The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-28


leins mishap had already spread through
the house. and out Of almost every door
an iuquistive head was protruded Tho
small procession had barely reached tho
first landing when another door opened
and another of the dodgers stepped out
this time not prompted by curiosity, but
with his hat on his head and obviously
ian a hurry.
on a terribly new brass tablet fastened
upon this door there was printed i'm pain
fully distinct letters the name "Doktor
Franz Eisler. and as The tall man with
the short brown beard stood aside to let
the bearers pass. Lisi remembered that
this must be the young doctor who haG
begun practice quite recently, and who
was SO new a lodger in the house that
she did not yet know his face by sight.
Left alone with the still insensible wo-
man, Lisi began by trying to collect her
thoughts II occurred to her now that she
ought to have addressed the doctor on
the staircase. and asked him to attend her
Aunt Clara. But would he have come,
seeing what little chance he had of pay
ment? At any rate. ii was too late nov.
since he had evidently been on the point
of leaving the house. She must just see
what she could do by herself. Little by
little the old lady revived. Presently her
eyes opened and began to rove about the
room. As they reached the iron stove they
suddenly lost their blank look.
"A fire. whispered Fraulein Tram,
feebly and yet sharply. What made you
light fire? AT this rate the Goals cannot
last till Saturday"
'Then they will just last till Thursday.
thank God that l lit a fire tonight. Do
you want to kill yourself with cold, as well
as hunger?'
Fraulein Traun had managed to raise her
head few inches.
You have cut the sausage already"
she exclaimed a little louder How Of
ten have I told you not TO cut my share
until l am back? To-day it will be wasted,
for I cannot eat"
No, il will not be wasted for / will eat
your share as well as mine" said Lisi with
a movement of impotence. She was not
aware of being influenced by the remarks
of Frau Weiss, nor by her own reflections
on the possible contents of the wooden
box in the corner, but the sight of her ben
efactress lying in this helpless state could
not help adding a sting both to those re-
marks and to those reflections. 1t was ex-
actly because she loved Fraulein Traun
and trembled for her, that she felt out of
patience with her at this moment.
The piano-mistress looked a the girl in
surprise but answered nothing s she slow
ly let her head sink back upon the pillow
1T was only fainting-fit," she explain
ed little later. 1T is long way home
from that last lesson, you know. And the
pavement is very slippery-perhaps l fell
1 cannot exactly remember. But l shall be
able to go there again tomorrow. Eat your
supper now, Lisi"
When at the conclusion of her supper
Lisi looked up she met the eyes of Frau
lein Traun watching her very earnestly
from the bed.
Tell me, List" asked the old lady sud
denly, do you, too, believe that I am
rich, and only starve you out of avarice?"
Lisi flushed scarlet in an instant. All her
half-formed guilty thoughts-at this mo-
ment she felt that they had been guilty
stood up and confronted her. She stared
back at her patroness, unable to find an
answer
Never mind" said Fraulein Traun,
smiling feebly II understand Some day
perhaps [ will show you what treasure l
have in my box-for l have a treasure
there But not to-night-my head stin feels
too dizzy. Tomorrow perhaps. Do not let
me sleep too late. BY O'Clock 1 have got
to be at the Landstrasse."
Her eyes We're closed again, and the last
words sank into a muTmur.
Early next morning Lisi was aroused by
hearing her own name called softly from
somewhere close at hand. With her eyes
still full of sleep she sprang off the sofa
thinking only of her own remissness in
having oversight herself. Then suddenly
the remembered what had happened last
night, and went quickly to the side of the
bed.
You called me- Aunt Clara?"
YES I called you. Do not be fright
ened, List, but I think 1 am i'll. l shah
not be able to give any piano lessons to-
day. Perhaps you could give me a little
water to drink"
"Oh, Aunt Clara. let me fetch the doc
tori
Now that she was wide-awake, Lisi
could see how grey Fraulein Traunn's
face looked and how strangely sunken
were her eyes. A sudden fear of immedi.
ate danger came over her.
"A doctor?" repeated the sick woman ir-
ritably. Nonsense. child; he would cost
far too much money. Just give me a lit
tie water, and remember that on no ac-
count are you to fetch a doctor"
List brought the water and suppressed
a sigh. She knew that to argue with her
benefactress would be useless. And yet,
so far as she could judge Fraulein Traun
was very III. 1t was only rarely that thN
old lady opened her eyes, and as the min
utes passed she occasionally uttered a
soft groan. Early in the afternoon Lsl
saw a little color mount into the grey
cheeks and the sunken eyes began to
shine with a quite unusual brightness. But
there was no comfort in the change, since
she knew enough TO understand that this
could only mean the beginning of some
sort of fever.
The increase of fear gave her courage
20 carry out a plan, which during the
anxious forenoon hours spent beside the
bed, had been gradually taking shape in
her mind. Rising softly from her chair
she ran down the staircase and did MOI,
stand still until she was in front of the
door decorated by the brass shield which
bore the name of "Doktor Franz Eisler."
1t was on the first floor that the doctor
lOdged-for doctors have to consider the
convenience of patients, more particular
ly If these patients still belong to the dim
future, and even If the higher rent be n
most unwelcome consideration There Iisi
paused for a moment and hesitated She
had known too much of the hardship of
life to be exactly shy, but the doctor was
quite strange to her-might he not laugh
at her proposal? But. no; his face was
not unkind, of that she felt sure even
though it might be a little grace. How
she wished now that she had looked at
him more carefully last night! This was
her only hope, this she must risk; and
so rejecting she pulled the bell
1t was the doctor himself who opened
81. 4 l.