Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-09-23

pa az PhS tiPNa M S'NP w a.
muttering softly.
ut is always so. Our Lady will have
the best OF all, first the father, then
the child; it is right and just-only the
bad are left"
"P9pai" moaned a little voice feebly,
and Stella SIT up among her tumbled
pillows, with ~wide-cpened wild eyes,
feyerish cheeks, and parted lips
through which the breath came in
quick, uneasy gasps. Shocked at the
mal ks of intense suffering in her face.
| | put my arms tenderly round her-she
smiled family and tried to kiss me. |
pres sed the poor parched little mouth
and mulm INJURED, soothingly:
Stella must be patient and quiet
Stella must lie down, the pain will be
better so; therel that is right" as the
child sunk back on her bed obediently,
still keeping her gaze fixed upon me.
knelt at the bedside, and watched her
yearningly-while Assunta moistened
her lips, and did all she could to ease
the pain endured so meekly by the poor
little thing whose breathing grew
quicker and fairter with every tick of
the clock.
You are my para, are you not?"
she asked, a deeper flush crossing her
foreheads and cheeks. | made no an
swer-I only kissed the small hot
hand held, Assunta shook her head.
"Ah, poverinetta, The time is near
she sees her father. And why not?
He loved her well-he would come to
fetch her for certain if the saints
would let him"
And she fell on her knees and began
to tell over her rosary with great de-
@votion. Meanwhile Stella threw one
little arm round my neck-her eyes
were half shut-she spoke and breathed
with increasing difficulty.
MY throat aches so, papa" she said
pitifully. Can you not make it bet
ter?"
Il wish | could, my darling!" / MUIR
INJURED. Il would bear all the pain for
you if it we're possible,"
She was silent a minute. Then she
said:
What a long time you have been
away? And now | am too Ill to plav
with you! Then a faint smile
crossed her features, "See poor To-to,n
she exclaimed, feebly, as her eyes fell
on a battered old doll in the spangled
dress of a carnival clown that Law at
the foot of her bed. Poor dear old
Toto! He will think / do not love
him any more, because my throat
hurts me. Give him to me. papa."
And as | obeyed her request she en-
circled the doll with one arm. while
she still chung to me with the other,
and added:
Toto remembers you, papa: YOU
know you brought him from Rome. and
he is fond of you, too-but not as fond
as ami And her dark eyes git
tered feverishly, Suddenly her glance
fell on Assunta, whose gray head was
buried in her hands as she knelt.
"Assunta."
"Bambinetta," she answered. and
her aged voice trembled.
why are you crying?" inquired
Stella with an air of p~laintive surprise.
Are you not glad to see papa?'
Her words were interrupted hv a
spasm of pain which convulsed her
whole body-she gasped for breath
she was nearly sufrocated. Assunta
and | raised her up gently and sup
ported her against her pillows; the
agony passed slowly, but left her lit
tie face white and rigid, while large
drops of sweat gathered on her brow.
| endeavored to soothe her.
Darling, you must not TALK" |
whispered, imploringly: try to be very
still-then the poor throat viii not
ache so much"
She looked at me wistfully. After a
minute or two she said, gently:
kiss me, then, and | will be quite
good"
kissed her fondly, and she closed
her eyes Ten, twenty, thirty minutes
passed ard she did not stir. At the
end of that time the doctor entered.
He glanced at her, gave me a warning
look, and remained standing quietly ut
the foot of the bed. Suddenly the
NAA'N "Nbhls anu ollliltd uiNllltlN Oh al
three Of us.
Are you in pain, my DEAR" |
softly asked.
moi" she answered in a tiny voice.
so faint and far away that we held
our breath to listen to it: II am quite
well now. Assunta must dress me in
my white frock again now papa is here.
| knew he would come back"
And she turned her eyes upon me
with a look of bright intelligence.
Her brain %wanders." said the doc
tor in a low, plying voice; ut will
soon be over"
Stella did not hear him: she turned
and nestled in my arms, asking in a
sort Of ~babbling whisper:
You did not go away because / was
naughty. did you, papa?"
No, darling!" | answered. hiding
my face in her curls.
why do YOU have those ugly black