Gilpin observer., 1899-11-02

Z AsAAoS ait66 Woo LOO A6inL " bRcdh. k18
questioned me. said she had been
very much agitated. He prescribed
something and went of, bidding me
send for him If she seemed worse. The
evening paper published the report
that Miss Grigg was seriously i'll, and
Mr.. Birch came to the hotel in a ter
rible fright. pale as sheet, to ask
how she was. took him down her
love, and she was very ILL
Then Miss Grigg said to the ladies
who had come in: Leave me with my
faithful Flora and we were left alone.
can't say l was surprised when she
sat UP in bed and said briskly:
Lock the door, Flora. I'm sick OF
lying on my back. I've taken them in,
haven't I? You see what 1 am about
now?
Exactly, MISS said 1; to be too
Ill to be married when the time comes
No. said she; to be i'll enough to
De married in the white dressing gown.
I'm going to be married on my dying
bed, Flora.
i gave screech, and she laughed,
and then she made supper of sardines
and biscuits and wine, and she threw
the medicine out of the window. Early
next day the doctor come. l answered
his question as to what sort Of night
the patient had passed by saying she
had been much the same And then
l took little note she had written to
Mr.. Birch.
Il knew what was in it. She told
him that rather than leave the world
without keeping her VOW to him, she
would be married on her dying bed."'
l powdered her up we'll, miss, and I
dressed her in the embroidered dress
ing-gown, with tube roses at the
throat. l pulled down the green
shades and darkened the room. She
fixed the pillows to prop herself up
with and then skipped into bed.
Give me my pearl bracelets she
said. and the handsomest of those
handkerchiefs, and all my rings; and,
Flora, mind, you must sob all through
the ceremony. I'm going to be calm
We hadn't five minutes more, but
just as the first knock came to the
door, she whispered:
"'oh, dear! If only could have
slow music. Couldn't you catch that
"Traviata" organ, Flora. and get him
to play for half an hour outside the
window? He's always on the corner,
Flora, I'll leave you something hand
some If you do
Il did it, short as the time was. l
caught that man, and he ground out
his quarters worth.
"'The c1ergvman wac yorv nica
neat, near-sighted old gentleman. Mr..
Birch was the dreadfulest sight-pale
as ghost. and shaking from head to
foot. The groomsman looked dreadful
'ly sorry. The four or five intimate
friends looked as though they were at
a funeral. and to see her, with her
calm smile and her powdered face, one
hand against her heart, the other in
his! I was glad I'd been told to sob;
l had to do something And SO they
were married.
II feel said Miss Grigg. slowly,
that this. perhaps the last moment
of my life. is very sweet. To die thus,
with my hand in yours-ah. Dear
friends, adieu. Flora, my faithful maid,
take this ring l saw her pick out the
cheapest; but no matter. Remember
me by it. Now-leave u.s.
Then everybody kissed her and
went out of the room, sobbing.
I'm moment more there was
scream; Mr.. Birch had tainted away.
1t took an hour to bring him to.
THE reporter of the evening paper
was waiting outside for the news. 1t
was published all over that night, but
by the next afternoon the travelling
dress came back in the black trunk.
"Yes, miss. of course-Miss Grigg-I
mean to say, Mrs. Birch-recovered at
once. And that's the whole story
New York NewS