Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-06-07

and that Is to make clean breast ont.
III go to Lefty the very first thing she
comes back from Lizzie Whites tea
party, and tell her the whole story from
A to T."
With this laudable resolve, Aunt
Abby started up the minute she heard
Letty's light footstep on the stone door
step below, but, fastening down, she
caught her foot In a worn place on the
carpeted landing, and fell headlang
down the stairs.
Aunt Abby was neither young sor
light. At her age a fall signife& no
light matter. She was taken up sense
less, and carried to the best bedroom,
from which she never rose. Only once
In the twenty-four hours, during which
the spark of life fingered in her bosom,
did she evince any sign of intelligence,
and that was when Lefty was bathing
her forehead in scented waters.
Lefty" she said, family; Lefty, is
that you? didn't mean to do it, Lefty"
Hush, dear Aunt Abby" gently
soothed the girl, who had loves mag
netism at the end of every one of ner
slim young fingers.
"The silk quilt" faltered Aunt Abby
cit is thereI It's in the quilt. You
must take it, and"
Then she stopped. A film came over
her eyes-the lids dropped.
"Hush!" said DR.. Perth, author
itatively. "Don't let her talk any more
now. If she can sleep"
Lefty looked up at him, with large,
wistful ewes. In her estimation, How
ard Perth was like a strong young
archangel, who might accomplish all
things, even to the raising of poor Aunt
Abby from this seeming bed of death.
But at the turn of the night the old
woman died, as peacefully as child fall
ing asleep.
The day after the funeral, Lefty took
Aunt Abby's work-basket, aud set her.
self down under the trees In the garden.
"Child, what are you doing?" said
Mrs. Hopkins, who was bustling about
on housekeeping cares intent.
Il am going to finish this silk quilt,
said Lefty. Il am sure it is what Aunt
Abby meant by those last disconnected
words of hers. She has been working
on it all the year, and am determined
her work shall not be in vain."
It'll be iob!" said Mrs. Hopkins,
viewing the work critically,
Il can finish it if sew steadily" said
Lefty. "Of course can't work as well
and rapidly as Aunt Abby did, but I
can do my best.
But as she sorted over the neat piles
of brocade satin and velvet, stray tear
FLASHED down, ever and anon, creating
its own separate little rainbow
among the brilliant tints, for Lefty had
built up her own small air-castles on the
altar of her own heart; and, alas and
alack-a-day, it was slowly drifting in
pieces!
II did think he liked me little" said
Lefty to herself; "but he had plenty of
chances to speak, and he never uttered
a word. And-good gracious me, here's
his writing on the back of this velvet
octagon, and, as I live, it's dearest
Lefty"
Her eyes sparkled, a vivid crimson
rose to her cheeks, as she hurriedly
examined the rest of the papers which
had served as a background to poor
Aunt Abby's patchwork. Parts of the
all-important letter were gone, but
there was still enough left to make out
DIR. Perth's case as that hopeless
disease of the heart"
Just at that moment, as good luck
and Cupid would have it, the young
doctors gig wheels ratified over the
gravel of the garden drive. He was
coming to consult with the farmer about
a free dispensary in the village, and be-
fore he could reach the door Lefty had
run out and intercepted him in the |
shade of monster lilac hedge.
Miss Hopkins!" he exclaimed.
"Dr. Perth! Howard!" she said,
brightly. II may call you so now,
mayn't I, for have only just received
your letter? And see"-holding up
the fragments-"it is all in little piecesl |
But how glad-how very glad am to
get It'll"
Then, of course, series of explana-
tions ensued; and, mournful to relate,
the free dispensary was quite forgotten!
For were there not more important |
things to think of?
As for Sam, his comment was char
acteristic, Didn't 1 tell you so all |
along?"
And when September came Aunt |
Abby's patchwork quilt was finished,
for, in all her happiness, the young
doctors young wife had not forgotten