The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-19


short gasps of breath while the large
mournful eyes vazed into hers. nearly
upset Amy. She could not speak ar
once, for tears were ready 70 drop. but
she took the hot hand Grace held out
and pressed IL while she sent up pc
tition for wisdom I'm her reply.
'Well, perhaps it will do you good 20
talk freely To somebody" said she, 'for
then you viii know the worst you fear.
and you viii find out II others think
the same"
"Mothe~~ fears the worst for me. ]
know" said Grace. but she tries, or
course. 10 be cheerful"
We'll. / do not. / assure you" de-
clared Amy so decidedly that she sur
prised herself. n am ashamed or my
sell that / did not come home before
and take care Of you. IL is natural
enough that your mother should fear
you would have the same trouble your
sisters did. but IL il not at all necessary
and | believe inside OF three months
you will be as well as ! am, and no ont
could be really healthier"
Grace's face lighted up I'm an infant
with hope. but IL quickly died AZ she
whispered "Ah. But Amy you don't
know. | have regular chills and fever
and night sweats. and a perfectly agon-
izing cough II Is torture for me 10
have my friends come 10 see me and
talk things over, and Oh. no. |
would hope IL dared. but IL Is OF no
use. | think DR.. Mason has given me
up"
Indeed he HASN'T" cried Amy quick
~. IL just met him and he thinks
shall do you "A world OF good He thinks
you need 10 be made To be cheeful anu
i am the girl TO do that, you know!
She laughed softly and contagiously.
although sobs were dangerously near
the surface.
Grace smiled as she pressed Amy's
fingers family and said: II do feel bet
ter already for having seen you! You
will come often and be with me as
much as possible. won't you?"
"Yes indeed" replied Amy. "and l
am going 20 have that lark. too, IN
spite OF your gloomy rejection of the
Idea. i must go now, for | have ar
engagement this afternoon but 1 shall
come in the morning. Where is your
mother?"
"She and auntie are out in the yard
putting i'm some flower seeds by the
side porch. i think
II viii 60 out that way and see them,
said Amy. land remember i shall try
TO be here early i'm the morning with a
splendid plant
She turned to go. but went back and
whispered. Our Savior was healer.
YOU know. and He is, alive yeti
She kissed the hot forehead and step
ped lightly across the floor to the din
ing-room. and to the side door, where
she saw the two ladies busily engaged
with the flower beds.
Good morning." she called cheerily.
They looked up, and Mrs. 1ordon
dropping her tools hastened TO meet
Amy as she stepped down TO the walk.
You dear child, When did you
Gomez" she cried while Miss Andrews
was not far behind in "a cordial vel
come.
81 got home Yesterday" said Amy,
shaking hands and kissing both ladies
II have just been in TO see Grace and
she told me you We're cut -hefe.--
"You have seen Grace?" eXclaime -
Mrs Gordon. "And what do you think
OF her? Did you ever seen such
wreck?'
Her voice was broken and tears were
dropping down her cheeks. and Miss
Andrews turned her head aside and
wiped her eyes with her clean white
apron.
Eyes, / rather took her by surprise
/ guessi" said Amy. "She looks as if
she had been sick. Of course. but she
needs To be cheered up and DR.. Mason
has given me the job. | say him this
morning and he gave carte blanche;
Grace with me TO friends OF ours ~
spend the summer. / can almost pro.
mise to return her TO you well ana
strong enough to so TO college in the
fall"
Mrs. Gordon was betrayed into q
smile, but she shook fier head sttttis-
and said: "Ah Amy, You do not un-
derstand how badly off Grace is. DR.,
Mason must have deceived you, or you
may have misunderstood him. He
surely knows that Grace has const(l lp-
ton and is past help"
He knows nothing of the kind"
cried Amy excitedly almost angrily.
although she carefully lowered her
voice for fear Grace should oyerhear
them.
He distinctly told me that Grace
had a tendency 10 that disease but
that she need not die with it IL her
mind could be diverted from herself
upti she could gain strength to over
come IT,"
The two women listened in silent
amazement. Unconsciously Amy had
caught the Doctors thought and eX-
pressed II better than he had ever
done, even TO himself-certainly more
plainly than he had ever dared to ex-
press il TO Mrs. Gordon. The faith
and audaclty OF youth may alsohave
had something 70 do with Amy's ex-
!
were greatly impressed and finally
Mrs. Gordon exclaimed Did ne real
! ~ say TnHT7 T'fTFH, or COuTSP, We TTTrIE-
all do what we can 10 help her in that
way. | never heard of such a thing.
though. as getting well that way! IL
can't hurt her. anyway, To think she
can get well, an1--i presume--it might
help one II there is any chance
What do you want to- dO?' asked
practical Miss Andrews.
Then Amy, i'm a low tone detailed
her plan 20 them. as she had done TO
the doctor, adding: so | must go
home now and go out there this after
noon. and ! viii come over tomorrow
| and propose IL % Grace. You must
not fall ia with me too much at once.
but lei me gradually coax you into 1t
and then you must nelp me To per-
sua ie her"
And Amy nodded a smiling farewell
and gllded away. leaving the two
anxious women not quite sure whether
or not they had received Il visit from
an angel with message OF hope.