Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-13


His fever has gone down ever so much,
hasn't IL, Doctor?'' she queried, laying
| her hand on the baby's head.
"Yes: he has next to no fever now.
She breathed quickly. raised her eyes
a moment. and then hurried towards the
| door. 1 waited at look from the doctor;
| he said:
Keep her away from here until she
gets to her husband. II you can.
This child Will die, probably in con-
WILSON'S, In less than half an hour. Pre-
pare her little. II you can, but don't
let her come in here. or she'll die too"
| / followed the little woman into the
other car.
When we were in the mids. OF the
| packing. she suddenly paused, and turned
| towards me.
| do look very bad. mean very sad?"
she asked, then went on. as hestated:
II must cheer up for Jos's sake. l don't
want to make him sad the first thing;
he has had enough trouble anyway" aud
| she tried to smile.
/ Her words gave me a clue TO the solu-
I ton of the difficulty Of keeping her from
/ the other car When we had everything
/ quite ready, the porter had called, MO
javer' and as she was starting for the
door l said;
why don't you get of and meet your
husband first alone. and tell him after
wards about the baby's being sick? Don t
you think II would make him unhappy TO
see the boy sick the first thing?"
What | said was miserably weak: /
didn't half believe was doing right.
either but the argument prevailed.
How thoughtful you are she ex-
claimed, Il will do that He will think
have just left the boy with the things
until he can come to carry him for me"
We were standing near the open door.
and she could see the mountains all
around. all rosy in the western sun. She
Northumberland houses that faced the
station across dismal common.
II shall like Il here with Joe and the
baby" she said. BABY Is all right with
the doctor. don't you think SOP
Yes" l choked.
Il am glad you thought OF my getting
out here she went on. because | don't
want Joe to think even for a minute
that | came in the Pullman"
Poor, pitiful. little. eager figure In the
! stringy cashmere OF rusty black, with the
too-heavy mass Of bright hair slipped low
on the small head the thin, little. I'M
| glOved hands straining against the DOOR
casing.
The train drew up to the platform, and
stopped She bent forward eagerly, and
went outside, but no one came TO the
steps Of thu tourist" save the porter
with his stool. She stepped slowly down.
then stopped, and looked up and down the
| platform.
nv the steps at the other end Of the
"Medusa" stood a tall. graceful, stylish
fellow. conspicuous among "A group Of
friends by his excellent dress and bear
ing. She saw him. and started forward.
then turned slowly a deep red and
stopped. ! saw 1t all, and laid my hand on
| her shoulder.
rs that your husband?" I asked. gently.
| She nodded
Come. you are excited; 1 will go with
you
Ii was little different from what I had
expected, though | hardly know how /
knew. As we approached the man was
turning to 20 up the steps Of the Pull
man. He glanced at US. but went on for
moment, then turned and looked again.
and came swiftly towards us.
'Mamie"' he exclaimed, what does
this meanY' He kissed her. then held
her back. Good heavens, Mamie, what a
fright you look, and what the devil did
you come tourist for? You must have
been crazy. chldw
He put his arm around her, for she
looked at him strangely, and stepped
back. He went on
But I'm mighty glad TO see you. iust
the same. little ~'~l: and your look di,-
ferent when INe 3ot you something to
wear You must come and meet these
people"
But, Joe, IT was the debts, L"
"Oh. debts. be hanged I am thinking
OF appearances. Come"
But she could speak now. and she said
Joe. the baby's sick In the Pullman.
with the doctor"
THE baby sickl My child. o. girl, I
had almost forgotten him in you"
Then he took her arm and hurried her
10 the car
What ais our boy?" he asked.
II had no money: the answer was very
bitter
He rushed into the car. and down the
aisle ahead Of her, met the Doctors up-
raised hand-ihe how Mas dnnd