Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-10-06
CHATTER VIII

To add to my discomfort at noon drf1- Eling rain began to fall, and soon the wind blow ficrcely. So severe, indeed, became the storm wns forced to seek shelter in a wood where remained the afternoon and night, wet, shive"ing and nearly perishing with cold and hunger. The storm cleared. however, in the night, and the sun rose bright and clear in the morning dragged myself out of tho thicket where I had lain, and by great difficulty gained the high road but 1 found could no longer continue my journey. My limbs ached, as did my head, while one moment was chilled to the bone, the next burning with fever. Lights danced before my eyes, and l grew so faint and g,!dy l could scarcely nd. Slowly creep ing along thus l determined to stop at a neat white house by the road, and accord ingly opening the gate l crept slowly up the walk
 A swcet-faccd lady was briskiy openinG q the shutters as came in. But she paused and uttered an exclamation when shc saw mo, and no wonder, for Il moro pitiable look ing object could hardly have met your eyes than was at that moment.
 My clothes werc wet and splashcd with mud; my hat hung limp over my disheveled hair, and my shoes were ln tatters. But my failing strength made me regardless of looks. went to the window. ltricd to tell the woman that 1 was weak, starving and i'll, but my words mixed themselves up m a strange, confused manner. A mist came before my eyes, and l remembered nothing more till awoke lying on . lounge in a pleasant room with tho kind face l had seen at the window bending over me, while she bathed my head, rahbcd my benunbed hands and strovc in every way to arouse me to consciousness. When I had in a measure recovered, she removed my outer garments, took off my soaked shoes and stockings, and sn!oothcd out my tangled hair, her soft, gentle touch soothing some what the burning pain in my head. She asked me no questions; she merely accept cd my situation as a matter of course, and if had aroused her curiosity she did not eX' press it.
 She then brought me a cup of tea and a bit of toast, which she urged me to eat; but, while drank the tea, I could not touch the toast, though made several intellectual at tempts to do so, wishing to gratify my kind benefactor.
 "Never mind eating it, child" she said, seeing my attempts. ''If you do not feel like eating you had better not" And saw tears in her soft blue eyes as she spoke.
 She then conducted me to a room, dis robbed me gently as a mother might, and tucked me in the softest of beds and drew the curtains to shut out tho light from my aching eyes, and soon fell into Q troubled sleep. remember awaklng once, put atter this came a long blank, or rather dull con- fused dream, in which in imagination travelled hundreds of miles, ever toiling on over stony roads and up steep and dizzy heights, or else scrambled through dense thickets, or was lost in the labyrinth of deep forests, or I walked by cool streams and bubbling fountains, but not one drop could obtain to quench my burning thirst, and ever before me was the face of Irma Bar rett, saw the gleam of her golden hair and the glint of her blue eyes wherever I turned.
 But these vi dreams only, fever dreams that worried my brain, while the fever that coursed through my frame burned unceas- ingly until, compelled to die out for want of fuel, it left me weak as an infant. But, at tended as was by a skilled physician, and watched over by Mrs. Kent (for that, J found, was her name), with the utmost solicitude, soon began to grow better.
 It had been November when fell i'll, but 1t was mid-winter when, wrapped in shawls, crept to the window for the first time and gazed out on the leafless trees and brown, swinging vines in tho garden. But was glad to creep back again to the warm-cush. toned chair by the fire where Mr& Kent saA