The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-17

down. while she stood facing the great
white mountain.
1T Kept on raining. and | rode to tho
Doctors. ten miles from our cabin. and be
said to bring Bill here. where the air was
dryer, nnd give him d chance so / didn't
wait. but hitohed up to our little wagon
and we came. 1t has rained here, but it
Amt going TO any more. and he will get
we'll; / know it" Her voice grew more
cheerful with hope.
She stood silent for q moment, with face
uplifted in thought. aud then noticing the
stars BEGINNING to come ont one ey one.
it's getting cold. You'll nave o chill. We
must be going home
All the way back Kit chatted cheerfully,
telling little etories of her home. all on
his praises.
As they neared the camp the same hack
Ing cough broke the stiffness of the night.
Kit started as if it hurt her.
Il shouldn't have left him. Wait a mo-
ment. Miss Mary. | must give him his med
icine. then lnl see you home"
Miss Fenton declined her offer, as 1t was
only n short distance to the tavern, apd as
she turned away she heard the Querulous
tones of the Invalid scoldlng Kit, who an
swefed him with chesry tenderness.
One of the fishermen joined her as she
neared the tavern. showing her his basket
of two-pounders. Her thoughts were up
lifted. aud she half absent-mIndedly adj
a las oOOIN of0 Odkhb Z SOOhbs
Poor little Kit. ignorant. hslf-fOrmed
child. had raised Mary Fenton to heights
she had not dreamed of. If Richard Drake
had been there that night to press his SUIT.
she GOULD have put herself In the back
ground ard been ready TO face the world
with him.
Daylight often brIngs US down from our
pedestals; so IL was with her. She was not
quite so sure In the morning. IL Is easier TO
be heroic by the glamour OF mOOnlight than
in the clear RAYS of tile midday ann
The letter was still unwritten. but the
mountains possessed O new interest to her.
Mrs. Pendragon wrote privately to Mrs.
Fenton that Mary was gaming color and
appetite. and never mentioned the objec-
tionable young man. but turned her etten-
ton 10 a dirty lot of Greg IN campers."
Kit ran In Tor q few moments every day,
bringing white Shasta lilies. rare ferns
from away up Sody creek" or burning
tiger lilies. regal in brown and gold. and
Miss Fenton kept the invalid, who wasrap-
idly failing. supplied with dsinties.
She found out very soon that Bill was
common place and selfish. He had a rather
handsome. weak face. and Kit wac bliud
TO his weaknesses and fsnlts. He grew SO
much worse that Kit could hardly leave
him at last. The weather was warm, and
she worked all day. and often sat up all
night to watch by his side and humor his
fancies. He was not able to walk. the dry
mir could not help. And then KIT never
came To tho tavern. and Mary Fenton went
to her every day.
Mrs. Jones frctted to 60 home. "Bills as
good one place AS another" she grunibled:
but Kit chung To the belief that there he
must get we'll
AS the days passed on. the sick man grew
weaker and weaker and more fretful. Kit
eat by him all the time. his hand in hers.
There were dark ring widening nuder her
eyes from sleepless nights, and the young
cheeks were growing hollow. Mary Fenton
saw with n pang that the slender fingers
which she ran through the curly crop were
CROWNS pitifnlly thin.
Kit had become very dear to her. She
could not bear TO see the bright young life
merged into this dull sadness. and she felt
helpless. Kit would not believe what was
shortly coming. Every time that Mis.
Fenton came with something tempting aud
the sick man refused II. she would say.
with a ghost OF the old merry laugh.
You've spoilt him. Miss Mary: nothing's
good enough now"
The gay tavern life went on. Mary Fem
ton Joined in the drives and walks. danced
and NOV ed on with the rest OF the summer
guests. but her heart was with Kit, under
the pines.
"M hat do you see IN that little curly
headed Oregon grit" one OF the fishermen
asked IaughIDgly.
My better SELF she answered, and
passed on.
Tho. weather was very sultry. The
Jagged peaks OF Castle Crags stood bare
and gray against the deep blue sky. Not a
breeze stirred. Even the river moved
slnggishly. like oil. July had been usl-
cred In by a north wind. ana that always
means dry. enervsting. iiteless heat.
The ladies' iounged around tho tavern
piazza in cool white muslin. with palm