The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-08-04
twice this week. is there anything else
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you WAub 70 ASK 1n0T
No, there was nothing else Nh. Ken.
rick felt it was almost sacrilege with
those pure eyes looking into bis to
breathe the doubts which now scanned
to him 90 unworthy.
It was q month later, and Beatri1
Harcourt was walking swiftly along the
dusty road leading to Castlef1elds car
rying q small basket containing some
deiicacy for the sick woman she was
going to see. The sound Of wheels made
her turn her head. and the next moment
q deep, musical voice said pleasantly:
miss Harcourt, are you again bound
on the same journey? Now do let me
have the pleasure Of giving you lift. |"
Beatrix hesitated one moment; then
she answered frankly: '"Thank you SO
much. You know Jennie, that poor
crippled child I told you about. Well,
] have had q note from her this morn
ing to say her mother is very ill, and
there is no one to do anything for her. I"
Gerald Morton looked admiringly
down at the fair face beside him. 1t
was the Young men Of Hillchester who
had given Beatrice Harcou1t the name
Of "the fair philanthropist," and it
spoke well for the girl that even in the
fastest circle her name was never men
toned but with respect.
When Beatrix reached the little cot
tage, which lay close to wood five
miles from chichester, she found every
thing in state Of confusion. One
glance at the poor woman showed her
to be in high state of fever and slight
ly delirious, while an ominous crimson
rash was beginning to make its appear
ance on her face and neck.
why, Jennie, your mother has the
feverl" Beatrix exclaimed rapidly.
Haven't you sent for a doctor, child?
And is there no neighbor who would
come and help to nurse herr"
II wrote to the doctor, miss, when
sent your note. but he has not been
here yet, and as to neighbors, miss,
there are none for mile or more"
All the morning Beatrix waited, do.
ing all she could for the poor sick wom-
an, and the afternoon was we'll Oh its
way when the welcome rap, which sure
ly told Of the Doctors appearance,
sounded at the door.
Beatrix literally flew to open it and
found herself face to face not with the
doctor, but with the vicar.
For the last month, ever since the
gossip about Gerald Morton-in fact,
matters had been rather strained be-
tween the vicar and his fiancee, but all
was forgotten now as in the impulse
of the moment Beatrix exclaimed:
"You must not come in here, John, or
touch me. Mrs. Carr has the fever!"
For moment look Of keen anxiety
darkened his grave blue eyes, and the
next Mr.. Kenrick had folded the slight
form close in his arms as he murmured
brokenly, "Trixie, my own brave dar-
ling, would you have me greater cow
ard than YOURSELF"
With his arms still about her she
told him how Gerald Morton had driven
her to the cottage in the morning, add
ing, 1T was we'll he did, for I should
have been an hour later, and Jennie
and her mother were quite alone"
"Trix, will you forgive me for let
ting that horrid scandal trouble me
even for one moment. Dear heart, feel
I shall never forgive myself"
Eyes. will forgive you," Trix an
swered gayly, the last shadow gone
from her honest eyes, "only you must
never do 1t again, as the children say"
A fortnight later all chichester was
thrown into state Of dire CONSERVATION
by the news that Beatrix Harcourt had
scarlet fever and was, moreover, so
dangerously ill that the local doctor al
most despaired Of her life.
It happened during one Of the worst
days Of Beatrix's illness that Mrs.
Morris and her friend, Mrs. Maynard,
were walking by the drive gate leading
to Beatrix's home. To their astonish-
ment they saw large crowd of people
waiting just outside the door-women
with babies in their arms, girls who |
had stolen few minutes out Of their
dinner hour, even one or two tall youths
and laboring men.
In moment the door opened, and q
spoke few words to the
anxious watchers. Evidently 1t was
good news, for with one accord they
slowly and silently turned to 60 away,
and as they passed the two ladies one
exclaimed in broken voice,
which showed tears were not far off:
"Ah, we'll. if we lose her, our best
friend is gone, and that s certain. There
aint many in this world like our Miss
Beatrix. Bless her sweet facer'
Mrs. Maynard and Mrs Morris walk
I'd on in silence. The lesson was learn
ID, though it was bitter, for each felt,
What would these people have cared
lad been in Beatrix Harcourt' S place"
But Beatrix, dangerous as her illness
vas, did not die, and six months later
chichester was the scene Of greater
'ejoicing than had been known for
many long year, while the wonderful
riches with their various devices, the
Had faces Of the people, the children
With their flower laden baskets and the
hurch bells ringing out their sweet
messages far and wide all combined to
how the love and respect which their
'icar and his bride had SO deservedly
aimed in the hearts Of their people,
dadama
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