The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-09-20

campers.
Kit ran in for a few moments every
day. bringing white Shasta lilies, rare
ferns from away up Sody creek" or
burning uger-lilies, regal in brown and
gold; and Miss Fenton kept the invilad,
who was rapidly failing, supplied with
dainties.
She found out very soon that Bill was
commonplace and selfish. He had
rather handsome, weak face, and Kit
was blind to his weaknesses and faults
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 air could not
help. And then Kit never came to the
tavern. and Mary Fenton went to her
every day.
Mrs. Jones fretted to go home. "Bills
as good one place another she
grumbled; but Kit chung to the belief
that there he must get well.
AS the days passed on, the sick man
grew weaker and weaker and more fret
full. Kit sat by him all the time, his
hand in herss There were dark rings
widening under her eyes from sleepless
nights, and the young cheeks were
growing hollow. Mary Fenton saw
with a pang that the slender fingers
which she ran through the curly crop
were growing pitifully thin.
Kit had become very dear to her
She could not bear to see the bright
young life merged into this dull sad
ness, and she felt helpless. Kit would
not believe what was shortly coming.
Every time that Miss Fenton came with
something tempting and the sick man
refused 1t, 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
Fenton Joined in the drives and walks.
danced and moved on with the rest of
the summer guests. but her heart was
with Kit. under the pines.
What do YOU see in that little curly
headed Oregon girl?" one Of the fish
ermen asked laughingly.
My better SELF she answered and
passed on.
The weather was very sultry. The
Jagged peaks Of Castle Crags stood bare
and gray against the deep-blue sky.
Not breeze stirred. Even the river
moved sluggishly, like oil. July had
been ushered in by a north wind, and
that always means dry, enervating. life
less heat.
The ladies lounged around the tavern
piazza in cool white muslin, with palm
leaf fans and iced lemonades near at
hand. and growled vehemently. The
fishermen wiped the perspiration from
their foreheads, assorted their flies. and
each tried to outvie the other in new
fish stories.
Mary Fenton sat a little to one side.
overcome by the heat, and giving up
the idea of seeing Kit that day Again
her book lay idly in her lap, and she
sat dreaming.
Coming up the road in the hot. daz-
zling sun, Kit walked slowly through
the dust, her hands clasped together
and her eyes staring intently down at
the ground. She walked so slowly she
seemed hardly to move.
Miss Mary" She spoke in hollow
tones. without looking up. Miss Mary,
I've come to tell YOU Bills gone-last
her face. rot a sob to break the silence.
She stood full in the heat, a broken,
lifeless figure.
Mary Fenton started st did not
think it would be so soon, dear" She
went down the steps, close to the girl
and took her hand. Come out of the
sun. Come"
Kit raised her eyes, a depth of sad
reproach in them. "Do you think
would leave him now. Miss Mary %
She continued in the same mOnOtonOus
tone. as Miss Fenton fastened to get
her hat to accompany her: Don't
come. Miss Mary. 1 would rather you
would not. I must be alone, for this
little while" she faltered. Mother
lows we must get along home day
ctAAEl tNliibilONt anu W. lllucl ltdNe MIN.
l came to you-to fix things"
Mary Fenton pressed her hand warm
ly in hers in assuI ance Of help.
"If you wouldn't mind, Miss Mary.
couldn't ii be where he might see the
mountain? You know, I can see It at
home, and it would be something for us
to have together"
Yes. dear child. will do anything
for you"
Mary Fenton's eyes were trimming
over with tears, as she stood still in
the sunshine and watched the young
figure, bent with grief, disappear slowly
among the pines
"Such devotion, such unselhshness
such bravery, is godlike," she murmur-
ed to herself. "She asked for nothing
and gave everything--poor chlldr'
Miss Fenton attended to Kits re-
quest. and the day after Bill was laid
at rest on a hillside, where the CLEAN
OF Shasta could always be seen.
The next morning she went to the
camp and found Mrs. Jones busily pack
ing up, more cheerful than usual. The
tents were down, and Kit was lifting
the heavy things with her strong young
arms, and tying them into the wagon.
She wore the same old blouse and cigar
cite hat, but all the buoyancy was gone
from her face. She was very quiet as
she called Miss Fenton aside and united
an old stocking.
81 want to pay you for-everything -
mo, child. 1 can never repay you,
Kit"
Kit gazed at her with look of dazed
inquiry; then went on Harvesting the
old rawboned horse and hitched him to
the wagon.
'It will be lighter drivin' home" Mrs.
Jones observed, as she tucked the last
blanket around the frylng-pan.
Mary Fenton never forgot the look of
mute agony that crept into Kits big
soft eyes as she looked at her mother.
Then she pulled her hat further down
over her face with the same old ges-
ture, as she clambered into the high
seat Of the wagon and took the reins,
while her mother got up beside her.
You will have a long. hot drive
Miss Fenton said stupidity.
ooh, Wen stop with folks over night
Jones answered, tying her sun-bonnet
strings
Mary Fenton climbed up on the wag-
/ on wheel and kissed Kit warmly and
whispered, "I'll take some Shasta lilies
to his grave. / will remember"
Then a cracking OF the long willow
switch that served for a whip. the old
horse started up, and they were gone.
Mary Fenton watched the bobbing of
/ the short reddish curls amid the clouds
\ Of dust until a turn I'm the road hid
/ them; then she sat down under a pine,
! covered her face with her hands. and
/ cried.
! She sat there for some time. At last
she heard a footstep cracking the dried
! pine needles and looked up.
| "Dickp' she exclaimed with start.
/ and bega1, womanlike, smoothing the