The morning call., 1893-09-10

and into the little hed-chamber. Without
an instanps hesitation she leaned ever the
sleeping figure and grasped it by one
shoulder. Mann seile. alb. Dieu, Nam
selle!' she called, loudly; awaken. The
hOnse is on fire "
Her piercing tones assaled the dull ear
to cOmpTehpn sion. With q start and a gasp
Ma'm'seile Valerie sprang from the bed and
out upon the floor. Save me, Mannn.
save mep she cried, the instinct of self
preservation strong, even in her weakness.
Il will, L will, hurry, 'selle," and
twice back and forth across the room
Manon hurried the frail form. 1t was
enough for the weakened heart There was
a hesitant throwing out of the hands, the
white lips relaxed, the head dropped back
upon Manon's shoulders. A swallow OF
whisky, few grains OF the medicine and
the faltering heart might have been stimu-
lated into renewed action. but none was
given, and worn out by its own efforts it
suddenly ceased. Nam selle lay back in
Mannn's arms, dead.
Suddenly grown calm Manon placed her
in the bed, composing her to an attitude
of peaceful quiet. Taking the powder the
doctor had left she adroitly emptied it out
Of the window, where it fell among some
tall weeds, and pouring out a small meas
ure of whisky drank il herself Just
moisteninS the dead woman's lips. That
the odOr may remain" she whispered to
herself. Then, pntting on her shawl and
bonnet, she hurried down to the village for
aid.
Halfway down the hill she met the doc
tor driving TO see new patient. He heard
her news with calm, professional regret
and gave her card to the village under
taker, who, lie said. would attend TO all
necessary details. He was not SURPRISED
al the old Mans elle's death, the people
were ing last and the epidemic still ragged.
"a faithful old woman that" he thought. as
he drove on. Then thoughts OF the disease
he was fighting drove the memory of Ma
mons agitated white face from his mind.
He stopped at the cottage and looked in at
his whilom patient, who lay calm and still.
az though death had taken her while she
slept. "a peaceful ending" lie thought;
heaven grant that / may die So" and
went his way.
The last rites were not DELAYED in poor
Nam selle's case. 1t was no time to linger
when death was In every household.
Bnrals were held quickly. and every
effort was being made to stamp out the
epidemic 1t was barely sunset when
Manon, still upheld BY excitement, climbed
the hill alone TO the adobe cottage. There
was strange, smoky cloud in the atmOs-
phere, and smell of burning woOd-h0n-
fires of eucalyptus had lately been kept
going night and day to disinfect the air,
that being notion some one had started
week since.
Comfort, poor SOUL" the Padre muir
INJURED, as he parted from Manon at the
grave. GOD is good and will bring you
comfort"
Comfort" Mannon thought, as she
turned away. will now take comfort
In my own bee? ?" and she pressed eagerly
forward on her home award way.
She met two or three young men from
he village coming down from the cottage.
They gree ted her spectfuIly and one said
1--WE did everything the doctor told us
to; you will find things all right. and l
milked the COW for you; l thought you
might be tired"
Nodding her thanks Manon passed on,
and in a few minutes stood before the cot
tage. BY the roadside was a Pile of smok-
ing ashes and embers. She was passing
it when she noticed a half-charred stick
just bit of carved wood, burned and
blackened, but her heart stood still as she
CRASHED IL.
With an awful cry of rage and pain she
sprang forward through the house into the
bedroom. The great mahogany bed. the
soft mattress. The delieete pillows, the fine
blankets. all were gone. Following the
doctors directions the sanitation commit
tee had burned the old Ma'm'selle's bed.
ADFIINF F. KNApp