Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-08-05

an impatient gesture, but as he did so
glanced pitlful!y at the slouchiag figure.
"What you most need is good nurs-
ing" said the doctor, after examining
the patients
The mans face darkened. The woman
lowered aimlessly over the stove.
"She's my wife," said the sick man,
hoarsely. II know she amt quite like
other folks. But she's peaceabIe and
good, not bold and noisy like other
women. pitied her first off; then l
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 for me nor for
herself" whispered the man, as he
clasped one of the futtering hands in
his.
"Poor thing!" murmured the doctor.
81 can earn good wages when I'm
we'll" went on the invalid, ''and did
the cooking and kept the house tidy
then. Now everytnlug's going wrong.
She spoils all the victuals, but she don't
mean to-"
At this moment something on the stove
boiled over with a loud hiss and filled
the room with the odor of scorching
milk. The girl stared, then moved
towards the ruined mess.
ooh, dear me-" said the sick man,
under his breath. "Don't burn yourself,
Nellie" he called, as if to a child.
''It's scorched ,Joe," she said, the tears
OVERLOOKING at last.
"Never mind, my girl, throw it away.
We can get plenty more. You see, doc
tor" he said in his hoarse voice, 81
can't speak rough to her. She's my
wife"
The doctor sat with bent head speech
less.
''I'll send you nurse, my man," he
said, after pause. ''What you need is
good care. [ will come again to- NOR.
row." And with a low bow to man and
wife, now clinging together, hand in
| hand, the doctor said good might, and
went OF his way.
"Thank you, SIR" called out the sick
man, much moved.
The girl only stared and wiped the
last tear from her lashes.
Two hours later a capable, kind
hearted woman was installed as nurse in
the little home by the river. She brought
with her food il abundance, and COM
forts of all kinds.
DR.. Ford drove slowly homeward.
Though it was late bright light shone
| from the parlor window as he stopped.
The glow of a wood fire illuminated the
room as he entered. But no one came to
meet him. His wife sat in her rocker
fast asleep. The lamp threw a radiance
over her bronze brown hair and one deli
cate cheek as she slept with her head
against the crimson back of the chair.
Her face wore sweet, childlike express
sion, with a touch of pathos about the
lips, and her hands lay looss'y clasped
in the lap of her gown of soft dove
color.
Near the fire stood a white-draped
table holding a tempting little repast,
carefully arranged. From slender glass
in the midst hung one red rose. The
doctor knew she had cut it for him from
her favorite plant. On a pretty plate re-
posed the f1akiest and most delect able of
mince pies.
DR.. Ford stopped and kissed his 7ife's
fair cheek reverently. She stirred, then
opened her large eyes slowly.
ooh, you have come. I am sorry I
was not awake to meet you. But here's
mince pie. l sent over to your mother
for one."
"Hang the pie!" cried John Ford.
"Elinor, am brute!"
ooh, no, dear-only man, instead of
an archangel, as once believed you to
be. But never mind. How do you like
my dress?"
'It is divine, and you are an angel,
Elinor. But dearest, come and sit by
me. l have just been to see a gentle
man. want to tell you all about it.