Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-06-07
CHAPTER v
sHIpwRECK

the WEAKNESS and heartsickness which
had possessed her when she entered the
house. She cast but one glance at the
helpless figure lying on the hearth rug,
then ran to the bell and pulled at it
hard, an eager peal such as brought the
two maidservants running in to see
what was amiss.
"Mouncey-my motherl How long
has she been left3" Mrs. Conway gasp
ed.
Mouncey with scared face knelt
down on the other side Of the uncon-
scious woman. "Lor'. ma am, she
said in trembling tones, "it's not ten
minutes since carried tea in. came
twice, and Mrs. Hamilton said she'd
rather wait for you, and at last Foster
made the buns hot and brought tea In
without saying anything. And Mrs.
Hamilton, she says, Why. Mouncey,
she says. you do spoil me- And ! say
to her, 'Lor', ma am, misses will be
vexed if you go any longer past your
teatime And then she says: There's
the newsboy. I'd like paper, Mouncey.
So went out and got one, and 4 give it
to her and-why, poor lady. she's never
had any tea at alll''
1--WE must get her up to bed at
once" said Mary anxiously. "Can we
carry her among uss''
"Lor', yes. ma'am," answered
Mouncey promptly. ga little bit Of a
thing like hefl Here, Foster, take her
feet. I'll take her head. No. ma'am;
we can do better just the two of US.
She was right. and Mrs. Hamilton.
who was very small and slight, was
soon safely laid upon her own bed.
"I'd better fetch the doctor, ma ann"
asked Foster.
"Oh, yes, yes. at oncel We must get
her into bed, Mouncey.
eyes. ma am, but there's NO need TO
hurry. Poor ladyl I'm afraid 1t will
make very little difference to herl"
"Hush-sh" cried Mary fearfully.
"Nay, ma am; she hears nothing. II
was you, would just cover her over
with the elder quilt till the doctor has
seen her. Anyway I wouldn't undress
her till the fire has burned up l was
just coming up to light It,"
She covered the old lady with the
warm, gay colored quilt as she spoke,
and taking. after the manner Of house
| maids, a box Of matches from her
pocket set light to the FIRE. which soon
burned up cheerfully, casting bright
glow over the pretty room.
"I'll fetch you cup Of tea now.
L bnv,, ~ 1S1E lIean, YIN
you need It."
The protest which instinctively rose
to her lips died away under newborn
realization Of her intense WEAKNESS II
am very, very tired. Mouncey." she
said helplessly.
The good natured girl drew her into
chair by the fire. s'Sit here, ma am,
until bring your tea. You can't do
anything for the poor lady, and you
may want all your strength for later
on"
i She sped away, returning in very
short time with the tea tray, on which
were pot Of fresh tea and covered
plate of hot buns, which had been on
the stove awaiting the mistress return.
These she arranged on little table by
j the fireside and then poured ont the tea
and held the inviting littl cakes that
Mary might take one.
In truth Mary was too tired to refus,
such ministrations which were doubly
welcome just then, and Mouncey fairly
stood over her until she had eater
enough to satisfy her sense OF wha
was necessary and right. Then sh'
went down stairs. leaving her mistress
sitting in the big armchair wondering
what the end of it all would be.
"Poor motherl" her thoughts ran
"Poor, poor motherl Are you going
this time, and have made the sacrifice
for nothing2 No, not for nothing, for
shall always be able to say. The end o
her life was peace +"
She rose restlessly from her chair AMI
went to the side of the bed, where SIN
stood looking down upon the drawn
gray face already 30 deathlike In tn
immobility Of unconsciousuess. Z"
wonder what caused her to have an at
,, tackY" Mary said to herself. "She wa
80 bright and we'll this morning. Coul,
there have been anything in that paper
Where is it, What did Mouncey d
! with it'll"
She looked about for it, but withou
q success, and then she remembered tina
: possibly it was still in her mother
hand. So 1t proved to be. and Mary wa
!. obliged to tear the sheet little in o,
der to release it from that yiselike griI
Q A GLANCE was sufficient to tell til
cause Of Mrs, Hamilton's seizure. A
, she smoothed the crumpled page he
Q eye caught the heading Of the latest te
l. egraphic news" Reported loss of th
! ocean liner Arikhama. with over 80
9 livesl"
= Mary Conway was still staring wili
= ly at the paper when Mouncey came /
with the doctor III her wake. "Whs
? Ia It'll" she asked, seeing the horror o
her youhg mistress face.
"Oh, Mouncey-the paper-the new
my poor motherr' was all that Mar
could say ere exhausted nature CAV
way under the strain and she droppe
to the ground as dead to all sound an
feeling as the poor lady stretched upo
the bed.
Dear, dear, dear" said the docto,
"but this is a pretty kettle Of fish
Dear, dear, bad seizure this timel
was afraid 1t might happen before lonl
My good girl is there bad news in ths
paper Z"
"Lor', sir-master' 8 ship-loss Of IL
Arikhama with 900 souls. That's ma
! ter's ship-hes the captainl Oh. N
poor misais, my poor. poor missisl"
: "Good heavens! Are you suref"
''See here, sir-oh. It's true enough
Oh. my poor, poor missisl"
IN "Well, help me to get her off Il