Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-10-07
DOCTOR RENTS ....
AMUSEMENT CRUSADE.
BY JEANETTE $. BENTON.

THE pretty suburb OF Hyde Park was
in riot of greenness and bloom I'M
der the hot June sun. The bay-win-
dowed and balconied Merrill house
looked terribly imposing to John Hath
away as he went slowly up the broad
walk. A sound of merry girlish voices
foated through the window, and he
walked still slower. He was difident
man, and would much rather have faced
q battery than gone through with the
errand he was bound on; but he must,
and big, strong man as he was, his eyes
grew wet as he thought of the reason.
He rang the bell.
81 should like to see Miss Rena Mer-
rill,'' he said TO the servant.
She looked little surprised, then di-
rected him to a chair in the hall, and
went into the parlors. a moment later
a girl came out, very pretty girl, airy
and proud-looking.
"Did you wish to see me?" she asked,
wonderingly.
He crushed his hat nervously in his
hands.
Eyes, mar1n," he answered. 81 sup
pose I came on a very queer errand, but
I had to-"
And his eyes filed with tears.
"Of course you don't know US. My
name is John Hathaway. We live back
here about three blocks. But we know
all about you. Time and time again we
have heard of your beautiful speaking,
and my wife has wanted to hear You
always. Since she has been sick she sort
of seemed to have it on her mind all the
time. Yesterday she heard the doctor
telling me he was afraid she couldn't
pull through, and she said: John, if
am going to die, there's just one thing
I want. I want you to ask Miss Merrill
to come and recite FOR me- Sick people
get fanciful sometimes, you know" he
said, alphabetically. II hope you'll ex-
cuse the liberty"
wants me to come and recite some
thinTs'' the girl repeated. "Why, how
funny! ! am sure I don't know" look
ing doubtfully at the unmistakable
work-day aspect Of the man before her.
docs she want me to come now?"
"The doctor didn't say how long 1t
would be-" he answered simply.
People who did not like Rena Merrill
said she was spoiled. Possibly she was,
but something in the pathetic hopeless
ness Of the visitors voice and the sad
ness of his homely, honest face sudden
ly touched her.
sAs ao,,--o T,II mn - ebn soid {por,,l-
lively, pinning on her wide, white hat;
Sow, too. I'll be back sometime" she
remarked cavalierly to the wondering
girls in the doorway; Gust amuse your
selves until come"
The man hurried ahead, and stood
waiting in the doorway Of trig, box
Gke little house. Everything was clean
and still; an air of solemn expectancy
brooded over the place.
A woman came into the entry. Her
face was portentous and important
looking.
"Have you got herr" she asked. in
loud whisper. Its an awful queer no
ton for dyin' person to take" she
continued, turning to the girl. "She's
growing weaker. It's slow fever, you
know, miss; but guess she can hear
yet"
Rera followed her into room rather
bare. but painfully clean. On the spot
less pillow was a white, wan face with
closed cves Another woman sat hy - t. :
s,eu aiming nrr. Inc uurK eyes Opcict4
slowly, and a weak voice whispered:
~ knew she'd come. Now I'll hear
her"
Rena stood at the foot Of the bed, for
the first time in her life painfully en-
barrassed.
What shall 1 recite" she asked ap-
pealingly of the women.
They sat with decorously folded
hands.
Something suitable to the occa-
Bion," one said, primly.
Rena thought shade Of protest
fitted across the white face on the bed.
Little Boy Blue" flashed to her be-
wildered memory, and she eagerly
caught at it. Even to herself her voice
had never sounded so pathetic as she
told the tender little story.
When she finished, the two stolid
women were wiping their eyes, and
heavy tears lay on the sick woman's
white cheeks. Again she opened those
weary eyes, and to the girls thought
there was reckoning in them. She fol-
lowed her impulse, and bent over the
bed.
"Now something-difrerent," the
woman gasped.
deninspiration flashed to Rena's
mind. She stood well out in the room
and commenced the Chariot Race"