New-York tribune., 1891-05-24

jest let him come. l can't give him up / can't
/ couldn't tell nobody. It's KILN Of mel"
George put out her hot hands and shut them
hard. "Oh, how i hate heri Do you think !
en- let her have him2 hate her / d'know
but 1 could try to give him up If it wasn't to
her. But can't l cant"
She spoke as one does WHO has been long
denied speech on certain subject. and now the
words came in torrents. incoherent. sometimes
ambiguous, running into each other.
"Shes ben after him agin. She's made him
believe she loves him. He says he can't seem
to help himself; he says he's mad for her; he
says it's like bein' drunk. But he's tryin to do
right"
Thus after her wild talk had Gained little.
There seemed nothing for Rowena to say. She
was bewildered. She could only hold her friend
closely and wait
At last the stream of words ceased entirely.
George lay still on Rowena's shoulder. She was
both exhausted and relieved. She fell asleep.
The afternoon was almost gone when Rowena
had come Now as she sat there motionless, the
sun went down and the long spring twilight began.
The robins sang their evening song The sound
Of the frogs was louder than ever. She grew
stiff and her limbs ached. When 1t was very
dusl1y in the room the door opened softly, and
Mrs. Warner looked in. Seeing that still group
she noiselessly closed the door and crept down
the stairs.
"I do hope Georgies goin' to be better" she
said to her husband as she stole about her evening
work. "She fast asleep with her head on Row
eny's shoulder,
II do hope So too." was the response. It's
ben mighty hard on you. Sh'll I bring home
some herrin from the Corners? I'm goin' to
hitch up m see bout them seed p'taters.
Eunice and her mother continued to creep about
the lower rooms for half hour longer.
At the end of that time Rowena came down
stairs for glass of fresh water.
George had wakened. She wanted Rowena TO
stay all night with her. Would Eunice go over
and tell Mrs. Tuttle, so that nobody need to
worryp Whereupon that child started of on
run to do her errand
Mrs Warner drew bucket of water from the
we'll As she dipped tumbler In it she looked
wistfully at the girl before her.
Z" How do you think she is, RowenyP' she asked
in whisper.
"Pm too ignorant about sickness answered
Rowena, but it doesn't seem to me she Is DAN
gerously ill-and yet she suffers
Mrs Warner set the glass by the sink instead
of giving it to her companion. There was IN
tensest curiosity as well as concern in her lace
as she said in still lower whisper
Sne s got 60metnlng Oh her H'h'"' III" '"N
The girl hesitated. She resented the question;
but she thought she must give some answer 10
Georges mother
"I'm afraid she has," she said.
"Thereln exclaimed Mrs Warner. but still
whispering. "I told um it want all humor n
'tant. Is what she's got on her mind bout jim
"You must ask Georgie, Mrs. Warner
The woman now remarked that she didn't see
how under the canopy it could be about jim.
Tim was the best fellow in the world. n he'd
ben near crazed cause Georgle was sick She
did hone Georgic hadn't got any other fellcr III
her mind. looking sharply at Rowena as she
| said these last words. The girl was thankful 1t
was 90 dark. She hurried back up the steep
stairs with the water She helped George take
off rho mink wrapper and prepare for bed She
| found her friend 10 he pitiably weak and full OF
fancies. so different from the sturdy, commonplace
| girl she was when in health
Al last Rowena Law down beside her and held
| the feversh hands closely. She was surprised
| that George soon dropped asleep.
Put IL was long before she herself could sleep
STRANGE thoughts trooped with almost painful
vividness through her mind. Now thai she was
| alone she could recall the face ana voice ana
| manner of the man who had ridden so many
miles by the side of the boatcart that day. ohc
| could think of Miss Phillips.
| She must 20 back next week. She must not
| loco roo much time before the long summer vaca-
tion when her lessons would cease, and she would
| bo NJ home She almost dreaded being at home
| a. 1ono Where would Miss Phillips spend the
summer?
FINALLY. long after the clock down stairs had
| struck H. she also fell asleep
She was awakened while it was still dark by
snasmodic clutch around her neck, and by Georges
| whispering shrluy
| .I,u tell YOU what you must do-you must see
her,"
Rowena thought at first that her friend was
| dreaming She tried TO soothe her
"Yon Jest promise you'll see hcr-promise
persisted George, "and don't you let no mortal
know it,"
what person she was TO see. But how could she
do it?
| g Amt vou goin' to promise ?" asked George.
| a Don,t Won care nothin' bout me? I've ben
dependin' on ye l thought you wouldn't fail
me-"
The pirls chest began to heave. and she began
to tremble.
"I'll see her." said Rowena
| OF want YOU to see her to-day this very day."
| .ru see her to-day-if can have fathers horse
and wagon"
George stopped trembling.
Rowena felt herself In very humiliating posi-
ton but she could not retreat
"You must give Inc some idea of what am to
| cav 70 her II she is what you think. she won't
be agreeable.
George replied in rather strong voice
"Tell her." she began. tell her I'm dyin'--"
"But you are not.
| at he tool / guess / know when I'm dyin
| bor IN
| ,ron, mo II she stops her nasty, mean tricks he'll
gt over il. | know he will He told me soemny
fiat he believed was the best girl and would
make him the best wife. He said he wanted to
| throw off her influence. but he couldn't seem TO-
| I;r,s raal rood. but he amt got so much resolu