend some prudent pre-
cautions, and be heartily thankful that
his patient was in such good care. For,
ais the days wore on, Mrs. Creighton
drew very near the border OF eternity,
aud thcre was long interval when the
shadow of the death angels wings
lowered ia the room. But She rallied,
and as the fever faneics 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 aud she
would surely have died of neglect in
her own home but for the heroic im-
pulse that had brought her nurse to
her.
And while she was still too weak to
rise Laura sjckencd. The young girl
was not dangerously ill, but during the
fever She had NO one to watch her as She
had watched her friend, aud She tore
her poor face IN dclirium when there
was no cooling lotion to alleviat the
torturing burning and itching.
The months of absence We're nearly
over. aud Max was coming home.
Laura had never left Mrs. Creighton
during the four months that followed
her illness; and Max, detained by bust.
ness. was comiorted By thinking of the
two he loved best on earth together
and restored TO health But now,
when tile soft Spring airs were blow
ing, Max was coming home Mrs.
Creighton hud received Il telegram
from New York announcing the arrila.
OF thu steamer.
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