Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1891-10-03


hand, for she knew that watchers are al
ways hungry in the middle of the night,
when hollow craving is induced by the
long vigil. The two women were sitting
with low chairs drawn close together
and talking in whispers. The lamp was
turned low in the sick room where the
old man lay, and little round stand
stood at the beds head, covered with a
white cloth and neat array of medicine
bottles, spoons and glasses.
'There amt nothing to do but to give
him the drops at two hours intervals ac-
cording to the doctors ORDERS" said
Hannah, as she leaned forward in her
chair. Poor woman, she was SO worn
with work and watching and worry if
she sat down to rest for moment she
dropped fast asleep. Nature had at last
asserted itself over her indomitable en-
ergy.
"You see, I've been KEEP up three
nights running" she said apologetic-
ally, as she began to nod in Ruby's face,
"and I'm just starvin' for sleep. 1t was
good of you to come and offer tc sit up.
hope Jane is quiet"
"Yes, she's gone to bed like lamb,
with one of them senseless logs of wood
she calls her babies, and singing to her
self little old tunes she used to know
when a child. There amt no fire any
where round the premises, and I've
locked up the matches. You think he's
goin' to git along, Hannah" and she
glanced toward the sick mans room.
"Yes, the doctor says he's sure he'll
get up, though it may be slow, ard per-
haps he'll never have his speech again
quite perfect, but his mind and memory
are clearin' every day"
"Well," said Ruby after moment Of
reflection, II know jest how you feel,
but if the Lord in his providential deal
in's should see fit to take the old man
away-to let him down easy, you know,
it might be a great mercy to you"
Hannah had caught herself nodding
again, but these i'll advised words reused
her like a strong shake on the shoulder.
81 don't know what yOu mean," said
she, "about its bein' mercy to me
to have him took away. He's a blessing
and comfort and daily example in
goodness and patience; but of course
you can't know look on it as a privilege
to wait on him; and as for his making a
mite of trouble, he never does. don't
wonder you care more for cats than you
do for folks
Ruby, in spite of her adipose tissue,
felt quite hattened by this outburst of
Hannah's wrath, and took moment to
catch her breath. lyon needn't fly up
in that way as if you meant to scratch
my eyes out" she said pathetically. 81
didn't mean mite O harm. l was
thinkin' of all your burdens, Hannah,
and that if in the Lords mercy he was
took away
Don't say that again" said Hannah
half sobbing. ~ can't bear to think of
it; but I'm sorry spoke up quick to you
as did, Ruby, it was my bad temper,
and my nerves all tangled and out of tune
with watchin' and worry. know you
mean well. Ruby; you always do"
Ruby was left alone at her post swathed
in some sort of bagging, formless gar
ment called double gown, with her
three shawls about her and tbe .worsted
fascinator tied over her ears. She sat
in rocking chair in the shaded sick
room with her feet in woolen slippers,
supported on cricket. The old man on
his bed scarcely stirred, and his breath
ing was slow aud noiseless. A lamp
burned on the table in the kitchen and
soft purring sound came from the fire
in the stove. The house was buried in
silence, and the slow ticking of the clock
made itself heard as it beat of the meas
ure of the night hours.
After midnight Ruby had given the
old man his first teaspoonful of the doc
tors mixture, and he had sunk away in
u more profound state Of rest. She
heard the clock strike two; then slight
mist came over Ruby's eyes, and though
she always said she had not been asleep
more than five minutes when it happen
ed, it is probable that two good hours
sped away, when, with her chin on her
breast, she was sunk in gentle somno-
fence. Suddenly at last she was reused
by feeling cold draft of air on her
back. In a fright she reused herself,
turned toward the old man and saw his
dim outline on the bed, then looked into
the kitchen where the outer door stood
open, and . slight movement and rus
Ting of garments betrayed itself near the
table where the lamp stood.
1t seemed to Ruby that her heart
stopped beating. She crept a step near
er the door, and her eyes fell on figure
with long, white, trailing robe, big
fiowered shawl thrown over its shoul-
ders and wreath Of red artiticials on
its tangled elf locks. 1t was moving
about between the window and the
table with a fantastic motion, u kind Of
dance step, light as a feather, and close
to her heels was great tortoise shell
cat looking up with winkiess green eyes,
Ruby saw in moment it was her sister
Jane with their household pet Crunpet'
Jane had slipped out, as sometimes hap
pened in the night, and was making one
of her characteristic prowls about the
town in the small hours, which had CIV
en- rise to more than one ghost story
among the neighbors' children.
Ruhy afrai1 of startling the old man