New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-04


girls hand In the dusk each could see tne III
tentness of the others gaze.
sHes doing frst-rate now" After Rela nao
repeated this assertion she closed her eyes one
opened them suddenly.
Il don't think you ought to let me talk, She
said Il might tell you something you Know
And if l did" ,,.,.-
Another long gaze, at the end oil which 'Reha
drew n deem breath and did not attempt 10 nnlsh
her sentence. ,
The nurse gave her some milk She moved
about the with that ar she hau Oh Always
accommodating Immediately what she took in hand.
When she returned TO the bed, 'kena, whose
eyes had not left her moment. SAID:
you,n nromise not to read them, won't you9"
" promise.
Not even if l die"
Not even if you die"
,Pel;a feebly put out her hand and touched
tho nlace under which the letters lay.
since they worry you so, why not let me
hmm them? / will burn them before your eyes.
| That will be safe"
When Miss Yardley made this suggestion 'Relia
tried TO spring up IN the bed
Oh. ne! mo-" she cried.
VERY WE'LL" the nurse returned calmly. "Just
as you say"
Don't you know they are his ?' said 'Relia.
would you? Not if you loved him ?"
The girl did not wait for any answer. She
suddenly turned the conversation by asking with
a strangely poignant look of anxiety on her pinched
face:
Did you ever see my writingp'
"No."
81 can write beautiful! And lots of ways.
Go TO the top drawer in the bureau there and
take out that bundle of papers"
Miss Yardley brought the papers. She sat down
with them in her lap She looked at them one
by one They were pages with different copies"
and different kinds Of writing, really wonderfully
well done.
Il did them ALL" whispered 'Relia. II can
write just like anybody in the world. I can
But, oh, why do you let me keep talking? If 1
keep on l shall tell something l ought not to tell
Dan is doing frst-rate now"
She shut her eyes and seemed to be holding
them shut fast, clinching her hands at the same
time.
The nurse looked at her intently She was
telling herself that this girl was not out of her
head; she was weak, she could not control
her mind She spoke aloud things she wished
only to think. And there was some trouble about
Dan
At the end Of two days there seemed to have
been no change. 'Relia babbled on about Dan
and about her letters; but only TO Miss Yardley
did she ever mention her skill in writing.
On the third day the nurse sat leaning over
the bed. She held 'Relia's hands in both her
own She looked intently down at her patient,
so intently that stream of light seemed 70 pour
from the gray eyes into the hot, tired black ones
Suddenly 'Relia wrenched her hands from the
clasp which, held them. She put them over Miss
Yardleys bent neck. She began TO shiver vio-
lenty.
Il don't care! Pm going to tell you!" she
cried in the nurses ear The nurse remained
motionless and silent.
Its killing me You always look at me as
if you could help me- Mar just cries and cries"
The words now began to pour out, some OF
them Only half spoken.
Uncle Sam Bearse is awful rich. Dan want
doing very well in his store. He'd got to have
$1,000 He asked me to see if could borrow 1t
of Uncle Sam. And he wouldn't lend 1t. lie
said something that want nice bout Dan. Mebby
YOU don't know kept Uncle Sans books, down
to his big place at the Falls, fore l was sick
I did Finally wrote Uncle Sans name on
draft"
Miss Yardley's neck was clutched so savagely
that she could hardly breathe.
And now Dan keeps writing such loving let
tiers. and thanking me so for getting that money
of Uncle Sam And l couldn't bear TO burn UNI,
cause there was so much love in um, and every
day l expect Uncle Sam will find out somebody
did it. and guess I'd better die and be done
with it,"
The arms fell back and 'Relias head rolled on
the pillow and then lay mouonless.
1t was at this moment that 'Relia's mother
came creeping into the room in that frightened
way she had.
She clasped her hands and flung herself at the
bed.
Il was sure WANT no use!" she shrieked.
And now she's gomez
BE SILENT" said Miss Yardley. She has
tainted. Go out of the room!"
Mrs. Doggett quivered and quailed, but she
obeyed She went into the kitchen. Anger was
now mingled with her grief Mauldy Hunt was
there for some soar milk She heard 'Relias
mother, and this was what she heard:
It's the first trained nurse I've ever bad, and
it's the last. She's killing of 'Relia"
Matildy licked her lips like dog who sees its
dinner coming.
How Won TALK" she exclaimed And how
much be YOU really payin' of her, Mis- Doggett?'
Reia's mother, seeing the avidity in the face
before her tried to call little selfcommand TO
her aid.
Il didn't exactly mean what I said," she ex-
pIained My nerves are all unstrung. l amt
rightly responsible. L hope you won't repeat my
words, Matildy."
Matildy swallowed. She said she hoped she
knew what was proper to tell
She had her tin-pail of sour milk on her knee
Sbe waited 70 see if there would be any sequel
to this sudden appearance of Relia's mother. And
she was rewarded.
Presently the door opened. She saw the
81 strings She heard the low, clear voice OF
the nurse, the voice which. without seeming 10
have authority yet must be o1eyed. ..
Mrs Doggett, may l see you a few moments?
Wien the two were in the sitting-room MISS
Yardley said briefly: 49,, u. % osl, -
Rela is almost asleep. want 10 ASK II
Won have much money -
you have a few thousand dollars The woman
-. ,romntlv as a well-drilled child