Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-06-15

NslA
n RN\lMF 81 with the air of n
aEAM llyRW man WAC had
@ SANlN nothing particu.
e)ANH 0 larly pleasant to
o. AS "a 81 expect within. he
81 0W 81 noticed that the
~ 81 ~ porch, one so
3 neatly kept, was
now tracked with muddy footprints;
chat the rose-bushes on each side were
unpruned, and that his two children,
playing bareheaded in the garden, had
neglected and forlorn appearance.
He wiped his feet carefully, and cross
ing the entry, opened the door of q
!, room. where sat Mrs. Perrot, wrapped
in shawl, and mixing something in
tsa-cu
''Well, Martha" said he, as he hung
up his hat, ''how do you feel this
EVENING""
''No better than usual" responded
Mrs. Perrot, with sigh, as she tasted
her mixture, and added few drops
froU, vial.
''Maybe you'd feel better if you'd
move about little?" suggested her
husband, mildly.
''I haven't the strength. I seem to
be growing weaker and weaker every
day. It's doubtful whether I'll ever
step foot out of this house again. The
roses and lilies of spring will bloom
above my grave" said Mrs. Perrot,
resignedly.
Nonsense, Marthy! Roses and
lilies don't bloom in spring any more
than you are laid out to die in spring"
Mrs Perrot assumed q martyr like
mir.
''This is all the sympathy I get
frommy own husband, "sho murmurel
-"a poor, weak, suffering woman like
mel
you're as bad as all that, said
her husband, "why don't you let me
send foe doctor?''
Because I don't believe in doc
TORS nor in doctors stuff Mrs. Mas
seq IS the only one who does me any
good"
Mrs. Massey be bothered! I wish
you'd never have set eyes on that
cmeddlesome woman"
"She's very clever woman, and
very kind to me. She comes over to
'see me every day, and sometimes twice
% Day"
"She docs, does she? Well, think
she would do great deal better to
stay at home, and attend to her own
affairs" said Perrot, ungratefully.
"She always brings me something
that will do me good-vegetable pills,
and tonics-"
"Poisons!" muttered Perrot.
''The same that she gave her own
husband and child!" asserted Mrs.
Perrot, Indignantly.
''No wonder they died."
Samuel" said his wife, solemnly,
"you will repent of this when I am
dead and gone. If you have. no sym
pathy for my sufferings, you might at
least have respect enough for my feel.
ings not to abuse my best friends" F"
And here Mrs. Perrot felt in her
pocket for her handkerchief.
Perrot rose softly, and, with sub
dued and detected look, went into
another room.
Here was q rosy, comely young
woman. busted in preparing tea.
This was his niece, just arrived on a
visit.
"Well, Lavinia, said the master of
the house, rs he took his seat at table
and stirred his tea--"whats do you
think OF her?"
Lavinia e1pressively shrugged her
plump shoulders.
!"She's just as you wrote me shewa
weak and complaining, and taking
physic all the time"
"And what do you think ails her?"
inquired Perrot, anxiously.
Imagination" replied Lavinia,
promptly imagination and dyspep-
sia.'
Nothing else?"
Nothing in the world, unless it's
Mrs. Massey's medicines"
Perrot nodded his head, emphati-
cally, about dozen times.
"Can you think of any way to cure
her, Vinnie?" he inquired, leaning for
ward and speaking in low tone.
Lavinia's face Immediately assumed
peculiar expression.
'WeIl, Uncle Samuel, I have been
thinking about it, and I'm of opinion
that there's only one thing will do her
any good. I'll warrant it for sure
cure"
"What is it, Vinnie?"
s'Eat your SUP per now. uncle, and
when you've done, and the children
gone to bed, and Aunt Martha's drink.
ing Mrs. Massey's sassafras-tea for
purifying the blood, I'll tell you about
my medicine.
''Lavinia" called e feeble voice from
the adjoining room. Haven't you
got window raised there? This
draught is killing mel
And there followed cough.
That" said Mr.. Perrot, with
solemn and detected air--"that is the
woman who, year ago, was the picture
of health, and never minded going to
market in rain or snow. Nobody's
home was kept nicer than ours, no.
body's children so bright and tidy;
and now"
Hepaused and shook his head slow
ly and despondently.
Lavinia patted his shoulder, as she
passed behind him to take pie out of
the oven.
Never mind, Uncle Samuel. just
wait awhile, and see what my medicine
will do. She'll be the same woman in