New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-26
CHAPTER II.

\
During the ten years that followed when the
Farringdons came back to their summer haunts
near Lytteton-Leas the Wears wife used some
| times to recall to the Wears sister their iirst
encounter about Anne Carter. And never with
out triumphant commentary on the Intervening
| years Anne was literally unchanged. Having,
at about fifty, reached the limit of the refining
and etherealizing possibilities Of advancing age,
she stopped short and never thereafter grew
day older Not her employers. The Wears
health failed. and failed so conspicuousy at the
end Of that quiet decade that he was induced
to give up the chapel-of-ease at Lyttlet0n- Mar
! ley. No one noticed that, about the same time.
he gave up preaching privately against the vul-
gar and most unsound notion that manual labor
and domestic service had in them anything OF
degradation. And he had less to say about the
fine object-esson Of Anne Carriers proud and
simple life.
The summer that year had been cold and
rainy There a good deal of sickness sbout.
One dripping afternoon in July. Anne protested
against Mrs. Keston's going to the usual Friday
round among the parish poor While the Wears
wife was saying feebly "No-no." she wouldn't
get into the habit of staying in for the wealth
| err" Anne had put on her plain and stately gar
ments and her way with Mrs Keston's
soups and jellies to their we-known destina-
lions.
1t was not the first time nor yet the second.
that she had undertaken this office In inclement
weather But that evening she came back with
cough and a chill The next morning she
dragged through her work looking like ghost,
and the next afternoon she retired to her own
room. unlocked rarely opened drawer. took out
certain articles of linen, laid them across the
footboard, undressed, and betook herself to bed.
Anne Carter was very III.
| There was CONSERVATION in the Wears house.
hold. Every body there had been III some time
in that ten years, except Anne. She had nursed
them ALL and half the village well. and now
this rock of steadfast endurance, this pillar OF
the house and parish, was stricken down.
The doctor thought the gravity OF the case
should be made known to the woman's family
I'm glad this is Sunday" said Mrs Keston
the next day. standing at the foot Of Anne's bed
/ hora h{c
poser"
NO" said the sick woman feeby. 4
"Why. thought they always came"
"Yes-only today
| why not to-day"
They've got leave-gone to Didsbury"
"A Of them?"
Eyes"
I'm sorry for that. Don't you think-of
course this may be nothing but cold?".-
Nothing but%'- The woman closed her
eyes an instant. If to keep to herself any ex-
preston of suffering they might betray. This.
she went on. opening them again with recovered
serenity, this is nothing but pleursy.
Has the doctor told you SOP asked Mrs. kes-
mo"
ooh, Of course you know the symptoms. !
| ought to be the last to forget you have nursed
me through two attacks since you've been with
| US. Stilr'-
| Anne looked through Mrs. Keston into space
II shan't have two attacks" she said. without
expression
Are you alarmed about yourself?" Mrs Kes-
| tons voice faltered little.
mo" said the woman rigidy.
"Still, l think your sons ought to come and
YOU They oughtn't to be so far away as
Didsbury."
"Ah I'm glad When will they conner
I'm time-n time"
1.-The doctors manner has frightened you
Mrs Keston felt the tears risng-"but you
mustn't give UP hope. you know"
Il have something better than hope
| kpour-that nv Rcdeemer liyeth"
| This. from the point Of view Of physical health,
was vague.
Does she actually realize that she can't get
well?' thought the Wears wife. looking at the
| mmobile face and steady eyes. AS she moved
away from the bed, with that sense OF bafiled
kindness that Anne so often gave her. Mrs. Kes-
ton knocked down the clean linen that hung
over the footboard.
Never mind said Anne, weakly. as the
Wears wife stopped to pick up the things.
IF these are airing" said the lady. they'd
better be by the fire.
"They won't need airing" observed Anne i'm
AS Mrs Keston took hold Of great piece Of
linen. it slipped out Of It's folds and fell volumin-
ousy along the floor. The Wears wife looked
across its snowy wilderness to the white face OF
the woman.
What do you use this for?"
II haven't used 1t yet" said Anne. There was
You don't moan began Mrs Keston::
"Yes-the old way If the best. Fashions
change So" sad Anne Carter
Mrs. Keston folded up the winding sheet with
a chill creeping down her spine.
yes" she said stupidity. just to break the
gravelike stiffness with human sound-a-
yes"
yes" echoed Anne with her steadfast eyes on
the lnen--"Pm sure It will be more In keeping.
Mrs Keston had assisted at many deathbed,
yet she went downstairs a good deal shaken.
She conscious. too. that her emotion was
not all due to her very real sorrow at the pros
pect OF losing Anne. Under the unusual stress
of feeling she found courage to penetrate to her
husbands sanctum, where not even she. as a
rule, dared follow him. But she explained: Anne
Carter was dying and knew she was dying. lie
must go and administer spiritual consolation.
The Vicar put down his Quill and pushed back
his pile of sermon paper with marked reluctance;
haste. She takes 1t in a strange. terrible way.
"Ah, hysterical?'
MONO Only so quiet-so"-
"Ah, numbed?"
NO Dreadfuy conscious Of everything and
Oh l don't know. do go and comfort her"
Comfort her"-the Vicar repeated 10 himseii
a. he slowly mounted the stair-"Comfort"
Any one who knew him would have thought him
snguarly III at ease, but he knocked at the door
and went in. The little maidservant who was
sitting by the bed. got up and came out. The
Vicar took her chair
II hope you not suffering much
Anne frightened her pale lips an almost I'M
perceptbe instant.
Thank YOU" she said
us there anything can do for you be-
mo. thank YOU" she interrupted. in . weak
voice. . 49,
Il mustn't let you talk" he said. Suppose
we read little" He pulled a small prayer
book out Of his pocket.
NO." she repeated. mo. thank you"
The Vicar looked at her in some perplexity.
Are you feeling worse? Shall ring?"
THE bells in this room can't be rung here"
She looked up sternly at the row OF dangling
tyrants But I've taken some Of my own medi-
cine" she went on. I'm easier.
Then wouldn't you like me to-a"- He
lifted up the worn red prayer-book.
mo"
He stared at her over the open page.
IL haven't minded coming to morning prayers
when I'm we'll" said the woman. but when I'm
dying I must have my own minister"