The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-11-06
full thing TODD. I"


full thing Il, do
The catch on the door of the sick
mans room accidentally gave way, and
the door swung slightly ajar. The nurse
inside quickly closed il. but not before
a plaintive cry of MARY" had reached
the two people in the hall.
"Well?' he said sententiously.
'Ill go. Bob. 1t will not be of the
slightest use, but drowning people al
ways clutch at straws.
That's right, he exclaimed. Get
on your best clothes It's a little early
for morning call, but the servants of
people Of the standing of the Summer
hayes are more easily impressed by good
clothes than they are by anything else.
I'll have cab at the door for you when
you are ready"
Miss Mary Summerhayes sat in the
armchair by the window Of the hall
and wondered why she had allowed her
self to openly rebel against the social
conventionalities so carefully drilled
into her. She had endeavored to con-
vince herself that she had come simply
for the mothers sake, but somehow
the conviction did not seem perfectly
honest. An attempt to blame it on her
impulsiveness resulted in an even great
er failure. She grew half angry with
herself, and once she arose from her
chair with the intention of seeking
safety in flight. But she sank back into
| the chair, for the reason that urged her
| to flight also chained her to the spot.
Then she determined to face it brsvely
and found a great sweetness and content
growing upon her But even as it grew
q fear replaced it, and all life seemed to
| 90 out OF her body, for she remembered
that his mother had said that he was
| dying.
When Mrs. Thomas came out of the
siclroom, she found the girl weeping.
She sat down on the arm Of the chair
and drew her toward her and comforted
her.
II am afraid you are somewhat up
SET" she said. Il am almost sorry /
asked you to come. IL is so good of you.
| The girl dried away the tears from
her eyes
81 am little hysterical, think, "
| she said. but am glad am here if
I can do anything to help you. Do you
| want me to go in now?"
do you feel strong enough?"
"Oh, yes: am all right now. 1t was
| only momentary weakness. Is he still
| delirious?'
| "Just the same"
"There is no one else there?"
"No. 1 sent the nurse away for lit
tie sleep"
"You will come in with me" she
said as she opened the door.
| The room was darkened, and the
| young girl stood in the doorway for an
instant, accustoming her eyes to the
dim light
| MARY, Mary!" called the sick man
as she stood there, and the mother,
with her hand on the young girls
shoulder, felt a shudder run through hel
body. She led her to the bed, beside
which chair stood Miss Summerhayes
sat down and gazed at the pale face ly.
ing on the pillow. She placed one hand
OH the hot, fevered forehead and with
the other took one Of his.
MARY has come" she said in low
voice, stroking his forehead and brush
ing back his hair.
After few minutes the patient gave
little gasp of relief She sat there for
ten minutes longer, and only once did
he again cry out "Maryp and then the
cry had changed from one Of entreaty
to content In few minutes his breath
ing showed that he was asleep, and the
girl, bending over him, kissed him
lightly on the forehead, disengaged her
hand from his and arose from her chair.
Take me away" she entreated as
she fell into his mothers arms.
A week later Mary Summerhayes told
her mother Of her early visit to the
house in the square. There were tears
in her eyes.
1T does not matter now, mother. He
is dead. Dead, and he never knew how
much l loved him. He was conscious
just before he died, and he whispered to
his mother, tell. her, mother, if you
see her, that loved her. He died soon
afterward. saw his death in the news
papers-you remember the evening the
Fergusons were here and had that Sc
/ we're headache. 1t was heartache, and
/ did not come down. The next day
went to see his mother, and she told me
how he died, and we cried together over
it."
"But, Mary, you surely did not love
the poor fellow? Why, you had scarcely
seen him beforep
~ feel that / shall never be able to
love any one else in the same way,
mother"
But Mr.. Roanoke, Mary. You will
never have another chance to marry so
advantageously.
II like Mr.. Roanoke very well-as a
friend. respect him too much to mar
| ry him. Then, you know, he has ter
rible prejudice against widows" she
| continued with a light touch Of her
usual lively manner, and, in lapsing
again into intense seriousness, 81 am q
widow, though maid. Exchange.
| ----