The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-05-24

under them with the insensibie woman
in her arms, floating in dark cloud
down her back Harry leaped over the
wall, crying to the fellows who were at
play to follow him, and his sister ca1ne
running after them, leaving the young
invalid lady alone on the reclining chair,
for even the big dog had scampered off
at the heels of his master
Now that help was at hand Edith sud-
denly felt strength flow back into her
trembling limbs and courage come into
her heart. She set off with Harry Ash
ley in advance of the others after she had
given him an linking Of the situation.
II don't know who she is; am a
stranger in Littleield. / found her near
the brook, lying under a great pine tree.
She was then in commissions, but made
me understand she had been poisoned by
eating toadstools."
They found the old woman just where
Edith had left her under the oak, still
unconscious, and looking the image of
death. Miss Ashley bent over the thin
worn old frame with plying tenderness.
II do believe, Harry, said she, st is old
Celestina Rivers. She always has been
queer and poetical, and little wrong, |
fear. in the head. She must have stTayed
off in the woods and perhaps lost her
way.
Two of the young men had made a
support with their arms to carry the sick
woman down to the Ashley house, while
a third set off on run for the doctor.
Edith, who had now twisted up her
vagrant locks and put on her hat, pro-
posed to go and look for the old lady's
belongings she had been forced to leave
by the brook, and Harry Ashley and his
sister followed her through the thicket.
sit was awfully plucky of You, said
Harry, giving the young girl beside him
an open look of admiration, ito bring the
old lady out Of the woods"
"She is very light, responded Edith,
"and am young and strong. should
not have felt her weight on open ground"
81 remember all about old Celestina
Rivers now" said Fanny Ashley. "She's
a clergyman's daughter and comes of a
good family, but has lived alone many
years. know the ladies of the benev-
olent society tried to get her to enter the
Old Ladies' home. but she is very queer
and obstinate. remember hearing her
called the literary Miss Rivers when /
was little girl. She wrote great
many verses to the moon and stars, but
don't suppose people ever cared to buy
herpoetry."
Edith's face flushed slightly. Itseemed
she had helped to rescue literary sister,
and instantly she thought of her own
old age, and seemed to see herself a
creature of vain dreams, living alone
with her cat like poor old Celestina.
They had come to the pine tree by the
brook, and Edith picked up the MS. vol
ume with kind of lingering tender
ness. She meant to keep possession Of
it, and restore the precious relic to its
owner if she should recover without al
lowing profane eyes to scan poor old
Celestina's verses.
"Hellor' said Harry, as he came across
the luncheon basket and picked it up.
"Here are two soda crackers. | fear the
old lady must have eaten the toadstools
for nourishment.
No one ever goes hungry here in Lit
tlefeld, !" said Miss Ashley with cheerful
confidence. "Such thing was never
known"
People may not die absolutely of
munger, returned Harry, ebut suspect
there are cases of slow and genteel
starvation, and it looks as if the poetess
was one of them