Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-08-14

settles it. though" she thought,
Strengthening up energetically; '-of
course 1 can't 60"
People think rapidly, and Rena, look
ing up at the end of her cogitations, no.
ticed they were all silent, as though
waiting for her to go on.
II really did forget about the Downs,
and promised her to come back, so of
course L can't CO." she said, decidedly.
But wish you wouldn't mention it to
anyone, because 1 don't do 1T for good
ness, you know, but simply because
| promised"
The next morning she gathered a
great handful of dewy pink and white
roses before she went to the little white
house, wondering as she did il, 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
| door intently-
''She-S come" she announced, trium-
phantly, as though she had come off
victor in a 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
she wanted
| Rena answered the unspoken wistful-
ness of her face.
Now, what do you want me to re-
cite?" she asked.
| Il wish you'd say something real
funny. 1 haven't heard anything funny
in so long," Mrs. Hathaway answered.
imploringly-
| "Whatever can l recite that's real
funny?''' thought Rena, in dire per-
plexity. Every thing funny is mixed
| cd 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 1 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
encing small earthquake
q didn't know anything could be so
funny" she gasped, wiping her stream
ing eyes. Cant you go on?"
Aren't you afraid it will hurt you? p"
asked Rena, apprehensively.
Hurt me! L haven't felt so stirred
up and good for months."s
1t was nearly an hour later when Rena
emerged breathless and rosy from the
cottage, and met DR.. Randolph at the
| gate.
why, L thought you went to the
Downsl" she said, astonished.
| mo | concluded not to 90 How ia
your patient?'
| "Oh, 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 we'll. l recited everything,
| from Katie Entertaining Her Sisters
Beau to When Grandmamma Danced
the Minuet,' and furnished my own or
chestra. They did enjoy it sol 1t 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?''
/ Yes, Miss Rena, 1 have a 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
i cure them all"
Il think l will go to them, then,''
Rena replied, with decision. Its more
fun than anything I've tried yet"
Taking that view of the case, the
fun" was certainly shared in good
measure in the convalescent and sur
glcal wards of the hospital, and many
dreary hours were shortened and made
| brighter by her efforts.
1t was never reported that she saved
the lives of any of the patients, so it was
| Mrs. Hathaway's proud boast that ..as
far as she had heard tell she was the
only person who had ever been cured
by elocution.'
| But the enjoyment and delight those
poor mortals experienced, the pain and
troubles they forgot, were legion 1t
was n new world to SO many of them,
a world full of such grand thoughts,
such loving ones, such side-splitting,
| innocent mirth, that in many cases it
was more lasting tonic than the med
lcine they took. While Doctor Rena, :"
as her friends all dubbed her, declared
she never had SO lovely time in all her
/ life he ad I, ad eli h.