Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-11-12

Jne door Tor nina lean, miserable crea-
ture, with pale eyes void of expression.
Her thin hair hung over her neck, her cali
co dress fell Imply from her sharp shout
ders.' She stared at the doctor as he en-
tered, and he could see there were tears in
her childlike eyes,
"Joe's sick" she said slowly, gazing into
his face.
Whats the matter?"
"He-he's goin to die maybe" she fall
tered piteously.
mo, hope not.
"Joe's sick" she repeated in a whisper,
shaking her head.
who's comep asked voice from the
bed in corner of the room. Nellie, girl,
who are you talkin With"
ut is DIR. Ford, whom you sent for, )" said
the physician, approaching the bed.
One candle lighted dimly the untidy,
comfortless place, showing stove and a
man with tumbled hair and rough beard
lying among the pillows of his bed.
"Oh, the doctor" said he, with feverish
eyes staring from under shaggy brows.
How long have you been ill9" asked DIR.
Ford, sitting down on rickety chair.
TITS week since l give up, but I've
been feeling bad for long time"
The doctor placed his little thermometer
under the patients tongue and waited ST.
lently.
"Joe's SICK" moaned the girl, peering
out of the shadows
The sufferer seemed to be irritated by
the repetition Of these words and made an
impatient gesture. but as he did so glanced
pitifuny at the slouching figure
HUhaf WON mad m nat Dc ,xood ,,urai,1o,
said the doctor after examining the pa
tent
The mans face darkened. The woman
lowered aimlessly over the stove.
"She's my wife" said the sick man
hoarsely. 81 know she amt quite like
other folks. But she's peaceable and good;
not bold and noisy like other women. ]
pitied her first off; then got kind o. fond
of her And she"-
The girl had crept to the bedside and
stood there with her vacant. troubled face,
fumbling with the pillows
"Joe," she said much as mother might
speak her baby's name.
"She can't do nothing more for me mol
for herself" whispered the man as he
clasped one of the fluttering hands in his
poor thing" murmured the doctor.
II can earn good wages when am well, y
went on the invalid, land did the cook.
ing and kept the house tidy then. Now
everything's going wrong. She spoils all
the victuals, but she don't mean to-"
At this moment something on the stove
boiled over with loud hiss and filled tbs
room with the odor of scorcbing milk. The
girl started, then moved toward the ruined
mess.
"Oh, dear mel" said the sick man under
his breath. Don't burn yourself, Nellie, y
he called as II to child.
TITS scorched, Joe," she said, the tears
overlooking at last.
"Never mind, my girl, throw 1t away
We can get plenty more. You see, doctor
he said in his hoarse voice, II can't speak
rough to her She's my wife"
The doctor sat with bent head, speech.
less.
IN send you nurse, my man." he said
after pause. What you need is good
care. will come again tomorrow" And
with a low bow 20 man and wife, nov
clinging together hand in hand, the doctor
said good night and went on his way.
Thank you, SIR" called out the sicb
man, much moved.
The girl started and wiped the last teal
from her lashes.
Two hours later a capable, kind hearted
woman was installed as nurse in the littl,
home by the river She brought with her
food in abundance and comforts of al
kinds.
DIR. Ford drove slowly homewartl
Though it was late bright light shon,
from the parlor window as he stopped
The glow Of wood fire illuminated tn,
| room as he entered. But no one came /,
meet him. His wife sat in her rocker fas
asleep. The lamp threw a radiance owe
her bronze brown hair and one delicat.
cheek as she slept with head against tn.
crimson back Of the chair Her face wor,
sweet, childlike expression, with toucl
OF pathos about the lips, and her hands la1
closely clasped in the lap of her gown o.
soft dove color.
Near the fire stood a white draped tabl,
holding a tempting little repast, carefully
arranged. From a slender glass in ths
midst hung one red rose. The doctor knew
she had cut it for him from her favorit.
plant. On pretty plate reposed the fiaki
est and most delectable of mince pies.
DIR. Ford stopped and kissed his wife'i
fair cheek reverently She stirred, then
opened her large eyes slowly.
"Oh, you have come. l am sorry wa
not awake to meet you. But here's 9
mince pie. l sent over to your mother fol
one"
Hang the pief' cried John Ford. "Elin
or, ] am brute"
"Oh, no, dear-only man instead of an
archangel, as l once believed you to be
But never mind. How do you like my
dressp
ut is divine and you are an angel, Elm
or. But, dearest, come and sit by me-
have just been TO see a gentleman. Iwant
! to tell you all about it. "-Buffalo News
The Ligbtninglike Loon.