El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-27


Mrs. Pomfret: for she negiects them
poor dears, shameful. AS for nursing,
1 wouldn't trust her with a sick cat; :"
then, turning to the nurse, she con-
tinues loftily-.'Take your precious per-
son out of this as soon as may be
though who's to attend to them chill
dren, 1 don't know
Don't trouble yourself about that,
Mrs. P1mfret. 1 will take care of them
till proper nurse is found" says Shell
gently.
You mustn't insists catching
dreadful catching" demonstrates Mrs
Pomfret.
only when people are afraid, -
laughs Shell. Il don't feel in the least
nervous about Illness"
"Cause you haven't seen much, )"
opines Mrs. Pomfret, with a sage head
shake.
There is general CONSERVATION at
Gorse Cottage when Shell arrives with
her news.
'Small-pox! Are you quite sure he
said smallpox" cries Ruby, with a
shudder. How terrible! But surely
it can't be small-pox-the children
must have been vaccinated.'
THAT is the strange point" an
swers Shell. There is no mark what
ever on Meg's arm-a very faint one
On Bob's. The doctor says he can't
be sure for another twenty-four hours.
They ought to have been in bed two
days ago-they do nothing but SILVER
and SILVER and shiver.'
What is to be done?" asks Ruby
blankly; and then, a bright idea sug-
costing itself-"We must telegraph at
once to London for an experienced
nurse
And who is to nurse them till she
arrives?"
Piper, of course"
Piper has flown by this time. I left
her packing her box"
How disgraceful of her! However.
Mrs. Pomfret must get some one to see
to them
Robert Champley told me that you
had promised to see to them during his
absence
How utterly absurd and impractical
you are, Shell! Of course 1 am very
sorry for the darling children; butt
can't possibly risk such a catastrophe
as sma1l-pox-no one could expect it.
Had it been anything else'-grandilo-
Notwithstanding less repulsive, II
would have gone to them myself
And they are to be left entirely to
strangers, with no familiar face be-
side them?' queries Shell in her even
voice.
Il don't see any other possible ar
rangement, since you have been foolish
enough to let Piper forsake her post
answers Ruby, with sigh.
But l see that some other arrange
ment is imperative" says Shell decid-
eddy. cit would be too cruel and cow
ardly to leave them to strangers. If
you won't go and remain with them till |
the nurse arrives I SHALL"
And risk bringing back the infec-
Ion here? No. thank you" cries R1- |
by, holly. Il shall ask mamma to for |
Did you
My dear Ruby" interposes Mrs. |
voice with unusual firmness,
if Shell thinks it her duty to so |
shall certainly not try to stop her. 1
shall feel terribly anxious, but it will |
>nly be for day or so; and 1 believe
he disease in it's first stage is not very
Infectious"
Ter back here amongst us after being
With the children?" asks Ruby, aghast.
of course she Will return when the
lurse arrives. There is no need to run
Unnecessary risk. If you and Violet
eel nervous, we'd betted return to the
Wilderness. and Shell can stop here
Until the doctor warrants her safe"
Il have such a horror of smallpox
hat l really think that would be the
letter PLAN" remarks Ruby, with a
Ugh of relief. What do you say, Viz"
oh, let us start for Mudford by ali
means! l am not particularly timid,
ut L feel that l ought to go for Ed
'ln's sake''-Edwin is her fiance-"it
you'd be such a sell for him if he
anne home and found me disfigured.
hell, dear"-pressing a hasty kiss on
er cousins cheek-"you are hero
ne; but the world is made up of all
orts, and 1 am the sort that runs
way
Il am not bit heroic I should run
way too if 1 felt afraid" laughs Shell;
but don't, and therefore 1 shall take
o HARM
So it is arranged. Shell, after gath
ring 1ow necessaries together and
eceiving a fearful embrace from her
lother, hurries back to her sleeping |
1arges; and during the afternoon Ru
y and Violet take their departure, |
lille Mrs. Widen is left to bemoan
lie fact that she ever allowed herself |
} be worried into taking cottage on
lie moor