Middletown transcript., 1891-07-30
OLD FLETCHER
BY FLORENCE WATERS ssEDEKER.

.
HE early winter nigh: had fallen
upon Leipsic. Already light
twinkIed in most of the win,
dows. Still Frank Fletcher sat 10
darkness, 1t was only one of his idle
habits to reverize at twilight. Fletch.
er, according to the American colonyl
had many idle habits. He was arous
ed BY a sharp rap at his door.
The rap was followed by the appear.
ance of the janitress. Lamp in hand,
she strobe across tte room, tall,
gaunt figure in wooden short gown and
heelIess felt slippers, and set her bur-
den upon the table with a thump
which made the fame fare up and
the porcelain shade rattle.
But instead of retreating with the
usual Good evening" Frau Seidl
threw a stealthy look over each
shoulder, then bore down upon
Fletcher, and putting her face close
to him, whispered:
He has been awful to night. Did
you hear him 7"
"Who 2" asked Fletcher, wheeling
back.
He," she croaked, in the same
loud whisper. The young Ameri
can that is i'll up there" with q thrust
Of the thumb. toward the ceiling.
"Illw The gentleman sprang up.
Il have missed him !; but / thought
he had gone off on some trip"
"Yes, these three weeks" sighed
the woman in deep melancholy. 1t
did not seem much at first, bat this
week be has goue down fast. And
why the good God should send me
suca trouble, with all my work and
the children, and the good man So"
Has be doctor? Is he we'll
looked afterf Why didn't you tell
me before?
"He told me not to," with another
groan. He came to me three weeks
ago. red and trembling, and he said /:
" Frau Seidl, believe l am going to
be trife ill. I am subject to these
attacks. But it will last only few
days. / do not want any doctor.
And if you will do exactly what l say
and take care of me yourself without
telling anyone else, I will pay you
well for your trouble when | am up
again" But doubt now whether he
ever will be up again." said the
woman with q still deeper groan,
" and it has cost me considerable al.
ready for the gruels and the fires, and
being up Of nights when be was extra
bad, and having the toothache all
day
Fletcher seized the lamp. "Show
me his room"
Frau Seidl led the way along the
dim hall to the stair.landing, and ur
to the fourth story Of the great build
ing. There, together with the jani-
tors apartments, were number o.
small rooms. 1t was the door Of one
Of these which the woman threw open
to Fletcher.
He entered with an anxious heart
The little room, with its one dormer-
window commanding the city roofs,
might have been cozy enough wher
warm and tidy, but now cold, i'll kept,
with this figure upon the narrow bed
Heavens could this be the broad
shouldered, checked young fel
low whose glorious physique Fletcher
had so admired in their chance meet
ings? He turned upon the red-Aan
nelled vampire who hovered over the
foot-board, and kept up. q groanins
accompaniment of Oh Lord Lord!'
to the unconscious mans groans.
Woman, build a fire. Clean vi
this wretched place. Send your Hans
instantly for DR.. Bahrdt. Tell hin
there ia not moment to lose." With
his finger upon the low pulse he seat
ed himself by the bedside. Such
cases he had often met with before il
this very city of Leipsic, of studentl
made i'll through too hard work and
too close economy, but never of one
brought so low for the lack, probably
Of simple human attention.
When the doctor arrived he looked
doubtful. The patient was very i'll
that was certain. But with good
care "-here his sharp eyes swept tbs
unsavory little room-''and with gcoc
nursing "-a second glance rested
upon the calculating Frau Seidl-
"there was no telling-he might pull
through"
That very night cherry-facee
nurse was installed in the vampire
place. And in the ensuing week.
human skill and kindness wrough
untiringly, until the sick man wa
brought slowly back to life.
As he gained strength it became
clear that something was preyine
upon his mind, was even retardine
bis recovery. Fletcher therefore wal
not unprepared when, one Sunday
afternoon, the young man turned sud
denly to him, and, with flush break
ing over bis pale face. exclaimed
passionately:
"Mr. Fletcher, this is all wrong"
"What is all wrong, my dear fel.
low 2"
Gall this trouble you are having
and this care, and this expense, that
myself shall not be able to repay i'm
mediately. Not that I am quite sncl
q pauper as seem. l have rich rela
tives enough, who would be Willing
and glad to help me. Bot | am to-
proud. Perhaps ! am wrong. but o
2 w {