Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-27
MISS KEIILY'S CRISIS.

That the social season ON Cherry Hill
had not displayed the brilliancy that had
marked it from the time Miss Maggie
Kelly had the leadership in such matters
thrust upon her was due entirely to the
fact that the young lady had passed
a period of dangerous illness. At one
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 Kellys 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 Maggie
would have none of it. At that particu-
lar time she was doing another girls
work in addition to her own, which
meant that she would receive double
the usual amount of pay when the week
was ended
The young girl needed the money very
much, for she wished to attend the third
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 delight
the hearts of her friends and still the ad-
verso criticism of her enemies.
Mr.. Slobsy Carroll, with much plead
ing in his tones, had begged of her to
accompany him to the ball. She had re-
fused the gentleman at first, and very
frankly told him her reasons for so doing.
"lf l go with you," she said, you'll
go off n git jag on, an then you'll COM
mence to spout tragedy, an somebody'll
sock yer in the eye n there'l be scrap.
l don't want no scrappers takin me to
ball" Mr.. Carroll was much hurt upon
hearing why Miss Kelly did not care to
60 to the ball with him. Then he pro-
tested against her classification.
II amt no scrapper, Mag" he said.
I'm a actor"
The young lady referred to disturb
anoe which Mr.. Carroll had started at
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 naive1y remarked that per-
haps the beer might be responsible for
another such scene, but Mr.. Carroll
hastened 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 made
for partner at the ball. "Shure," the
old lady had said, "yer moight betther
had wint wild Mike Welsh. He's NICE
quiet, iacent, good young man."
II know he is, maw," the young wom-
an replied. "He's too good. If Slobsy
don't git full he'll be all right"
"Yes, if he DON'T" the mother re-
sponded grimly.
1t really seemed as if the fates were
against her accompanying Mr.. Carroll,
for the yery day after she had consented
she commenced to feel ill. 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 in, 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
said she would see that the injunction
was carried out.
Miss Brady had come out in a new
light since her friend Maggie became
Ill. From the very first she had been at
Miss Maggies side.
Without her the Kellys could have
no rest, for 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
until Miss Brady came
out. Then, while he was walking home
with her, she would tell him how Mag
gle was getting along.
When the physician announced that
ais patients life hung only by thread,
Miss Brady neglected her work alto
gethcr and remained constantly at the
bedside of her friend. She told Mr.. Car
roll that Maggie might die at any mo-
ment. He could not believe it. "Air,
yer lie" he said jocosely. Miss Brady
assured him that what she said was the
simple truth. Then he stared at her
blankly and said, "Gee!"
When the doctor came that evening
he said he thought he'd stay awhile. He
sold 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
Hill. The neighbors who were obliged
10 go up and down stairs did SO on tip
Toe and made no sound in the halls.
Then the doctor came in, examined
she young woman, and said he might
want some one to go to the nearest drug
store in hurry. Miss Brady said she
would look after that matter and
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