The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-06-13

uarly more even and tranquil, Of the lit
tie child she held against her bosom.
She's asleep, "said the nurse softly.
II won't move" Whispered Rose. I'll
stay here. Oh, thank God, thank Godw
Tom came every day to inquire, and II
seemed to Rose that he grew paler and
thinner In this anxious time, and every
night the notes Of the nightingale sound
ed from the dark wood-through nights
radiant with clear moonlight and through
the black darkness of night wild with
wind and rain. And Vynie grew stron-
ger and ate and drank and played domi-
nos and was on the highroad to well
being once more.
Then came night when the nightin.
gale did not sing. Vynie did not miss IT.;
she slept so saund O. nights now. And on
that night followed day when Tom did
not come, and then another day and an
other. Rose missed him miserably. On
the first day she was angry at his abb
sence; on the second, anxious; on the
third she sent the old nurse to see wheth-
er he was Ill.
you'd best 60 round" said the old
woman when she came back from her
mission. Hes more than Ill. Pneu-
monia or something, and he keeps asking
for you. Go you. I'll stay with the
child. He's got no one with him but his
landlady, a reckless body, il ever there
was one. Go now, my lamb"
So Rose went.
His face showed CHASTITY in the frame
of his disordered hair and Of three days
beard.
She came to him and took his hands.
"That woman says I'm dying" be whis-
pered, "but Vynie's all right, isn't she?"
eyes, yes; but what have you been do
ing? Oh, Tom, it isn't my fault, is it,
Tom? didn't drive you into folly?
That woman says you've been out all
.night-every night since Vynie's been i'll.
Say it wasn't my doing"
ut was for Vynie," he said. II was
the nightingale, dear. Don't you re-
member how I used to call the robins for
you In the winter. It was a silly little
thing, but it was all l could do for the
dear. And it did do her good. You said
So"
He turned aside his head exhausted.
Roses eyes were full Of tears. you
staid in that wood all night, every
night? You initiated the nightingale in
all the wind and rain? And now
She had crouched by the bed, and laying
her head on her hands she sobbed aloud.
Dent" lie said feebly; lit was moth
ing. Just little thing to please the
child"
She lifted her face, flushed and distort-
ed by her violent weeping, and laid it
gently against his. He put up feeble
hand and touched her neck.
you're sorry for me-" he whispered.
"You needn't be. l can't even be un-
happy after this. Your face-your dear
facet don't in the least mind dying
now"
She sprang up. "Dear Tommy own
dear Tom! You're not going to die. l
shall send nurse to take care Of you.
Now promise me at once that you will
get well, because Vynie and l cannot
possibly live without you, my dear,
dear, dear
Tom did not give the promise, but he
did what was better. He got well.
When he first saw Vynie, now walking
cheerfully with the crutches that would
soon be laid aside, she told him about the
"And. do you know" she said, SISSY
says he never sang after you got i'll.
suppose God was so busy taking care Of
you that he hadn't time to bother with
naughty nightingales that wouldn't do
heir singing. The nightingale sang very
nicely, though, when he was made to.
Only thought after bit he seemed a
title husky"
perhaps he caught cold" said Tom.
Some of the nights were very wet"
perhaps he did-like you, you know"
aid Vynie cheerfuly. "Well, he was O
naughty nightingale. But il he had q
old hope he had some one as nice as
lursey and sister to look after him, like
hey did you"
II think he had" said Tom.
anyway, I shall always love him,
ven if he was naughty, because he
elped me to get we'll"
at would make him very happy II he
new that"
"Do you think he does know"
eyes, I think So"
"Well. whether or no." said Vynie,
an 60 out in the wood and
Ill him oil about 1t II he sings in that
'ood next year"
But the nightingale never sang in that
God asain.-Collier's Weekly.