New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-21
No bad news, North, l hope ?"

|
where he might read the message again
Something had occurred 10 make Katharine
send that. He always thought of Mrs. LANDAU
as Katharine.
Was the child borne to the ground by hel
burden?
Mr. Norths heart burned as he kept his eyei
on the bit of paper, while his horse walked zig
gag along the road, cropping mouthful OF leaves
| on this side ard that
| But after few moments the lines were
| gathered up and the horse turned round the
corner with his head toward the residence OF
| Deacon Grove.
Deacon Groves housekeeper in the back
yard laboriously spreading some sheets to whten
on the grass Being fat and unwleldly she seemed
to be constantly doing something which called
for STOPPING position.
She was surprised TO see Mr. North drive into
the yard. Though he had brought his wife to
the house several times since the deacoE's ill
driven right on.
Now he lett his wagon and came across the
grass.
Mrs Morse took up another sheet and began
to shake IL out with great Mapping noise
flows Grove this morning." asked Nr. North
in q voice loud enough TO drown the other sound
Mrs Morse appeared 10 have a pin her mouth
which SIZE was Obliged to remove before khe could
reply dismally that the deacon had had IN awful
bad night.
Is he really better or worse2" impaticntly de-
The woman shook her head. She said the doc
tor said complications were setting In The doc
tor was going TO fight the complications, but Mrs
Morse didn't think the doctor had much hope.
Well, I've got TO see him." remarked MIR.
North. II he's able to talk TO me he will; II
he isn't, why, he can't"
He turned toward the house.
But Mrs Morse cried out: oh, Gusty won't
let you see him. | don't believe 'Gusty says
he's very sick man.
Mr.. North could not refrain from stamping bis
foot on the ground.
Where is 'GuSty ?' he asked.
"Sbe was here q minute ago; said she'd got
hold out Mis- Budd was settin' with him for
a spell. How's your wife, MIR. North? heard
she, want, we'll, She amt looked well lately.
like woman 7 had begun TO fail
She hasn't been as well as usual. Isn't that
Gusty?' as woman came out Of the porch
being very careful not to let the screen door
bang behind her:
Yes, that's her.
Mr. North advanced 50 suddenly that Miss Rid
die jumped Startled Then f M S Sa;s uo
your wife? 1 kope she amt failin'. Somebody
was tcllin' that they thought she'd begun to fail,
While North talked, the sick man was moving
his head mpaiicnty from side TO side, and OCCASION
ally trying 10 look intently at the speaker.
As soon as he could he said Grossly that he didn't
want to be bothered, and he wished North would
talk of something else if he must talk.
Here Gusty advanced from the other side of
the room. where she had been trying not to listen,
and gave few pats TO the dcacons pillow. Then
she went back 10 her former position. And she
endcavorcd 70 look as if she were not interested,
and had succeeded in not listening.
I've got 10 talk Of this, Grove responded
Mr.. North with frmness, and everybody III he
talking if you don't take my advice. Can't you
see for yOursclf?7
The deacon moved his head yet more impa-
ticntly. What do what folks say?" he
snared.
But evidently h. did care. He wrthcd as he
lay there Mr.. North felt that be would not ne.
erct il, il he did take unfair advantage. He
must take any advantage he could get
He wished that he could forget that he mad pushed
Mr. Grove into the water. II was JUS like Grove
10 get n fever and ruin the effect of having been
pulled out.
Wr. North was conscious that a morbid impulse
to tell Grove that he had pushed him on the
stronger and stronger He hoped that he
shouldn't yield to such an impulse lie didn,t
feel quite convinced in these days that he could
trust himself about anything.
II was quito dreadful to Mr.. North to be nware
an he stood by the bed that he WAS not really
cure that be wanted the man 10 recover. II would
simplify matters 80 very much If he died. III
he dcl. then he North, would do the lest lac
Gr1m in his barn, and always a rope might be
hitcIci to it and then to HIS own neck.
Roxy would make an excellent, thrifty widow
That is IL she should he successful in thinning
again enjoy her vctuals But his Kitty would
grievc.
the pillow He did not think that Marccllus
Grove was going 10 die. IL didn't have the APP
pearancr Of a man near death.
You'd better let me set squire Ladd AT WORK
on this said Mr.. North urgently. You don't
want III" ncghbofs hooting At you
Il wish you'd stop cried IN" deacon almost
CRYING Il don't know hut I'll think about II.
OF course I'm not going 70 he mean. You come
again in few days and ri give You an answer.
sha'nt hold out if it amt going 70 be the right
"6f course you WON'T quickly rccjioined Mr..
North. "Tll come Tuesday. And you'll be. free
man if YOU say So and can Mia aT Rd dga' advanced
and again patted the sick mans pillow. As she
lifted her head she met Mr. Norths eyes. She
foGCed him Cqs MT Sor, d9o Ee.cccbngv won
mnst have a good deal Of influence with him,
his words, accompanied by motion toward tn, the
he hG as all To"nd Yc c ee %'a' bill hP
IT'S plain he depends on yon.' Here this
astutc Individual paused tentatively.
a6s yhonsEi she eT %as Tnr % shc h"
pulled her handkerchief from the pocket of her
white apron and passed it oyer her face. ,,r,
think ' me ,Ss %sc %ha E' nnemc
| have. But he's very sick man. Mebbc he's
eoin' where there amt no marryin' nor givin
in marriage"
"P'raps he's goin' there some time said Mr.;
North but he isn't gon at present. He'll
pull through this"
And Mr. North went away elated and hope
ful lie was sure he had touched the right
chord in that creatures heart. And Grove would
see how devoted and necessary Gustv was. He'd
lie good while getting about even when he
began TO mend and then would be Gusty's OPP
portunty.
III only she doe. not laugh too much" was
Mr. North's thought MS he drove homewar1 I'm
better spirits than he had thought he ever should
know again.
But he did not go directly home. lie was i'm
patient 10 let his daughter know that illness
made difference with Grove
So he went round by the railroad station and
sent q telegram to Mrs. LANDAU. He tried 10
make il carry the precise state Of things but ne
could explain nothing, and after he had written
Have seen him AN sangIinc that she Will be
that he had sent a TOO hopeful message. By the