Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-10-07

evening with a touch of hesitancy. Some
how she did not feel like having much
said about it.
DR.. Randolph was there, too, and she
wondered anxiously what he would
think. Somehow, the recitation Of
thing like that to q dying woman sud
denly seemed rude and ill-timed. Her
cheeks burned.
The doctor looked at her thought
fully.
Possibly you can cure her, Mss
Rena," he said. Sometimes in low
fever the patient gets apathetic and in
different, ana slips away from sheer
lack of energy. Maybe you can reverse
the idea somewhat, and, as second
Scheherazde, chain the poor woman to
life by your eloquence."
He looked up and caught the deep
flush on Rena's face.
81 beg your pardon, Miss Rena, 1 am
not entirely joking. do not know the
case, but that result is not impossible.
How about tomorrow, though? Had
you forgotten the golf match? l be-
lieve the party Is to start at seven and
return by moon rise"
Rena caught her breath.
~ had forgotten" she answered.
She sat silent, hardly touching her
dessert. The party going out next
morning were just the people she liked.
The exhilarating spin over the perfect
roads in the lovely, fragrant June morn
ing; the informal dinner at the charm
ing clubhouse; the moonlight return
and DR.. Randolph. It was so seldom he
spared time for an outing.
at would be absurd to give up such
lovely day just for the mere possibility
of benefit to the woman. Why, the doc
tor half made fun OF it himself"
Then her promise flashed to her mind.
81 don't seem to be doing much of
anything else lately but forget; that
settles it, though" she thought,
strengthening up energetically; "of
course can't 60"
People think rapidly, and Rena, lool'-
Ing up at the end of her cogltations, no.
ticed they were all silent, as though
waiting for her to go on.
81 really did forget Gbout.the Downs,
and promised her to come back. so OF
course I can't CO." she said, decidedly.
But wish you wouldn't mention it to
anyone, because don't do it for good
ness, you know, but simply because
promised"
The next morning She gathered
great handful of dewy pink and white
roses before she went to the little white
house, wondering as she did 1t, whether
they might not be for the dead rather
than the living.
John Hathaway met her at the door.
"She is waiting for you," he said.
The sick woman was alone; her eyes
were open, and she was watching the
door intently.
"She's come" she announced, trium-
phantly, as though she had come off
victor in doubtful case. "And see the
beautiful roses!"
eyes, and you shall have them where
you can enjoy Them" replied Rena,
scattering the fragrant mass over the
snowy bed and its occupant.
Mrs. Hathaway gave little gasp. The
roses were dreadfully dewy, but they
did smell good. Still, it was not roses
che wanted.
Rena answered the unspoken wistful-
ness of her face.
"Now, what do you want me to re-
cite?" she asked.
~ wish you'd say something real
funny. 1 haven't heard anything funny
in so long," Mrs. Hathaway answered,
imploringly.
whatever can ! recite that's real
funny?'" thought Rena, in dire per-
plexity. Everything funny is SO mixed
up with the pathetic. l might tell them
How Katie Entertained Her Sisters
Beau It's pretty near as bad as Cur
few Shall Not Ring but believe they
will like it," So she told the absurd lit
tie story of Katic's exploits.
John Hathaway roared with delight.
THE cute little rat!" he cried, adj
miringly, didn't she just get it on
that sister of hers?"
The roses over Mrs. Hathaway tum-
bled around as though they were expert
ercing small earthquake.
~ didn't know anything could bo so
funny" she gasped, wiping her stream
ing eyes. Cant you go on?"
Aren't you afraid it will hurt you?"
asked Rena, apprehensively.
"Hurt me! l haven't felt 30 stirred
up and good for months"
twas nearly an hour later when Rena
emerged breathless and rosy from the
cottage, and met Dr.. Randolph at the
gate,
"Why, thought you went to the
Downs!" she said, astonished.
"No, l concluded not to go. How is
your patient?"
ooh, doctor, there was never any
thing like it'll" she cried, ecstatically.
"You were right. All she needed was
'rousing,' and l reused her. I'm sure
she will get well. Irecited everything.
from Katie Entertaining Her Sisters
Beau to When Grandmamma Danced
the Minuet,' and furnished my own or
chestra. They did enjoy it so! It was
just lovely!"
Doctor" she said, rather hesitating-
ly, do you know other people like
those, you know, who might like some
thing of this kind?"
eyes, Miss Rena, have whole hos
pital full who would surely like some
thing Of this kind to whom it would be
joy and delight, even if you did not
cure them all"
81 think / will go to them, then"
Rena replied, with decision. "It's more