The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1892-01-23
MISS KELLY'S CRISIS

oAAOA ~ AiOu1 Iu0 GlIIl0 MISS Maggie
Kelly had the leadership in such matters
thrust upon her was due entirely to the
fact that the young lady had passed
. period of dangerous illness. AT on,
time they thought the end had COME
The doctor thought so too, for he bent
over her for many minutes before he was
sure that she still continued to breathe.
Miss Kelly's illness started with a
slight cold. 1t didn't bother her any at
first, and she went to her work at the
envelope factory with the same regular
ity that had characterized her for years.
Then she began to feel worse. Her
mother advised her to remain at home
for couple of days, but Miss Maggi4
would have none of it. At that particu
lar time she was doing another girl;
work in addition to her own, whicl
meant that she would receive double
the usual amount of pay when the wee';
was ended.
The young girl needed the money very
much, for she wished to attend the thirL
annual ball of the Social Five, which
was to occur during the following week.
On that occasion she had proposed to ap-
pear in costume that would deligh,
the hearts of her friends and still the aG-
verse criticism of her enemies
Mr.. Slobsy Carroll, with much plead
ing in his tones, had begged of her t.
accompany him to the ball. She had re-
fused the gentleman at first, and very
frankly told him her reasons for SO doing.
-tH go with you," she said, "you'l
90 off n git jag on, an then you'll COM
mence to spout tragedy, an somebodv'll
sock yer in the eye n there'll be scrap
don't want no scrappers takin me to {.
ball" Mr.. Carroll was much hurt upol,
hearing why Miss Kelly did not care t.
so to the ball with him. Then he pro
tested against her classification.
81 amt no scrapper, Mag" he said
I'm actor"
The young lady referred to disturb
ance which Mr.. Carroll had started al
the last party she gave in order to prove
her assertion. Mr.. Carroll protested
with much vehemence that it was not he
but the quantity of beer he had imbibed
on that occasion which was responsible
for the outbreak.
Miss Kelly naively remarked that per
haps the beer might be responsible for
another such scene, but Mr.. Carroll
histened to assure her that such would
not be the case. He even went so far as
! to hope he might die on the spot if he
would become involved in any quarrel
at the ball. He was so far successful in
convincing Miss Kelly that he would be
have himself if only she would go with
him that finally she consented.
Her mother was not altogether pleased
with the choice Miss Maggie had mad"
for partner at the ball. ''Shure," the
old Lady had said, yer moight betther
had whit wild Mike Welsh. He's nice
quiet, dacent, good young man"
II know he is, maw." the young WON
an replied. Hes too good. If Slobsy
don't git full he'll be all right"
Eyes, if he don't" the mother re-
sponded grimly.
It really seemed as if the fates were
against her accompanying Mr.. Carroll.
for the very day after she had consented
she commenced to feel i'll. Three days
later she was unable to rise from her
bed, and the doctor was called in.
"Your daughter will have hard time
Of it, he told the young lady's mother
A heavy fever set i'll, and on the evening
set for the ball Miss Kelly was delirious.
Then the doctor said the critical time
WAS at hand, and that the young wom-
ans recovery depended as much on care
full nursing as his medicines. He said
that no noise should be made that would
disturb the patient. Miss Tessie Brady
was carried out.
Miss Brady had come out in new
light since her friend Maggie became
ILL From the very first she had been at
Miss Maggie's side.
Without her the Kellys could have
obtained no rest, for q ceaseless vigil
was maintained over the patient. For
the first few nights Miss Brady went to
her own home shortly after midnight
Mr.. Carroll always loitered about the
netghborhOod until Miss Brady CAME
ont. Then, while he was walking home
with her, she would tell him how Mag
SO was getting along.
When the physician announced that
.nis patients life hung only by thread.
Miss Brady neglected her work alto
gefher and remained constantly at the
bedside Of her friend. She told Mr.. Car
roll that Maggie might die at any mo-
nnent. He could not believe it. "Air.
ger lie,' he said loosely. Miss Brady
assured him that what she said was the
simple truth. Then he stared at her
blenkly and said, "Gee!'
When the doctor came that evening
be said he thought he'd stay awhile. He
told Mrs. Kelly that if her daughters
senses did not return by midnight she
might expect the worst.
That evening saw the father and
mother, with Miss Brady, sitting at the
bedside Of the social queen of Cherry