Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1899-02-22

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while I hep mother finish this" said
Ethe', "for Tn afraid that he may
need something"
Pooh he will not know il il he
does," replied Bel. "He issdslirious.
How can / read in tn re, and be all the
time rAving about omebo1y or otherp
"Oh, for shame, Bel! !" said Ethel
"You know ho means you. When. he
wes well, you were glad TO layby your
book, interesting as it might be, for
him" s.,4 },
"Of course said Bel Sand shah be
again, when he somes to his senses.
He is rich, and worth putting up ones
book for. But il you think I'm going
in there 10 read now, you are mistaken;
SO go yourself, If you are afraid 10
leave hinl alone"
heard a soft football in my room;
then some one bent over me / had
shut my eyes as slough sleeping), and
close to my forehead was bent sof
cheek-moist. tool II WAS only for a
nom ent, but il thrilled me, knowing
those tears had fallen for me.
As she turned TO 60 roiselessly out
op ensd my eyes. Yo, it was Ethtl
gliding softly away. ! heard her say,
as she entered tie other apartms emf,
"Oh, Bel, he is sleeping sweetly. I
ap 30 thankful! Now III help mother
fnish ! er work, and then III come and
sit by him while he sleeps"
an, you needut," said Bel. '1'll
go ard change my dress md arrange
my hair, and 60 ny. ELF. Perhaps he
will know US when he wakes
Tbeu I slept, and when I opened my
eyes gain I saw Aunt siary and the
girls sitting in the room at work.
Aun. Mary came to The bed and laid
her han d on my forehead, saying tend
erly:
"You have been i'll = long time, but
you Ire ettsr nav, and must be very
careful. Do cot ialk, but 10. every
thing e., till you are little stronger
81 was gong to ask some questions
with rel ard to my illness, but shut my
lips aga and kept quiet; BY my gaze
wande. ed to Bel, who sat near me.
she raj. d her beautiful eyes, full Of
tears, from her work. and smiled,
dropped her long lsshes again, and
W, rAed n quietly. did not watch
the soft, white, fitting hands as il had
once been my joy to do; but my glance
wandered to the window whore Fthel
sat, and bough she did not raise her
eyes, 1 uatshed her as she worked.
Her face, it seemed TO me, was thinner
and palsr than had ever seen it, but
her light brown hair Was brushed back
in the same glossy waves from her
forehead. If..ll asleep watching her,
and dream ed she was trying to pull me
out of the water; but Bel held her back
and kept calling on me TO got her some
flowers whish l could not reach.
Several weeks passed, during which
I gained strength rapidly. Bel was
all attention, and was always alone
with me in the forenoon. Once II
would have filled nae with JOY TO have
her near me; now I cared no more for
ner than 1 should for q waxen doll; and
hailed the afternoon with pleasure,
for it always brought Aunt Mary and
Ethel. One OF the girls read aloud,
and thus the hours passed very pleas
sntly.
Al last 1 was able to 60 about sgain.
The leaves had all fallen, and every
thing looked black and drear out OF
doors. 1 told them one morning, ~
we sat at breakfast, that I must go
homo.
Aunt Mary and Uncle James pro-
tested rhat L should stay all the win
ter, and Bel joined her soft, pleading
voice; and as she Ii. ID her little hand on
mine ssrsssingly, there Was something
in her face that told me I need not 60 |
alone. Ethel said nothing, and 1 did
not dare look at her TO read what |
hoped her fass expressed. I thanked
them ~ll, busT id not say whether
would stay.
.sIf return alone, Uncle James, .. !,
will be because Ethel wills it, Say
Ethel, must l go back alone, or will
you go with me"
She raised her beautiful eyer. but
they could not bear my look OF ad-
and love, and she bent over
upon The table and sobbsd aloud;