Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-03-19

village artist and taught him to read Rus
kin and to strive to create the best. She
was an embryo physician, too, for her
knowledge of what to do in certain emer-
gencies was found upon more than one oc-
casiou to have saved life.
But still Miss Abigail shifted contemptu-
ously and turned coldly from her whenever
they chanced to meet. Once when books
we're being discussed Myra offered to send
ber George Eliot's "Romola," " but was sur
prised to receive an insulting eNo tnanky,
ma'aml don't never read books writ by
sich critter! A woman that was talked
about! Oh; no! I don't encourage 70
sich."
And Myra could not repress smile as
she observed that neither praise nor blame
could touch the divine genius of the author
of "Romola." Now, after that Miss Abb
gail seemed to dislike her, if possible, more
than ever.
And so time wore on until the summer
came. Ina scene of my story is laid in a
tain southern city, and over that fair city a
dark cloud was slowly gathering, which
was fated to bring destruction to many.
"Well, Miss Abigail's down at lastl' ex-
claimed Deacon Layne, as he came in from
The village in his buggy one day. She's
ie.ht sick, they say, and not soul with
heri Fust time ever heared o. Abigail
Harris bein' i'll, eh, wlfe2"
Mrs. Layne looked concerned.
"Dear-dear, Enos-yes, never knew
her to have sick day in her life before.
Well, we are all growing old, Enos, you
know"
Eyes, to be rep'-thoughtfully, as
| though it had struck him for the first time
II say, wife, do you think it possible that
Miss Abigail's down with the yellow fever7
You know she would go over to jackson
last week to sell her wool. Wouldn't be-
lieve that the fever there was 80 bad; and
you know how hard-headed Abigail is. I
declare, there goes Doctor Jonesl I'll hail
him and find out what's tho matter"
''Yellow fever?" quoth the old doctor,
dryly. "Yes, to be sure it is, neighbor;
| worst case I've seen since the epidemic of
'78-just ten years ago. It's all her own
fault-Miss Abigaips. Nobody could pre-
vent her going right to the infected city.
She'd sold her wool there every year since
the war; she wasn't going to take it to any
what a hard headed woman is to deal
with"
tNo worse than hard headed man, Doc
tor Jonesp cried cheerful voice. and the
next moment the doctors hat was of and
he was bowing to Harvey's wife.
"What's that about Miss Abigail? Sick?
And the yellow fever9 Doctor, you must
take me over there at once. l understand
how to nurse the fever perfectly"
"Myra!' cried old Deacon Layne, aghast.
"Oh, Myrav' sobbed Harvey's mother.
'-Mrs. Layne!' cried the doctor, in con.
sternatiou, ''you will only risk your life for
the sake of grabbed old woman who has
not long to live at the most"
''But she is just as precious in Gods
sight" said Harvey Layne's wife, softly,
''aud so-if-if Harvey does not object-I
will 60 with you doctor, and nurse poor old
Miss Abigail. Why, if manage well I
may be able to keep the disease from
spreading all over town."
She went, of course. Even Harvey could
not say no, when she pleaded with him so
ably. Aud the little good Samaritan was
soon seated in Doctor jones' buggy and on
her way to the sick woman. 4
"And so you nursed me-you-Harvey
Layne's wife, that l allus thought wasn't
good for anything but show? Come here.
child. Can you ever forgive cruel old
woman who-''
nv nOF0l Aodity uodue duy Wroug de
all, interrupted Myra; pale, wan little
Myra now, after long days and nights of
watching and nursing-tbat indefatigable
care which alone brings patient through
the horrors of yellow fever. 'Now, say no
more about it. Miss Abigail, and thank
God that the contagion has not spread
Yours was the only case. And now the
black frost has come, and all danger is
over."
Yes, all danger was over, thank to the
heroic woman who had risked her own life
to nurse her enemy. But enemy no longer.
There is now no warmer advocate of Har-
vey Layne's wife in the whole country than
Miss Abigail Harris. She has secretly
made will bequeathing all her possessions
quite fertune-to Myra Layne, who had
heaped Goals of fire upon her head.