Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-19


pies. an go home, an mind you shut the pantry
door"
II don't want your pie" said Sam Bright
man, and he coughed again.
well you can go without II then il you
don't want i. after all this rumpus," returned
Sophia There's one thing | want to know.
What was it you tipped over and broke in the
IantryI''
Il guess twas dish" replied Sam Bright
man feebly.
"A dish. what kind Of dish?"
II dunno"
81 'spose it WAS one Of 'em nice covered ones
Now, think you'd better go home. You can
take that chicken pie or leave it. jest as you've
mind to. II your folks starvin' the wav
you say they are. guess you'll be glad nough
to take IT. an il you try any such work again.
you won't get off so easy" Sophia listened for
a reply or Sam Brightman's retreating foot
steps, but there was dead silence from below.
Sam Brishtman," said Sophia, ''you speak"
She trembled vague alarm was stealing over
her. Sam Brightman," she called again i'm
peratlvelv; but there was no response. Sophia
backed into her room. keeping her eyes toward
the stairs She shut the door and put chair
against lt-there was no lock; then she lighted
a lamp and dressed herself She even smoothed
her hair and looked scrutinizingly in the glass.
II look awful PALE" she muttered.
Then she took the lamp and opened the door
cautiously. Everything was still. Sophia stole
softly to the head of the stairs, held up the
lamp before her and peered down
There indeed lay Sam Brightman. poor, old
free-lance in the poverty and labor question,
huddled in aforlorn heap the foot of the stairs.
Land sakes. gasped Sophia. hes in a fit."
She went down, her knees shook under her
she set the lamp on the stairs, bent over Sam
BrightInan. and touched his shoulders gingerly
'.Sam." she called loudly at him, ''Sam what's
the NATTER"
Sans face, upturned insensibly to the lamp
light, was CHASTITY. Sophia trembled violently.
no INN ct,oty-
ing voice. sam. be YOU dead? Sam Bright
man, for the land sakes, do speak to me-.
Sam did not stir. Sophia stepped over him
and ran into the sitting room for the camphor
held her handkerchief wet with it to his nose.
.'Smell of il" she painted. "Sam. smell of it.
Be you dead, Sam; be you dead? Land sakes,
what shall dor
Sam gasped family and tried to rise. She
pushed him back. Lay STILL" said she, agi-
tatedly; 'lay still. You've had bed spell, but
you're comm to. Lay still Smell Of this
campfire"
where be I?' moaned Sam Brightman, look
ing with piteous. bewildered eyes on hers.
Fright here in my house-Sophia's. Don't
you know? Don't you remember? You've
known me ever since we were children. You're
right here. Don't you worry"
Sam Brigntman was, for the time past worry
ing. He shut his eyes and lny with his mouth
open, painting feebly. ''Sam Brightman, look
here, said Sophia, suddenly.
He opened his eyes YEARLY.
''How long is it since youhad anythin' to eat2
Sam did not reply; his pale face took an
obstinate look.
Il believe you're starvin'," said Sophia
sharply. II never heard of such doin's. A
pretty piece of work i should call it. Don't
you know no better than to do this way? Now
you lay still; don't you try to get up"
Sophia went hurriedly into her parlor bed
room and got some pillows and comfortables;
then she arranged Sam Brightman as easily as
she could at the foot of the stairs. She kept
enjoining him not to move lest he should faint
again. and he showed little disposition to. His
last stress of mind had quite exhausted him for
the time; nobody would ever know how little
he had eaten and how much he had worried for
the last few months.
Sophia Hurd was methodical in all her ways;
ct night she always left her kitchen fire ready
to light in the morning. Now all she had to
do was to touch match to it and set on a
little kettle of broth left over from her chicken
pies. When it was hot she emptied it into a
bowl and carried it, with spoon, to poor Sam
Brightman.
she, and she might have been Sans mother
from her tone.
Sam made an effort to sit up, but sank back
again Cant you set up?" said she. "You
try, you've got to drink this or you can't get
home. | never see such work.
Sam made another effort and fell back.
For the land sakes. said Sophia, and her
voice had an odd quizzical tenderness. "Well,
open your mouth"
She extended spoonful Of hot broth. the
fragrant steam of it came in Sans face; he
shut his lips tight.
.'You open your mouth this minute" said
Sophia, and he opened it.
Sophia fed the whole bowl of BROTH spoonful
by spoonful, to Sam Brightman. and, as she
did so, an expression came into her sharp,
homey face which had never been there before
which her friends would not have recognized
as hers, nor she. had she seen herself in the
glass. 1t WAS the look of a mother feeding
child. and with 1t curious averted effect as il
she were turning shamefacedly from her own
eyes. When the bowl drained she got up,
from her knees and carried it into the kitchen
hurriedly.
There, guess you'll feel better now" said
she with half laugh. You lay still q few
minutes longer an guess you can get up"
She got basket down from the top shelf in
the pantry and packed it with food. She set
| in one of the chicken pies at the bottom.
Presently she heard Sam staggering into the
room. Here's q basket for you to take home."
said she. Il never heard of such work" She
did not turn her head Sam made no reply.
He went straight toward the door, unboited and
opened it, and the night air rushed in.
Ain ( you goin' to take this basket?" asked
Sophia.
Sam made no reply. He stepped out weakly.
Sophia followed after him with the basket.
III you amt equal to carryin' O it III 60 with
you," she said. II shan't be afraid to come
home. It's as light day and The neighbors
are all abed. so there won't nobody sec u.s.
Il don't want your basket sad Sam, with
feeble gruffness, pushing it back as she ap-
preached him.
well, l should call it pretty work. Why
don't you want it? Had you ruther have stole
it'll
''les. had" said Sam, fercely. He went
feebly down the walk and she stood looking
after him. ''Hullo. Sophi." the parrot sung
out with wild futter when she went in. She
unpacked the basket and set the food carefully
away. Then she locked the door, pnt stick
In the window whereby Sam Brightman had en-
tered and went to bed again.
She could not sleep any, and heard the town
clock when it struck the hours until morning
She got up at the first light and dressed herself
again. When she brushed her hair before the
glass she ran out her tongue and looked at it
anxiously. 1T looks feverish," said she.
She made herself a bowlful Of sage tea for
her breakfast 1t was her panacea She had
been brought up to consider it salutary and
comforting draught; and this morning she really
felt i'll, she thought. So seldom had her deter
mined calm been infringed upon that Its dis
turbance impressed her like real bodily all
ment.
After she had finished the sape tea she he ted