The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-08-20

fire, or I'll go ravin' crazey. can
think wher't comes from
The child stood twitching hee thil
fingers around chair. She watche,
her mother in q matter-of-course way
Demaris leaned over the couch in al
uncomfortable position and commenced
the slow, gentle message that mus
continue all night. She did not lif
her eyes. They were full Of tears
For a long time there was silence |,
the room. Mrs. Ferguson lay will
closed eyes. Her face wore look o
mingled injury ann reprOach.
oh" said Mrs. Ferguson. what {
wretched creature am! Just a suf
f'rin' day an night, year in an yeal
out, an burden on them thet I've
shaved fer all my life. Many's the
night I've walked with you'n my arm;
till mornin', Demaris, an never know
ed what it was to git sleepy or tired
An now you, get mad the minute ! &c
into q SPELL"
Demaris stood upright, with tor
tured look.
"Oh, ma !" she exclaimed. Her voice
was harsh with pain. 81 amt mad
Don't think I'm mad. can't cry out
o. pity every time you have q spell, or
I'D be crytn' all the time. An beside
tonight Pm so-disappointed."
What you disappointed 'bout?"
why, you know" Her lips trem-
bled, The excursion"
Mrs. Ferguson opened her eyes.
"Oh, clean forgot that"
She looked as IL she were thinking
that she would really have postponed
the spell, il she had remembered.
Never you mind" Demaris leaned
over suddenly, and put her arms aronnd
her mother. Don't you think Pm
mad. I'm just disappointed. Now
don't cry. You'll go and make your
self worse. An there comes pa; hear
him cleanin' his boots on the scraper."
Mr.. Ferguson stumbled as he came
up the steps to the kitchen. He was
very tried. He was more than fifty,
bat his thin frame had pitiable stoop.
The look of one who has struggled long
and failed was on his brown and wrink-
led face. His hair and beard were pre-
maturely gray. His dim blue eyes had
hopeless expression that was almost
hidden by q deeper one of patience.
lie wore coarse flannel shirt, moist
with perspiration, and faded blue
overalls. His boots were wrinkled and
hard the soil of the fields clung to
them.
"Sick ag'in Miserable creature that
am I've got that awful pain over my
right eye ag'in. L can't think where
1t comes from. I'm nearly crazy with
it,"
"Well, l guess you'll feel little
better after you git some tea. I'll go
an wash, an then rub your head while
Demaris gifts bit to eat. I've plough
ed ever since sun-up an Pm tired m
hungry"
He returned in few moments and
took Demaris's place. He sighed
deeply, but silently, as he sat down.
Demaris set the table and placed
upon it the simple meal which she had
prepared.
"I'll stay with ma while you an pa
eat" said Nellie, with a sudden burst
of unselfishness.
well" said Demaris, wearily.
Mr.. Ferguson sat down at the table
and leaned his head on his hand. "I'm
too tired to eat" he said, "hungry's
am" He looked at the attempting
meal of cold boiled meat, baked pota-
toes and apple sauce.
g wish | was dead ~ said Demaris.
Her father did not speak. His
silence reproached her more than any
words could have done.
When she went into the bedroom
again, she found her mother crying
childishly.
"Demaris, did l hear you say you
wished you was deao 2"
Il guess so. l said it,"
well, God Almighty knows wish
wa3 You don't stop to think what
u'd become o. me II it want fer YOU.
Your pa c'u'dn't hire anybody, an he's
workin' hard all day. You'd like to
sect all come on your little sister,
reckon !"
nj thNnThf of oil l.
wrists, and shivered. Her mother
commenced to sOb-and that aegrava-
ted the pain.
Demaris stopped and put her arms
around her and kissed her.
I'm sorry | said it" she whispered,
I'll didn't mean it. I'm just tired and
cross. You know didn't mean it,"
Her father came in heavily.
Demaris," he said, Frank Wick
ers's comm around to the front door.
III take keer o, your ma while you go
In and see him."
1t was radiant faced young fellow
that walked into Demaris's little par
lor. He took her hand with tender
ness that brought the color beating
into her cheeks.
What I" he said. "Aint you ready ?
Why, the boat leaves in an hour, an
it's good long walk to the wharf.
"YouIiehave to hurry up, Demaris."
:" can't 60"
You cane go? Why can't you?
She lifted up her eyes bravely. Then
tears swelled into them slowly until
they were full. Not one fell. She
looked at him through them. He felt
her hand trembling against the palm
OF his own.
why can't you, Demaris?"
my mothers sick. Just hear her
moanin' clear here"
Young Vickers's face was study.
why, she was sick last time l
wanted to take you som 'ers-to q dance,
wa'n'tit?
Yes-I know"
''An' time before that when wanted
you to go to chdrch sociable up'n
Spring Town.
Yes"
"Why, she must be-sick near onto
all the time, accordin' to that"
"She is~-pretty near" She with
drew her hand. There was stiff
looking lounge in one corner OF the
room. 1t was covered with Brussels
! carpet and had an uncomfortable
back, but it was dear to Demaris's
heart. She had gathered and sold
strawberries two whole summers to
pay for it. She sat down on 1t now
and laid her hands together on her