The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-03
LA GRIPPE"
"Is Il q dresm7
A dream. No more, no morel
Nay. look not back
L. -

naQ IL again, ana seemed 10 nave Rll re-
quisite conditions, so l resigned myself
from the first and steadily refused medi-
cine. "No," l said, 'just let me die! 1t
would be better So" And talked of my
approaching dissolution with such calm
ness as nearly to drive my care-takers
frantic. When a dainty and tempting
meal was brought up to me met it with
| euch touching appeals to know how long
| this was to last, and how sorry l was to
| give trouble, that the bringer-up thereof
was overcome with emotion, and had to
retire to the next room to conceal Der
grief, and by the time she'd get back
would have everything eaten up.
My object in life now is to establish
training school for nurses. believe it is
| the unskillful nurse who defeats the skill
full physician. I've no fault to find with
outsiders. They've been lovely had
! fresh strawberries and tomatoes and fruits
and flowers and good things enough sent
| me to stock a store. It's the insiders /
complain of. OF course there are allow
ances to be made. When people have
| been called up half dozen times night
| for three weeks, to see somebody die, the
thing becomes monotonous, and they
prefer that matters should be precipitated
one way or another. Very we'll! If they
were so resigned to let me die wouldn't
crafty them. 1t would be wrong! SO l
got up and went downstairs. But when
/ realized how cold and cruel the world
was lit was the 18th OF April and showing
hard had relapse, and retired perma-
nentlv. or. like the grounding, to await a
| change.
That night while my nurses sat By the
fire, lay very quietly turning over in my
mind the reasons for such a relapse. Il
wouldn't admit I'd been imprudent.)
had it,
THE biscuit for supper. They were
| heavy
'Iou know that isn't So" said one,
'they were light as feather. Besides,
you didn't have any. You ate only light
| bread.
didn't cay anything. You can't trife
with conscience with death and eternity
staring you in the face. Presently fixed
! upon it. Some one had opened the door
| Good gracious. How are we to get in?
| Do you expect us to come through the
| transom ?"
The children might enjoy climbing in
in that style, but you can't expect us to do
| it."
l said something about sick people be-
/ ing humored and martyrs not all being
dead. "Pity but what they were," whis-
| pered some one, which was very cruel
| no | 80
| school shall be Never to carry on a con-
Versation in stage whispers in the pres
| ence of the sick"
tried not TO listen, but heard one say
''Of course, if she dies Il knew who she
meant) the place will be sold. Too bad.
It's looking so pretty just now"
| eyes, said the other, land Mrs.
will buy it. l heard her saw she would if
ever it was for SALE"
Never. I'd deed it to the orphans home
| first
The next was something about final
arrangements" That's all right" said
the other, cheerfully, 1 thought, "Mr Vail
will attend to that" l was beginning to
feel creepy when | heard: About her
| wedding dress? Shame, isn't it. to bury
all that lovely white satin Never mind,
we can cut off the train and back widths
they'll make beautiful fancy work" They
might have felt my look. But some peo-
| pie have very little feeling. l was finding
that out Directly one said: well, let's
| 60 and get what rest we can. She's sure
to let us know when the end approaches"
Then [ was left alone. Neverl I'd
never call them. I'd die first That was
what I'd do, and when they came and
found me dead. then they'd feel! 1t
would serve them right to get well and up
set their plans, but that l thought would
hardly be fair to the doctor. And then
there was housekeeping to do On the
whole, l concluded I'd rather die; it was
much easier. j tried to imagine how the
people would feel when they heard the
news. gave that up. l would like to
have the fire bells rung, thought, but
| they don't do that for woman. Still, in
the case Of a public benefactor-here |
| tried to remember what I'd done, but
| couldn't However, that didn't matter.
| I'd let it go. | hoped the newspapers
would do a good part by me. l rather
| thought they would I've written lots of
stories for them.
By this time was tired of thinking, so
| shut my eyes and passed quietly away.
Yes, they did feel badly I'll do them
| that justice. They felt dreadfully. And
everything was done just as | wished it;
1 my IlgnteSt WISH was carried out. w nat
seemed to impress them most was that
was SO still, so very still. How was | to
help myself?) How lovely the flowers,
and such lots of pausies. But / was so
cold-so deadly cold! wished they'd
take Van the OWL out of the corner; he
stared at me so with his great, un winking
ewes. | could feel il with mine shut.
| Presently 1 felt cold nose thrust against
nv hand, and heard low, pitiful whine
| for the caress that had never before been
refused.
Then they were taking me away.
thought they might let Rover go, but they
much preferred that Annie Rooney should
| be left at home. She has such bad man
ners, and barks almost necessarily. l
knew what would happen. While they
were off enjoying themselves at the fu-
neral Gen. Beauregard would get the bird.
| / felt sure of it, What would become of
things when | was no longer here to look
| after them?
Presently | heard our church bell-toll-
| ing. But the sound did not fall half so
heavily upon my heart as it had once
| before.
Katherine was there, crossing herself
and praying for me. Dear, good soul! She
always prays for me. hoped they'd let
| her ride in one of the carriages.
The choir sang Tell Aunt Rhody" very
touchingly, and all was going well when
4 Al