The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-28

and me tears snrang TO her eyes. But she
was a brave gin, and she listened wiz,
out an outward sign Of fear as 'he uo0'oi
explained about the medicines - 80,
Aunt Rachel lay in "a darkened room VI,
/ a low bed covered with an ol1-lasnlol'e1i
picccd quilt. Her face was nush'u a. -
! her eyes were bright with FEVER, onu ~
thin long fingers travelled heIF .'' ~, ~
and down the quilt. as III she W. -, ~
ing TO play on a piano. She ana not hiV"
! June-called her sarah Ann, altei a &c
ter OF hers. who had died year, 80 a
| At first June was frightened. IL W.
| hard place for girl Of fourteen, Dut the
need was great and the kindly olu co0'o'
| dld what he could 10 redssuiG me-. ,to,,.
water, water cried 1ae p@ amy;
| won't you give me sOHlclhlhb ~ "''''
lime started forward with look OF
| tender solcitude In her race. .,s,.,,.
mo, no" said the ola doo'or, p v,o,er
| You couldn't do anything worse for her.
! For this happened thirty years ago
! when doctors believe that fever ptlleLts
| should never be allowed a drink, no mat
! her how parched their lips. IL - az
After tho doctor went away June sat
| with the bright eyes Of the SICK woman
| staring at her. She was no longer thS
l gentle Aunt Rachel whom June mao mao
| known ever since she knew any one, but
| "A changed. excited Aunt Rachel. whose
| harsh laugh was terrifying, especially 70
| "A umid little girl. But June remembered
| how tho whole town was sunerihs' anu
| she tried TO be brave.
You remem Der the old well back OF
| the house," said Aunt Rachel, you re-
member that, Sarah Ann; how cool the
water was and how the old bucket drip
Aunt Rachel looked sharply at June.
Eyes. Aunt Rachel" answered June.
"Oh. get me a drink from IL; please,
Sarah I'm so thirsty-so thirsty
and from laughing poor Aunt Rachel be
gan to whimper and the tears streamec
down her wrnklod face. 49,,
the old cup from the shelf in the shed ana
get 10 full-please Sarah.
mo. Aunt Rachel: the doctor said
mustn't" answered June, her blue eyes
''Thon leave me; I won't have you stay
here" screamed the patient, striking AT
her trembling nurse. June could not real
I'VE that this was gentle, quiet Aunt Ia
chel.
Twilight had passed and the darkness
Of the warm July night had settled down.
A whippOorWll Whistled in the deep
woods at the head Of the mill-pond, and
the sound Of crickots' fiddlng came IN
drowsily through the open windows.
June lighted a candle and set II on the
table by the side of Aunt Rachels niue
worn Bible.
The patient was still mumbling to her
self and playing imaginary tunes on the
cOvarlid Her nurse feared that she
might try TO get out OF bed-the doc-
tor had suggested the possibility-and 1t
was all she could do to be brave. For
the deepening shadows and the sounds
of night added to the fearsomeness OF
her surroundings.
excrtions. sunk back on her pillow and
Law very quiet with her eyes closed.
hardly breathing through her white lips;
June's heart sunk Perhaps Aunt Rachel
was dead 1t was more terrible far than
the delirium of the fever.
She tiptoed noiselessly up TO the bed and
leaned over the flushed face.
Water. water" came the faint voice OF
the patient please bring me some wa
ter" A
June's heart ached Why wouldn't ic
be possible 10 let Aunt Rachel have
Just a small drink II she were 10 Gle
ii could make no difference. and 1t might
relieve the distress for the time being.
But June had been trained 10 obedience
ana she remembered the doctors IN
structOns. 800,
For an houl or more June sat quite still
listening TO the heavy breathing or the
patient and the solemn ticking Of tall
clock i'm the sitting-room.
Suddenly Aunt Rachel reused M and
began TO call for water, begging Sarah
Ann" to bring it, But June could only
shake her head sOrrOwfully. At this Aunt
Rachel leaned forward and beckoned
Come here. Sarah Ann she said, and
when June reached the bed. she seized
her by the shoulder and drew her down
close to the bed. Her eyes wore cum
ming look.
do you know what I want?' she ask
ed. Il want some cucumbers. Go up to
Squire Atwood's place and you'll find
some nice ones growing IN a patch back
OF the barn. / want EN-. DO you hear?'
Aunt Rachel pushed June away. For
a moment the little nurse stood undecid-
ed The doctor hadn't said anything
about cucumbcrs. although she felt that
il would be wrong TO give Aunt Rachel
any of them. But the sight OF the poor.
suffering woman nearly broke Junc's
heart. Why would IL hurt? And the doc
tor might never know
Are you going?" asked Aunt Rachel,
bcsccChingly.
Lie still and III get them, June an
swered, hurriedly
Without waiting to put on her sun-bon-
net she ran out Of the doorway and mp
the path The moon shone bright and the
air was sweet and soft. But the shad-
ows were deep. and June's heart beat
fast. She climbed through the rail fence
and ran swiftly down the lane. An old
COW started suddenly az the roadside and
frightened her, and some night animal
a cOCn perhapS-ran across her path. At
last tho cucumbcrs We're picked and June
sped back again with beating heart
Some way she felt that she was doing
wrong and vet she could not bear Aunt
cry of Water water"
Back at the cottage she hastily peeled
the cucumbers and brought them into Tie
sick-room. The patient looked at them
greedlly as they were placed on the chair
near the head of her bed.
Get some vinegar-in the cupboard
June ran for the cruet.
She had gone 50 far now that she dared
TO go even farther although she was
frightened when she thought Of what the
doctor might say.
When she returned Aunt Rachel was
caOting eagerly. The vinegar was poured
on. and the patient did not stop until
every slice was gone. Then she sunk
back YEARLY. moaning TO herself. June
hid away the dish and watched her pa
tient narrowly. Her fingers gradually
ceased their nervous creeping, and the
bright-rcd spots on her cheeks faded.
Presently her Eyes closed and the heavy
breathing of the earlier part of the night
ceased.
June became more and more frightened.
She felt of Aunt Rachels hand. 1t was
cool and moist.
She's dead" whispered the panic
stricken little girl, and she fed. crying
from the house.
con what will mother say? What will
the doctor say? I've killed her" she sob
bed. as she ran. "Oh. If l hadn't given
her those cucumhers.'
She saw no shadows nor cows. and
she didn't hear the crickets or the whip
poOrWil for she was stumbling up the
street toward home.
As she turned the corner near Crosby's
house she almost ran into DR.. SlOane's
arms. For a moment the good doctor was
startled.
why. June" he said.
--lh .L.-a n.aA sL.-s l.al % Clio gu