Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-09-23

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found her sitting alone on the beach,
her hands locked about her knees, her
ewes on the far line of the horizon. be
hind which Don's sails had dimi- d,
and dipped, and disappeared forever.
Another year passed in this way.
Dick never spoke, but he went on low
ing. When at last he tried to speak,
her perfect friendlincss closed his lips.
I'D better get shipwrecked, he told
himself with a little bitterness which
was foreign to his patient nature; If
was dead. she'd think more of me-" He
did not give up hope, but he was dis
<,ouraged. He hardly knew himself
ho7s deeply so, for he was surprised to
find }. .i1nself half sick, and by and by,
altogether sicl5-''down with a fever,
his man sid, when he came to bring a
pair of chickens to Mrs. Hayes door,
and explain thai Mr.. Wheeler couldn't
come himself.
Poor boy," cried Mrs. Hayes. anx-
iouslv: and not a wife nor a mother to
take care of him. Wen. there, Mary,
it is too bad,' Mary looked sorry, and
the next Gay she went to inquire about
him.
"Wen, he's worse" said the hired
man, laconically. Mary took the news
back to Don's mother, ane -sas very ST
lent.
"'Rout time to be concerned" old
Mrs. Hayes thought, severely. but that
was ONLY for moment. Poor child,
she said TO herself, she's worried about
him. There, now, Mary, cheer up,
she said aloud. Il guess it amt nothin
very bad"
Il don't know" Mary answered, -
hope not. But I'm afraid it is" AND
then, later in the evening, when they
lad been talking of something else, sh'
sad suddenly: "IIe hasn't soul t
look .fter him, except that stupid
Jacob"
Mrs. hayes looked at hcrinquiringly
II tust wish, saiS Nary. trcn-7uously
that you and ! coplen
"Why, bless your heart,P cried TX
old woman. "we viii! ] know what
you're going to esy-wen go right UP
there tomorrow. don't know why
didn't think of it first"
Good nursing is well enough in its
way, but when added to good nursing
ttse invalid hears voice that he loves,
talking outside his door, to his little
old. kind nurse. or is told that Mary
made that cruel" OF watches, dream
lily, through feverish eyes, Mary Inoy-
ing about his room. or even feels her
touch upon his forehcad-why, he can
not help get well At least that was
what Dick Wheeler said, first to him
self, and afterwards, shyly and awk-
wardly, when he was better and was
sitting up. to Mary, But, poor fellow
Mary's blank look almost landed him
back in his bed again. He began TO
realize, in slow, pathetic way. that IL
she had been less kind he might have
had more hope ''And Don dead seven
years" hs told himself. as ne sat
propped up with pillows In big, black
wooden rocking chair that had roses
painted on the head rest, and gay cal !
leo sleeves tied over It's stiff arms.
1t was a soft spring efterHoan; he |
was much better; Mrs Hayes and |
Mary had gone home, and only came in
for an hour or two each day To see that |
be was comfortable. II was Mrs.
tfayes who had packed him snugly into
the big chair In the south window, and
put q footstooi under his feet, aud
irawn little table with his medicine !
md glass Of wat~r '''"-c ~, 10 his side.
'Jacobm help you back TO bed, Diclty,
rs soon as you feel tired; now, mind,
lon't sit up minute longer than you
eel like iti And I'll come in tomorrow
morning and bring some beef tea.
dary's great on making beef tea"
When she went away Dick sat there
n the sunshine, looking out of the win
low, He made up his mind that he
must get over thinking about Mary;
here was no use; il only worried her,
and 1t kills me-" he thought simply.
lie wondered IL he could always feel so
ully Indifferent to everything, Just be-
ause he couldn't have Mary? The sun
vas warm on the grassy slope in front
f the house; a big vessel, coming slowly
p the river with the tide, leaned, and
er white topsails swelled and cleaned
nd tapped loose again; the trees ut
he foot OF the garden showed faint
list Of green; a pigeon wheeled and
uttered down to the doorstep and sat
reening itself and putting out its white
reast. The feeling of spring, and Joy,
nd promise was in the air
and / don't care a darn," Dick
roaned 10 himself. "Well, I've got to
ct over this. III go away; I'll get out
It; Mary shan't know why; III let
er think I've never thought of her
ince the last time / spoke. Good Lord
1T was two or three years agQl anu
We not gained aa inch with her" And
hen he opened his eyes, and saw Mary
oming up the path; she was on her
ray home from school, and stopped to
now how he was getting along.
Look at you, you careless fellow
he scolaed. you've dropped that
hawl Off your knees; what would
Iother Hayes say?"
"Oh, Mary" he said, and somehow
ne tears stood in his eyes, he Tas no
'eak. "Izi.e got TO go awayl" !
Mary's instant look of concern, and ,
hat she thought of such crazy words, ,
nd poor Dick gulped and tried to get
ack TO his resolution not 10 tell her. 1
/ don't know why / said that-I didn't 8
Iean to-" he told her. /,
"You are tired" she said, soothing
=, you've been sitting up too long" :
Nothing Of the sort" Dick an
vered, Grossly. II am only tired pf 4
lis business Good Lord, Mary--therel
can't delp it, ieM you take mei l didn't '
can TO ask again; was just saying
ouldn't, when you came up the path. '
a ,Rnrygo rygol%i %il G2u ta!ss Rs2 L E2a ~. M2n.t =
ng as I'm going to-" I
Poor Mary turned red and white
ith pity. "Oh, Dicltl" she said.
"You know he's dead and gone,
1u're only making another man mis-
able; and and you'd be happier
Jurself." q
"Of course he's dead" she said,
emulously, that isn't it; It's because S
I shall always love Don" she burst '
1t, and then fell to crying; and Dick '
wore at himself and was ready to tell {
er that he didn't care the least In the
orld for her-if IL would comfort her c
ny. J
But nothing comforted her. She '
ent home along the river road In the
.easant spring dusk, her eyes blurring q
nd smarting. She did not want Dou's
q
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