The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-06-26
tbe e,plratIop OF that time I vii, "a.

on his arm. sis there any hopeP'
He eyed me gravely. II fear not"
"Can nothing be done?"
Nothing, except to keep her Is ouie
and warm as possible. have left som,
medicine with the nurse which will bel,
TO alleviate the pain. I shall be able t
Judge of her better when return; the
illness will have then reached its crisis
In a couple OF minutes more he haC
left the house, and a young maid-servant
showed me to the nursery.
"Where is the Contessa?' / asked In
q whisper, as / trod softly up the stairs
1.-THE Contessa?" said the girl, open
ing her eyes in astonishment SIN her
own bedroom, observation-disclosures
would not think of leaving it; because
of the danger of infection"
smothered rough oath that rose
involuntarily to my lips. Another proof
thought.
"Has she not seen her child?"
"Since the Illness? Oh no, Eccel-
lenza!''
Very gently, and on tip-toe, I entered
the nursery. The blinds were partially
drawn as the strong light worried the
child, and by the little white bed sd,
| Assunta, her brown face pale and almost
rigid with anxiety. AT my approach
she raised her eyes to mine, muttering
| softly:
at is always so. Our lady will have
the best of all, first the father, then the
child, it is right and just-only the baG
are left"
"Papa!'' moaned a little voice feebly.
and Stella sat up among her tumbi;d
pillows, with wide opened wild eyes, fe-
yerish cheeks and parted lips, through
which the breath come in quick uneasy
gasps. Shocked at the marks of iii
tense suffering in her face, l put m
arms tenderly round her, she smile
family and tried to kiss me. pressed
the poor parched little mouth and muir
INJURED soothingly.
"Stella must be patient and quiet
Stella must lie down, the pain will BE-
easier so; there! that is right" as TIN
child sank back on her bed Obediently.
still keeping her gaze fixed upon me.
knelt at the bedside, and watched he
yearningly, while ASSunta moiStened hci
lips. and did all she could TO alleviat,
the pain endured so meekly by the poo.
little thing whose breathing gre
quicker and fainter with every tick
the clock. You are my Papa, are yc.
not?" she asked. deep flush crOssin.
her forehead and cheeks. | made I.
answer, only kissed the small hot han
/ held. Assunta shook her head.
"Ah pOverinetta! The time is near
she sees her father. And why not? II
loved her well. he would come to fctr.
lor cnrtoip ba inf yH-nnll L..
him.
And she fell on her knees and began l.
tell over her rosary with great devotio.
Meanwhile Stella threw one little ar,
around my neck,-her eyes were Ia.
shut,-she spoke and breathed with il
creaSing difficulty.
"My throat aches so, Papa!7 she sal.
pitifully. Can you make it better?'
81 wish could, my darling!" mul
INJURED. II would bear all the pain fn
you if it were pOSsible!'
She was silent minute. Then 81.
said
what long time you have bee.
away! And now / am too i'll to pla
with your Then a faint smile crosse
her features. 'See poor To-to!'' she eN
claimed feebly, as her eyes fell on ba
tered old doll in the spangled dress of
Carnival clown, that lay at the foo
of her bed. ''Poor dear old Toto! Il
will think do not love him any mort
because my throat hurts me. Give hin
to me, Papa"
And as / obeyed her request she en-
encircled the doll with one arm, Will
she still chung to me with the other, ant
added
Toto remembers you, Papa; 20;
know you brought him from Rome, AM
he is fond of you. too-but not as fond a.
l am!' And her dark eyes glittered few
erishly. Suddenly her glance fell on As
sunta, whose grey head was buried in her
hands as she knelt.
'.Assunta!'
The old woman looked up.
"Bambinetta!'' she answered and hel
aged voice trembled.
"Why are you crying?" Inquire
Stella with an air of plaintive surprise
Are you not glad to see Papa?"
Her words were interrupted by a sharl
spasm of pain, which convulsed he.
whole body-she gasped for breath
she was nearly suffocated. Assunta and
l raised her up gently and supported her
against her pillows; the agony passed
slowly, but left her little face white anC
rigid, while large drops of sweat gath
cred on her brow. 1 endeavored L
soothe her.
Darling, you must not talk,"I whis
pered imploringly; TRY to be very still
then the poor throat will not ache =
much"
She looked at me wistfully. After
minute or two she said gently:
kiss me, then, and l will be quit
good" l kissed her fohdly, and sh,
closed her eyes. Ten, twenty, thirt!
minutes passed and she did not stir Al
the end of that time the doctor entered
He glanced at her-gaye me warning
look, and remained standing quietly at
the foot of the bed. Suddenly the child
woke, and smiled diyinely on all three o.
US.