The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-12-22

or three matches and an end Of candle,
which she lighted. Then, with the
candle in her hand, she turned to the
corner from which the voice came.
The singer was lying, dressed as she
had seen him last, upon ragged, dill
apidated bed. His face was flushed
and drawn, and his eyes were wide
open. For an instant, as she met them,
'Tilda's heart seemed TO leap in her
throat; they looked so much as If he
twas himself" as she expressed it.
Then she understood that they did not
see her. The hOarse, faint notes Of the
carol went on and on.
a strange little quiver Of indeseriba-
BILE, hesrt-brOken feeling passed across
'Tilda's face. 1t left her features alert,
resolute, capable looking as they had
never been since she took up her resi-
dence in George Street. There was one
little sobbing sigh, aud she wasted no
more time in looking at him. She turn
ed, and holding the candle above her
head, surveyed the wretched room.
1t was not dirty. Her quick eye. go
ing back TO her grandmother train
ing, saw that in moment. Il was only
hopelessly poor. There were dead ashes
in the CRATE, aud by the side Of the
hearth stood u broken box with few
bits Of sticks and coal. This was what
'TiIda was looking for. In few mo-
ments more a CHEEKY little fire was
burning.
Then 'Tilda went oaek to the bed
side. The carol had died away into an
incoherent mumbling; the eyes were
shut, and there was look of heavy un-
consciousness about the whole face
which frightened her. With tie III
stinct of semi starvation, her fret.
thought was to give him food, and she
looked about the room again in search
Of anything to eat. On the one table
was piece OF bread and a jug contain
ing milk. But the bread as she touch
ed it was hard and dry and the milk
was sour. There seemed TO be nothing
else, and her intention being thus frus-
trated, 'Tilda's thoughts took a new
turn.
"He'd better have the dOetOr,n she
said TO herself That's the best.r
She went out of the room and down
the stairs, and at the bottom she paus-
ed. She did not know where the near
est doctor lived. She had no intention
ofwasting time, and she had just made
up her mind to knock at the nearest
door and ask directions when a woman
pushed open the front door. To her
'Tilda put her question.
The woman was tousled, dirty, un-
comfortably stout person, but she hap
pened to be in high good humor, hav-
ing just come in for a substantial
Christmas dole. She made 'Tilda ex-
plain the situation at some length, and
eyed her euriOusly.
"What i'm up stairs ," she said
'E keeps hisself to hisself, he does,
and that's wot comes on il, yer see.
'"E's been a lynn there these three
days, like 'nough. An you're a friend
of is? LOr. Well, you run along to
DR.. Mason, third turning on your left,
first 'ouse, an see if iell come"
'Tilda was gone in an instant. She
never stopped to take breath until she
found herself at her destination-con
fronted with a gentleman who was in
the act of opening the door with a
latchkey.
"Please, are you the doctor?r gasped
'Tilda.
AZ don't know how you think you're
going to get your fees, let alone other
things ~
The speaker was the singer, aad the
day was Christmas Eve, fortnight
later. The singer, gaunt and pale, bat
with returning strength in his voice,
lay in his bed. By his side stood the
doctor, aud at the foot of the bed was
'Tilda, a surprisingly neat and trim
little 'Tilda, though pale aud thin, for
she had tidied her hair and her dress
on the Gay when the singer recovered
consciousness, and she had kept up the
habit.
The doctor was young man with a
strong and kindly face. He laughed at
the somewhat grim observation.
at wasn't my fault that you didn't
go into the hospital, you know" he
said. "Bat we've pulled you through
that's the main point - thanks to
your little nurse"
He glanced at 'Tilda as hespoke, and
a rosy flash of delight spread over her
face. But the singer moved uneasily.
"'Tilda," he said, "do you mind go
ing downstairs for bit? I've some
thing to say to DIR. Mason"
But when the door was shut upon
her the singer did not speak. The Doc
tor walked away to the window, and
there was a long silence. 1t was bro
ken at last by DR.. Mason. He turned
abruptly to his patient:
Look here" he said; "there's no
need to tell me anything. You've been
deIirious you know, and-I know the
kind Of story. VIII you take another
chance If it's offered you? That's all 1
want to know"
The singer was lying with his face to
the wall, and he did not turn round.
"Yes," he said.
"Then I'll see that you have it. 1t
won't be much, you knOw-not the
right thing-but it viii keep you"
"And 'Tilda?D said the singer stretch
ing out his hand, still without turning
his head.
"And 'Tilda," said the doctor laying
his hand in the thin fingers.
The doctor was gone when 'Tilda
came in again, and the singer vas
lying very still. She hsd a little basket
in her hand and sprig Of holly.
ST met the district lady downstairs, +"
she said joyfully, ''and she gave me
these. There's jelly in the basket, and
oranges, and all kinds. You'll have
bit of Christmas after all ~
The singer moved.
's'Tilda," +" he said, "eOme here and sit