Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-06
go lIIlIs.Is.l7 - p.
- corsins or frlendsY' "None.


'Tack OF attention in the beginning -
the cause Of all MS trouble. "a,
,rbqt night John DObbs, scorched WIN
@o,,or end wandering IN his delirlum, muir
INJURED Brownie" and then begged piI-
onelv for water He might have quehcne4
rts thirst with the tears that wet q PlioM
a. cosev little room-that is. proViding
be ala not want 70 drink too much, end
aid not object TO salt-but neither nc III
others knew that Brownie "ePI
However disagreebie John D0bbs may
ba,,e heen. he did not allow himself 10
r,ccrrob 10 the fever. one day, II seemed
=, hin, that he awoke from long, long
sieen and found himself lying helpless IN
his he'd The sun was shining merrily into
bis roorn. The air was full Of fragrance
and flowers adorned his mantel. Ihey
were arranged near Brownies picture.
V-bo could have placed them there? But
Il was all 50 strange that ne ceased 10
ruzzfe his brain, and took nap.
,,ba next day he saw other flowers there.
and feeling stronger he wondered whence
thay, came. No one was In his room. the
oId colored man who nursed him had gone
ont for n moment John Dobbs felt an ir-
resistlble desire to rise and 20 exert the
strength returning to his limbs. The Office
telephone rang, and he experienced d
strange desire TO answer IT.
He crawled out OF bed, threw on Ms
shabby dressing-gown. and dragged him
self TO tho phone. "Hellog came ieeDie
voice from the Office.
Good morning." answered woman
voice-a most familiar yoice-and then
this question followed:
How IS Mr.. Dobbs to-dayT'
Better, thank you"
Have you aired the rooms and ar
ranged the nOwersY'
no
The next question was In querulous
"yyhy haven't you done as told your
81 don't know what you told me-"
you Will never learn anything was
the harsh reply.
''No. guess not" was tho meek re-
sponse.
ter Won shall be discharged. Must I tell
YOU one thing thousand timesT'
NO. hardly that" answered Jonn
Dobbs. humbly; but I thought I had
right to DO as 1 pleased" with evidence
Of WARMTH.
The lawyer imagined that his last re-
mark created CONSERVATION at the stner
end. for he heard a hustle, and then
there came an anxious query:
"Who am / talking tor
',rhe remains Of the late John Doons'"
in a solemn and humble tone.
oh" said the voice, apparently IN
great excitement. and then there came
hurried good-by.
IL took John Dobbs, whose stupidity had
no limit. tust one hour to understand the
meaning OF the mysterious conversation
over the phone. and then something sud
DENLY whispered Brownie" 10 him, and
he reiclced that he had been sick.
When he asked his old colored nurse
about the flowers on his mantel the
worthy man replied:
'sThem Is the flowers as was sent by
vour sister: the lady what IS always ask
ne 'bout YOU over the telephone. She am
your sister, amt she. Mr.. DoobsY'
This query provoked a joke-a grim
Joke from John Dobbs. He replied; NO
she IS not my sister-she Is ""oi7
family 10 me-
when the lawyer and the EDWARD met
after their long separation 1t seemed as
II some fatality had arranged everything
for them. He knew Just what 10 90.
when she placed her two little hands In
his he said: Brownie, don't you know
l.
yves 7 know IT," replied laughing
yo,ce "and II I hadn't, Heaven pity me.
You would never have told me-.
81 ,ust didn't understand how" was the
apologize response.
But subsequent events showed thar the
rest OF the programme was clearly map
ped out IN his mind.
,ohn Dobbs, Esq, attorney at law
kissed the cheek OF one Brownie.
MAY | ask one favor OF you,' said
voice. smothered In two arms moment
later.
yes. dear"
..Ivon't YOU buy yourself a new red
crayat."
He acceded 10 the request.
49,. o. x-t,tfre eont In tho Dienatch