The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1890-06-14

" uHS luJHrIllHHDle shopping, ana
had not seen her dear old friend for
three days. when, one morning, Rosa
burst mo her room iull of bad news.
oLaural' she cried, ssyou arc GER
tainly the luckiest girl in the world.
To think you should have stayed
away from Mrs. Creighton's now Of
all timesl"
Laura looked up inquiringly.
.She has got the smallpox.
HRosal' cried Laura, turning very
pale; ssare you sure??"
6 saw Doctor Craige this morn
ing. All the servants have left the
house, and he is trying to have d
nurse sent from Blades. If she does
not come to-day, they will have to
take Mrs. Creighton to the city and
put her III the hospitall'
Not while / can nurse heri'' Laura
cried, hastily gathering some arti-
cles Of dress together, and packing q
satchel. 81 will go now. Of course,
/ cannot return, Rosa.
"But you will catch It'll You will
diel' Rosa cried, bursting into tears;
land mamma is out, gone to New
York by nine o'clock train, and won't
be back till evening. Oh, Laura,
don't goi Wait till mamma comes,
ut any rate.
S must go now said Laura,
firmly Mrs. Creighton may be even
now dying for want Of q nurse. /
can not wait, Rosa. There, don't
cry SO, dear. Ihave been vaccinated,
you know, and may not catch the
disease
Eyes, you will, and be all spotted
and SCARED, and a perfect fright.
What will Max say to that? You
shall not go"
But Laura had packedher wrapper
and slippers, and what other articles
seemed useful and necessary. and was
rapidly dressing herself for the street
her very lips pale, butperiectly e
olute in their firm pressure. She
kissed Rosa again md again, as her
little cousin chung to her sobbing
and entreating; and then with a low
ing message to her aunt, she started
upon her errand. Her arrival was
none too soon. The frightened SER
wants had left the house open aud in
dire confusion. and the invalid was
tossing in delirious agony-calling
for water, burning with fever, and
frightened Mt her own wild fancies.
1t was too late for the kind-heart-
ed physician to demonstrate, and he
could recommend some prudent pre-
cautions, and be heartily thankful
that his patient was in such good
care. For, as the days wore on. Mrs.
Creighton drew very near the border
OF eternity, and there was a long in
tcrval when the shadow of the death
angels wings lowered in the room.
But she rallied, and as the fever fam
cies passed. she knew Laura, and knew
the generous love that had brought
her to her side.
There was little doubt" the doc
tor told her, "that the removal to
the city hospital would have been fa-
tai, and she would surely have 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 ill, but during
the fever sha had no one to watch her
as she had watched her friend, and
she tore her poor face in delirium
when there was no cooling lotion to
alleviate the torturing burning and
itching.
The months of absence were nearly
over, and Max was coming home.
Laura had never left Mrs. Creighton.
during the four months thatfollowed,
her illness; and Max, detained by bus
mess, was comforted by thinking of
two he loved best on earth together
and restored to health. But now,
when the soft Spring airs were blow
ing, Max was coming home. Mrs.
Creighton had received q telegram
from New York announcing the ar
rival of the steamer.
The 6 o'clock train came putting
up to the station; and Max Creigh-.
ton, springing to the platform, ran
to the carriage in waiting, too eager
to get home to note q closely yelled
lady in black, who took her place ia
the train, md was carried forward
with il.
His mother was ii the drawing
room and after q long and close en-
brace, Max lookedfo for Laura.
Where is Laura, mother?" heask-
ed. 81 can not wait to see her and
thank her thatI have not come back
to find my home desolate-to thank
her that / am not motherless.
tsShe will be here presently, Max.
Sit down, my son, while keep my
promise to her, and tell you to pre-
pare for great shock"
sshe is disfgurec, he said in 8
low voice.
Terribly Her face is deeply
SCARED and q deep red, while her
eyes are slightly drawn down on the
cheek and bloodshot. AL her hair is
gone, aud she wears q close cap.
ssAs il needed to be prepared tor
such d change, Max said. with y
quivering voice-as IL the face Of the
woman to whom I owe my mothers
lie would not be- the face Of an angel
to me, however it might be scarredl
Find her, motherl Let me tall her
how my love has grown deeper and
stronger since VIC parted.
Mrs. Creighton was rising whom the
servant,entered with d note.
Mrs. Laura lett II, Ipa'ain, she