The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-05-08

Eliza drawn from her subterranean abode
bv the absence of the expected bass from the
antiphonal treble above stairs.
mo" replied Mrs Grattan, "aud I'm per-
fectly miserable"
What gwine do bout supper ?" she ask
ed quietly ignoring this tragic announce-
ment, and cleverly turning the current of my
friends thoughts-with strategic design, as
afterwards discovered-into the domestic
channel. "De shad dryin' up, an de bread
gittn' right hard.
"Let her bring it up" pleaded. "It's past
your usual hour, already, and you'll feel bet
ter for eating something. Besides, il will be
nicer to warm Mr.. Grattan's supper over
than to keep it standing on the stove"
Caroline" said my unhappy hostess, after
vainly endeavoring to swallow piece of the
delicate muffin had buttered and put upon
her plate, sit is utterly impossible for me to
eat anything. There is perfectly impossible
obstruction in my throat" Then she rose
! from the table and went into the parlor,
while Mary Eliza approached my chair, bend
| ing over me-
Don't you notice 'er too much" she said
"Do she gwine have de Mysteries right
straight off," Then she moved quietly about
the dining room, grooming a wild plantation
air as she cleared away the supper things:
perhaps he'll come on the next train," l
said, trying to revive poor Delia's dropping
Spirits as we sat together by the parlor win
dow. And when that hope failed, perhaps
he'll come on the next" and 80 on until the
shrek of the last engine had died away, and
| the solemn stiffness of night enveloped the
sleeping city like pail. Then l arose. and
passing one arm under hers, half led, half sup.
ported her to her room, and helped her to
bed.
"Oh," she sobbed, as smoothed the silken
locks back from her pretty face, trying to
soothe her into slumber, "if it wasn't that
horrible Western road. There have been so
many frightful accidents on it. l rarely pick
upa paper without seeing an account of
some new disaster"
There" said, don't talk any more about
it," and, thinking that she would get quiet
sooner ifleft TO herself, l turned down the |
gas and stole away to any own room.
you haven't slept one Bit" said, stand
ing by her bedside next morning, and not
ing the pallor of her countenance and the |
dark circles about her eyes.
"No," she said family, "and, Caroline" her |
voice trembling and her lips Quivering omin-
ously, don't ask me to get up. I'm too |
wretched to do anything but just lie here"
And SO the day wore on, Mary Eliza appear |
ing at intervals, now with a goblet of iced |
milk, now with cup of hot tea, trying In |
vain 10 coax her into taking some nourish- |
ment, |
"Ain't you got no letter positive nor moth |
in ?" she asked on one of these occasions.
cts Sunday" said, land the postman |
doesn't come around"
"Sho 'nough, / forgot" Then, after q |
moments silence, her eyes cast down in deep |
meditation, Cant dey SEN a telegraph orn |
Sunday ?" There was a stifed groan from |
the bed
Mary Eliza," said, when had beckon-
ed her into the lower hall, "if Mr.. Grattan is |
as poor Della fears he can't send telegram"
She fixed look of sudden inquiry upon |
my face. "You don't mean Mars Edward |
dade?" she said. Then. reading the answer
in my countenance, "Oh," she moaned, a |
paroxysm convulsing the black features, "de |
oDliest chile whar ole Miss got done dadep
Then she turned and fled down the cavern
GUS basement stairway, her turbaned head |
dropping like gaudy flower upon her |
breast.
1t was Monday morning. Another night |
of anxious waiting was over and was sit |
ting, disconsolate enough, in my friends |
shrouded chamber, when thought came into |
my mind like an inspiration.
Della" cried, springing from my chair |
with suddeness that startled her into a sit
ting posture, what did you do with that
t6l6RTdu Ludb you SOI Ou SATURDAY e
Il don't know" she said, feebly, lapsing
into the languor from which my tones had
aroused her. 81 threw it down somewhere?
In one moment was on my knees by the
waste-basket, the next its heterogeneous con-
tents were scattered upon the floor.
Here it u.s." said, triumphantly holding
the yellow ball aloft. Then I smoothed out |
the crumpled paper hastily scanned the mes
sage it contained.
There was some severity, it must be con-
fessed, in my manner when. having conclud-
ed its perusal, rose from my STOPPING pos
ture and crossing the room seated myself by
Delia's side.
Look at this, said, passing my forefnger
under the irregular line. Then read with |
slow distinctness
"Will be at home Monday evening at |
o'clock"
Eyes, Monday evening"" / reiterated, "as
plain as the nose on my face"
A deep hush followed this disclosure like |
the pause in nature Immediately preceding |
storm. Then the rain came, falling in |
quick splashes upon the counterpart and |
upon the yellow paper which held in my |
hand, but it was only summer shower
Presently the sun burst forth gloriously. In |
a moment my friend was on her feet.
"There now," she exclaimed. rainbow of |
of smiles irradating her face, II can get my |
new bonnet after ALL" A moment after she |
sank back upon the pillows exhausted by the |
effort to stand. 81 do fell little shaky," she |
admitted, as I bent anxiously over her
"a little shaky ?" repeated, II don't won
der. You must let Mary Eliza bring you |
some breakfast before YOU attempt to do any.
thing"
"Umph," exclaimed that functionary, de- |
posting her well-laden tray and standing off |
oDhs~ IS L al Ia
what she want wild new bonnet, no way
She pretty enough wfdough one. OATS |
right. honey" she said, encouragingly, as
my friend replenished her empty plate. "You |
eat jes much as you want to. You got to |
make up for all dem vittles what fix an den |
scrape out in de gyarbage box" G.S.W.
Our Body.
Our body is the curious house in which we |
live. We may see it, feel it, weigh it, move |
it, notice what it does, and in many ways