The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-07-19

AONy mtrCT6Olo
The enchantment was broken. Tho
nddler put the instrument awav With
a neavy heart, and he PLAYED M
more that night.
heien grew worse and worse: the
cough became more hollow and main
1u!; ner eyes were very bright and
skin like alahaster. with . a,,sh on
Inc cheeks. When she began to nut
ner hand to her chest when coughing.
the father called in q doctor.
Inc poor child had been i'll for q
!ong while, but she had disguised it
from her father as long az ever poosi-
Ole: but her efforts had become more
and more feeble as she grew worse.
Dear mel" said the doctor, when
ne had seen Helen; ''very sad, very!
Lungs have been diseased for a long
time"
He prescribed for her, and came
again and again, but at each visit he
gave out less hope of her recovery.
almost into the winter" he said,
"and the poor child, dear me! She'll
never see spring. Lungs most gomez.
Inere came n day with the doc.
tor a nurse who, although used to
pltiful and painful cases, could not
keep hack her tears at the sight of
the poor faded girl. From that day
the kind nurse would not cave
Helen. She decided to remain and
nurse the little invalid, and many a
strengthening beverage and dainty
dish did she give the child in secret
which the father could not possibly
have bought. -.
Many have won the name of hero
by n gallant deed, but these nurses
In our large towns who live a life of
self-denial-giving the best years of
their life up to the care and atten-
tlon OF the poor sick-deserve the
name indeed.
The poor fiddler was almost heart
broken. Every penny each week was
spent IN medicines and better food
tor the invalid, but nothing but
change OF Eel and a warm climate
could benefit her. He had not the
means to send her even out of Lon
don.
The child chung round him in az
fectlon mingled with fear, but he was
often afraid to look upon he.
Father. dear father, are you angry
with your little Helen?" she asked
one day as he sat modify with his
face bur ed in his hands.
He sprang 20 his feet and clasped
her in his arms and asked her to for
give him if he bad seemed unkind.
After that he was always cheerful
when in her presence, for he saw
that it made her unhappy to see him
sad.
Sometimes the fading girl would
ask to be carried to the window to
see the sun-the winter sun, like a
huge ball of hlood-sink down be-
hind the %housetops.
Occasionally some of the neighbors,
who had known her, came to see her,
but she was So changed that very
few could recognize her.
; And. little by little, the hideous
disease advanced, sapping up slowly
but surely its helpless victims
strength. AT times it made her face
appear bloodless, like the face of a
corpse. At Others, oh, cruel mock
cry. it painted the cheeks like the
blush of a rose-it added tire to her
eyes and lustre to her skin, thus rails
ing false hopes in the breast of the
poor father, who saw her change from
day to day.
One morning the fiddler was in
formed that some n was waiting to
see him at the foot OF the stairs. He
Immediately hu ried down and found
an old gentleman pacing upand down,
and mumbliDg all the while to him.
self.
you play the fiddle at the
Theater:?" he abruptly asked the tld-
dler, when he appeared.
Eyes, sir. Will YOU come in. It"
II intend to give a party to night
and had engaged T to give US a
tune on the fiddle. Unfortunately,
he is indisposed and will not be able
to appear. Will you come"
n am engaged at the theater
and"
Until what kour?" asked the Wis
itor, impatiently.
About IL o'clock. ! could come
n time after that, if it is not TOO
late"
The visitor thought Tor 4 moment
or two. then he suddenly said, at the
same time tn listing a card into the
lddleI's hand:
.sTO.night at 1l:30 l shall expect
you. DO not disappOint me and you
will not regret it,"
That evening when the fiddle
went in to see his daughter before
leaving for the theater she did not
recognize him, and the poor man
hurried away with a heavy load at
bic bourt,