The record-union., 1893-02-03

Liza was not used TO subterfuge
Something like blush spread over the
ashen face.
Liza" said her mother, you heerd-
what Mrs. Hobbies was sayin'"
Liza was silent
Did yer?"
81 % fancied-she said-you might
be wantin' this 'ere bed.''
on, ,Liza.' Mrs. Liversuch burst into
tears. 10 think as you should ha' heerd.
Don' you go havin' them thoughts. No,
Liza! amt goin' to turn you off, not
Tor nothin'! Oh, hope / amt been ard
on yer. Liza, there's been so many to
see to. And if you was 'elpless you
couldn't help IL"
'elp it.''
on amt been unhappy, Liza, ave
yer? Say you amt. never see q child
O mine die afore. If we 'adn't fell on
bad times you might ave had things beo-
Ter. Say you amt been unhappy. Liza. !"
Lit Ia-iza turned her strange unchild-
like eyes on her mother. 1t seemed a
wonderful thing that anyone could speak
to her in that tone, 1t thrilled her with
hitherto unknown sensation. She put
out claw-like hand and touched her
mothers cheek.
But she did not answer her question.
something in her little throat prevented
I
speak 1t was only TO say softly:
II loves YER"
Liza" said her mother in a choked
voice, don't you say no more about get
I'M out O that bed. Y ou amt 1T. And
II I'd lie on my mind if l moved yer. ON
that bed you stays comfortable Tor the
rest % yer days"
'Well,' SAID Littla-iza to herself II
must m 'urry up and die. P'raps the baby
II be crlppley too. Mrs. Hobbies said so.
couIdn tabear that the baby'ld be Grip
pIey.. must Jury up and die"
inns thought having taken possession
OF her mind occupied it to the exclusion
OF all else. She laid the matter before
her Friend again and again. using the
same form so constantly that at last It be-
came AN involuntary expression.
wouldn't be in any 'urry If it weren't
acause OF that. 1t amt as | special wants
TO dle; put please let me go afore the baby
comes, in case it should be crippley."
During the few days that followed her
talk with Mrs. Liversucb, the latter
treated her with an unusual kindness and
consideration, but it was evident that no
care could save Littla-iza now. She was
surely sinking. She refused food and
she mad become so very thin that it was
possible to count her bones. So weak
was she. too, that she could hardly move
IN bed. Her legs, of course. had always
''NSAA et9CASf'of Dhb SIlc pSeil dDlG 10 SlJ
up ana to employ her hands. She could
scarcely speak, either. The shrill un-
musical voice was only a whisper. Eortu-
nateIy during those hot summer DAYS the
children were very little indoors, and
Mrs. Liversuch had commanded that
they should sleep on the 1loor, only Ben
sharing poor Litpla-iza's bed
The child's mind shared with her BODY
IN It's falling power, but the dormant
thought was persistent. Often her lips
moved, though no sound issued from
them.
" Please let me go afore the baby comes,
IN case it should be crippley."
ON the fourth day she seemed suddenly
10 rally. She became more conscious of
what was going on around her. Mrs.
Hobbies, who had been summoned up
stairs, came and looked at her.
ou'd best move this child, my dear"
she said.
No" said Mrs. Liversuch, firmly. 81
amt goin' to, and I forbids you to touch
ner. Foor Lllpla-iza, let her die COM
Portable, at any rate.''
Il think you are behavin' foolish" said
Mrs. Hobbes, keeping her temper with
difficulty.
II amt in a state to quarrel about it,"
sald poor Mrs. Liversuch, "but whatever
comes TO me, there she stays"
Lift la-lZa heard. They would not
move her. She opened her weary eyes.
Iney rested for moment on her mothers
white, suffering face. She understood.
There is only one thing to be done.
Could she do it?
u amt died" she said to herself, "and
p'raps the baby'll be crippiey."
she closed her eyes again. The per-
splratIon broke out on her face. She
clenched her little hands. From the bed
to the ground was about two feet.
She was lying somewhat near the edge
OF the bed. She stretched out feeble
arm to calculate the distance.
Mrs. Hobbies had gone back to her
mother, and no one was looking at her.
she made a supreme effort and dragged
herself to one side
"Gracious" !" cried Mrs. Liversuch. 'sthe
child's fallen out of bed. Oh, poor LitGIa-
izap'
Mrs. Hobbies ran TO pick her up.
Its providential," she exclaimed.
Poor Llttla-izai" said her mother
again.
Let me set her on this cheer" said
Mrs. Hobbies, who had no intention of
being lnhuman, but whose professional
instincts were strong. "pIl look to her
by-and-by."
NO one could attend to her for some
little time. When Mrs. Hobbies at length
went to her she was dead
The last sound of which Litt'Ia-iza had
been conscious was the cry of the baby
glrl TO whom she had given a chance to
start 1alr.-Cornhill Magazine