Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-02-15

DRY sat IN his dark corner watching.
She seldom slept, and through those
long, long days she would lie watching
the round streak of sunlight that came
through the knot in the shutter or the
massive lions paw on which the ward
robe rested. What thoughts were in
those eyes? Gregory wondered. He
dared not ask.
Gregory thought she had no pain.
She never groaned. Only sometimes,
when the light was near her, he
thought he could see slight contrac-
lions about her lips and eyebrows.
He slept on the sofa outside her door.
One night he thought he heard a
sound, and, opening it softly, looked in.
She was crying out aloud, as If she and
her pain were alone in the world. The
light fell on the red quilt and the little
hands that were clasped over the head.
The wide open eyes were looking up,
and the heavy drops fell slowly from
them.
Il cannot bear any more, not any
more."'. she said in q deep voice. 20
God, God! Have not borne in ST.
lence? Have not endured these long,
long months? But now, now, o God,
cannot!'
Gregory knelt in the doorway listen
ing.
II do not ask for wisdom, not human
love, not work, not knowledge, not for
all things have longed for" she cried,
"only little freedom from pain, only
one little hour without pain! Then l
will suffer again."
She sat up and bit the little hand
Gregory loved.
He crept away to the front door and
stood looking out at the quiet star
light. When he came back, she was
lying In her usual posture, the quiet
eyes looking at the lions paw. He
came close to the bed.
''You have much pain tonightT' he
asked her.
'No, not much"
Scan do anything for your"
sNo, nothing"
She still drew her lips together and
motioned with her fingers toward the
dog sleeping at her feet. Gregory lift
ed him and laid him at her side. She
made Gregory turn open the bosom of
her nightdress that the dog might put
his black muzzle between her breasts.
She crossed her arms over him. Greg
DRY left them lying there together.
The next day, when they asked her
how she was. she answered, Better"
"Some one ought to tell her." said
the landlady. "We can't let her soul go
out into eternity not knowing, especial
" when ! don't think it was all right
about the child. You ought to go and
tell her, doctor" N
So the little doctor, egged on and on,
went in at last. When he came out
Of the room, he shook his list In the
aandlady's face.
next time you have any devils
work to do, do It yourself" he said
and shook his fist in her face again and
went away swearing.
When Gregory went into the bed
room. he only found her moved, her
body curled up and drawn close to the
wall. He dared not disturb her. At
last after a long time she turned.
"Bring me food" she said. II want
to eat-two eggs and toast and meat
two large slices of toast, please"
Wondering, Gregory brought tray
with all that she had asked for.
"Sit me up and put it close to me, !"
she said. 81 am going to eat it ALL"
She tried to draw the things near her
with her fingers and rearrange the
plates. She cut the toast into long
strips, broke open both eggs, put q
tiny morsel Of bread into her own
mouth and fed the dog with pieces Of
meat put into his jaws with her fin
gers.
ats it 70 o'clock .yet?' she said. 81
think do not generally eat SO early.
Put 1t away, please, carefully-no, do
not take it away, only on the table.
When the clock strikes II, will eat
it."
She lay down, trembling. After lit
tie while she said:
"Give me my clothes"
| He looked at her.
Eyes; am going to dress tomorrow.
SCt w A0NS OuS ~ 40 AdkACA
late. Put them on that chair. My col
lars are in that little box, my boots be-
hind the door,"
Her eyes followed him intently as he
collected the articles one by one and
placed them on the chair as she d.
rected.
"Put it nearer" she said. 'I cannot
see It," And she lay watching the
clothes, with her hand under her cheek.
"Now open the shutter wide," she
said. II am going to read"
The old, old tone was again in the
sweet voice. He obeyed her and open
ed the shutter and raised her up
among the pillows.
Now bring my books to me-" she
said, motioning eagerly with her fin.
gers, ''the large book and the reviews
and the plays. want them ALL"
He piled them round her on the bed
She drew them greedily closer, her
eyes very bright, but her face as white
as a mountain lily.
"Now the big one off the drawers
No; you need not help me to hold my