The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1895-03-29

look That or Aunt Ruthy- and with q
smile Of calm resignation said:
am going home"
The big tears dropped from Aunt
Ruthy's yes as She replied:
Why, Mary
"Dr. Ross say a large artery is
broken, and nothing can be done
This was said without alarm, and
with an expression Of c~ountenance
which fairly shone. Aunt Ruthy ex-
amined the tumor with much interest
and tenderness. 1t vas throb-
bing rhythmically with the
heart. The surface above it
was slightly livid and very tense.
Finding that Mrs. Gust did not suffer,
Aunt Ruthy said:
SLOW can that kill?."
Mr.. Gust-speaking for his wife-ex-
planned. The doctor had shown him
how the strong and muscular coat of
the artery was torn open, letting the
blood into the sack formed by the
yielding external coat Of the artery.
This will grow larger and larger un-
til it intrudes upon the breathing APP
paratus and produces suffocatlon; or it
will burst into the chest and there pro-
duce the same effect upon the lungs"
Il can almost see it grow from hour
to hour" said Mrs. Gust. "Listen!'
The aneurism was throbbing audibly,
with a suppressed ~murmuring sough.
MARY, are you ready to die?" said
Aunt Ruthy, in a regular camp-meet-
ing tone.
Il would rather remain: but my life
has been a happy one taking her
husbands hand fervently), sand l will
not murmur.'
"Have you made any preparationo"
The journey is not a long one,
Aunty," pretending pleasantly to mis-
understand Aunt Ruthy), Il take moth
ing with me-"
Aunt Rutby almost said, you may
take your sins with you,'-but she had
not the heart to do it-seeing the
almost glowing face Of Mary
Gust. That face--always lighted with
benignity. appeared now radiant with
love and resignation.
Aunt Ruthy abandoned the part of
confessor, but asked Mrs. Gust if she
would see Father Burky.
'SOh, most gladly. Please send for
him, Aunty.'
And there came stiffness SO profound
that the throb, throb. throb Of the
aneurlsm could be heard distinctly.
Next day, by request Of Mrs. Gust,
her adopted son brought Vivette.
Nivette was almost born q nurse. She
had that peculiar womanly gift of feel
ing another's woe to the bottom of her
sympathetic heart without thereby be-
ing rendered useless as a nurse. She
sometimes appeared to have a sixth
sense, knowing the wants Of others
without the necessity Of words. Mrs.
Gust was able to sit up most of the
time; though the aneurism was fast
becoming a great throbbing lump at
her throat. and interfering with
respiration. This caused her to Dear
her head to one side and made her
wearisome,. whether sitting or lying.
Viyette knew intuitively just how to
place the pillows. Her touch was gem
tie and naturally skillful. She came
now every day. and Mrs. Gust anxiously
waited her coming.
On the day when Father Burky, the
minister, anne he sat some time neal
Mrs. Gust without saying anything
but a few words of recognition. See
ing how quietly Vivette went about
caring for every little want of the
doomed woman, the preacher said: :
This good girl has her excellencies
from her mother-I knew her WE'LL I
Vivette, hearing this, said: !
Not more than from my father
whom you do not know 50 we'll. He is
a loving father, Mr.. Burky.''
ITO them who owe much, much
shall be forgiven said the preacher.
Then, suspecting he had unwitting1y
wounded the fes,ings of Vivette, he
said: But we all of us need t be
forgiven. How are your hopes,
Mary" Go Mrs. Gust.)
The expanding aneurism throbbed
with increased heart-beats as she re-
piled:
II thank the heavenly Father that
I have lived, and that / am ready to
die
Have you ever been baptized,
Nary
Il think not. When I was young I
lived where there was not much water:
and while Joseph (her husband) and
l have been husband and wife we have
not thought it necessary"
Are you willing to be baptized?"
"Do you meal sprinkled"
Baptized by neutrality-suspicious.
husband would not object?"