Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-04-03

week, an eternity.
As the fever left MIN a collapse was fear
ed "He must he watched closely, said
the doctor to the nurse in charge ''the
crisis is at hand A little beef-tea would
be well, or crushed ice If he shows symptoms
of vomiting
The patient was very weak His ewes
we're closed his heart huttered feebly, his
skin had that dull lemon-yellow tint pecu.
liar to the disease. When stimulants were
given he opened his eyes. Am dying y
he said family. "Will you tell them my
name is not Henry Mcclure Il il die y
"The fever has crazed him, thought the
nurse as she passed on.
A minister paused at his bedside care
you prepared to die. my young friend y
'lf God wills il. yes. Do you think
am going to die, sir have a reason for
wishing to get we'll
81 cannot say ! hope you may live
"You see they do not know me here.
| They-think-I am-auother boy
Poor child, is it so bad as that He
does not know his own name. Have you
no friends my son They should be with
you"
AT Palatka-mothsr lives there, and
Minna--they do not know | am sick.
He was getting faint. The doctor stopped
on his rounds.
Must die ~ the boy whispered
Courage, MCGUIRE said the doctor,
feeling his pulse ''you are going to pull
through all right, my man"
They do not know me at this place.
gave them the wrong name. | was afraid
mother would see it and take the fever,
for | knew she would co ne"
e -
In their cottage house at Palatka the two
women sat still and waited for tidings from
the absent one.
II wonder why Hawes doesn't write =
said the mother, nervously. "He is always
so prompt, and he has written regularly
since the yellow fever set in am afraid
he is sick. He promised TO write every
day. and it is three days now since we have
heard"
He never failed us | am afraid he has
the fever, mother. But then he would let
us know
He has the plague know feel it. II
I'VE must 20 to him at once
my heart cries out for him.
DO you think they will let us in y
Refuse a mother in search of her child
impossible, Minna ~
er, mother y suggested Minna.
1t was done and a reply brought to them
Your son left the office we'll three days
since. He did not return TO his work. We
can find no trace of him. He may have
gone north. -
He would have come to us. said the
girl, proudly. "Hawes is not a coward
he is i'll, perhaps dying We must leave on
the next tram. But there may still be a
letter at the post.
There was no letter, but the postmaster
eyed her curiously. Halves is down with
the fever he said, slowly, 81 have seen
his name in The Times Union.'
Minna turned pale. Let me see it.
The paper was three days old she hast-
ly ran down the list at the bottom she
found her brothers name.
I'VE are going to him now," she said
quickly, but where shall we find him if he
be living =
Fortunately the ride between Palatka
and Jacksonville is a short one and the
same afternoon saw them at their destina-
ton. They went first to the office, then to
the boarding house. and lastly to the hos
pitals, but no Hawes was to be found No
one knew anything of young Mcleod
Bsffied, they turned away in despair The
mother was ready to sink with fright and
anguish
"He is dead my boy is dead, and know
not where they have taken him, she said
wildly. " shall never see my bonnie
Halves again" She sat down on the steps
of deserted house to rest
They may have overlooked him, " said
Minna. "Why didn't we think of that! or he
may have been too i'll to give his name
am going back, mother. am sure we will
find him"
II am looking for my brother" she said
to the official who tried to force her back
You are risking your life, miss"
God will protect MS. Come, mother"
Oh, it was fearful sight. At every turn
collins empty and filed met her eye Sui
phurous odOrs assailed her scent Tears,
groans. rawlings fell upon her ears. The
dead and the dying met her vision.
Your brother must be dead, miss, ~ said
nurse at St. Luke's, Though we don't
know the names of all who come in. There
is a young fellow here named Mcclure who
says that isn't his right name"
Minna started
Mcclure was mothers maiden name
Will you take me to his bed ~
The nurse led the way to Halves bed
Ho loNcT mas run It's COuTse, she shlti,
but the crisis is not over. He is very
much prostrated.
She had found him at last but she was
very calm now, for life or death might hang
upon the next few minutes. He lay with
his ewes closed, a mere wreck of his former
self. The nurse put cup to his lips.
"You will get well, now your mother
and sister have come, ;" she said in her usual
tone. Drink this first"
Together they knek at his side.
why did you deceive us p
why did you give the wrong name p
What is his name :" asked the nurse.
Halves Mcleod"
The nurse knelt down beside the bed and
whispered, "Ah, seeit now; understand
it The noble hoy was afraid you would
see his name on the list and come to him
and take the scourge yourself.
Speak, Halves, my brave boy, my darl-
ing son, is this true :"
The boy opened his eyes. They fell upon
the trio kneeling there, and the light that
leaped forth from their orbs was not of
death but of life.
He was too weak to answer, but he press
ed her hand.