New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-14
CHAPTER XXI.
"EMOTTONALIZING."

II seen the cOlOred woman riding by on that
pony, n the pony goin' like possessed: n
thought something was up; n told my husband
to go right over TO Alminys m borrer nutmeg.
~ he went; n he come back, n he said that
Mis- Mercer was took real sick. n Sallyd gone
for the DOCTOR n that was when seen her 60 by
Mrs Kitty Blake was relating this tale to three
neighbors who stood in her yard that afternoon
toward sunset One had come to swap a dozen
Plymouth Rock eggs for a dozen Of what she
called "Braymy" eggs: another to get receipt
for making gingerbread that should be soft. and
yet not too soft; and the third to complain that
the rosebush that Mrs. Blake had given her had
refused to live and was now as dead "a a nit"
But all three Of them forgot their errands In
the interest Of the news.
80 she's really sick?" asked the rosebush
woman. She's got something besides nerves
now amt she? amt no patience with nervous
women. for my part My husband says If l
ever show any signs OF nerves he'll clear out for
good n all"
where's that Teller she's ben rid!n' round with
CONSTANT"
Il guess Alminy II have her hands full" re-
marked the seeker for a soft gingerbread recipe.
But you can't do nothin' with Amny She
kinder appears : II She goin' to yield. but
she amt goin' to. all the guess III go
over n offer 10 watch"
i've ben over myself" now said Mrs Blake,
On they said they was go:n' to try TO git long
g longs they could themselves"
Miss MERGERS really got something the matter
Of her now. Amt she?" the renewed in
quiry.
"Oh. yes. There amt doubt Of It. Some
kind Of fever the doctor said; he couldn't for
certain tell what kind yet"
II hope faint ketchn."
81 guess not My husband said he heard down
to the village that that Teller who's BEN rid!n'
with Mrs Mercer had gone of. bag n baggage
She who was IN search OF Brayney eggs now
shook her head and averred that she believed
that folks didn't know whatd ben goin on. and
she thought for her part. that II that young
woman had really got a husband he'd better be
round himself
Here Mrs Blake took occasion 10 state that she
had always kinder pited Mrs. Mercer; she
couldn', help IT, There something In Mrs.
Mcrcer's face that. somehow or other.--
A, this point she was interrupted by tho rose
bush woman who proclaimed that she had felt
Jest So exactly. she s'posed Mrs. Mercer
couldn't be expected 10 be jest Ike lioyt folks;
but. then. everybody couldn't be Hoyt folks"
The neighbors were hardly done with talking
Of Temples seizure. when il became known that
a woman doctor had come all the way from Car
DINA to take care OF that young woman who was
sick at old maid Drowdy's.
some asserted that this newcomer could not
be a real doctor being female. that she was prop
ably only one If them new kind Of muses.
This latter doubt has never been absolutely laid
al rest In the town Of Hoyt
There are people there now who maintain that
Mrs Ammidown was only nuss; Others believe
that she was Just as much doctor any man
doctor that ever was in tho world.
Meantime Mrs Ammlown took the responsible
t. Of the care - Temple She skfully guided the
old-fashioncd doctor who had nominal charge of
the case so that while she respectfully deferred
10 him. she really brought him round 10 what she
thought vas the best method OF treatment.
AS she sat hour after hour by Temples bedside,
none could know better than she that the treat
ment could not be much more than judicious
nursing She was physician enough to be aware
that In most cases II the nursing. and not the
medicine that assisted nature.
She had not paused moment after she had re-
ceived Almina's telegram In an hour she in
the train speeding nor,hward. At the railroad
station. before she started from Ashevie. she had
telegraphed 10 her brother. who was in California,
called there by unexpected business
AmIna had also tclegraphed 10 Mercer, who had
never failed To keep her informed of his address.
But California was great distance away. 1t
had never seemed so far away TO Mrs Ainmidown
a, II did now while she watched by Temple
But what was the good Of Richards coming? II
his wife lived, II would be but the old life again.
And that old lfe Mrs Ammidown. with all her
keen insight had never been able to understand.
She thought many things. but she Of
none
Temple talked great deal In her delirium but
her words were mostly Of her work with her hus-
band; Of her longing to help him.
Sometimes she sung hymns before the crowd
OF people Sometimes she was playing her violin.
Then she talking with those who came to her
about their eternal salvation.
Painfully restless she Sally would lift
her I'm her arms and carry her about the house
wrapped in a blanket
The Newfoundland stalked after the yellow
woman and her burden. his head and tail dropping.
When at last Sally put her mistress down on the
bed again, Yucatan laid himself on the floor close
to the bed He would gaze mournfully and intent
~ into Mrs Ammidown's face until that woman
would murmur;
"oh. don't. Yucatan! Wen do all-all that we
can do"
Sometimes the dog would lift himself, put his
front paws on the bed. and reach forward TO lick
the face on the pillow.
This almost always made Temple put out her
hands and cry:
"Oh. why have you taken my own dog from me?
MY true love! My loyal one! He loves me! tell
YOU there Is one who loves me-
Yucatan would whine little. He kept very
quiet I'm the sick room. and he would not be driven
from 1t.
Mrs Ammidown. sitting by the bed. thought at
such moments that she noted a revealing en-
phasis In that phrase;
There Is one who loves me-"
But she knew her thoughts might be baseless
She was really sure OF nothing but that Temple
had been changed by her marriage from happy