The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-03-01
A TALE OF LIFE IN THE
BOER REPUBLIC.

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. I'VE can't let her soul go
out into eternity not knowing. especial
ly when don't think it was all right
about the child. You ought to go and
tell her, DOCTOR"
So the little doctor. egged on and on,
went in at last. When he came out
of the room. he shook his fist in the
landlady'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 NIT disturb her. At
last after long time she turned.
"Bring me food" she said. 81 want
to eat-two eggs and toast and meat
two large slices Of toast, please"
Wondering, Gregory brought a 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 a
JIny morseI OF Dreau into her own
mouth and fed the dog with pieces Of
meat put into his jaws with her fin
gers.
us it II o'clock yet?' she said. 81
think 1 do not generally eat so early.
Put it 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.
should get up now, but 1t Is rather
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. 81 cannot
see it." And she lay watching the
clothes, with her hand under her cheek.
Nov open the shutter wide," she
said. 81 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.
snow bring my books to me-" she
said. motioning eagerly with her fin
gers. "the large book and the reviews
and the plays. l want them ALL" .s
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
book" she said. II can hold it my
Gregory went back to his corner, and
for a little time the restless turning
over of leaves was to be heard.
"Will you open the window" she
said, almost querulously, land throw
this book out? 1t is so utterly foolish.
thought it was valuable book. but
the words are merely strung together.
They make no sense. Yes-so!' she
said, with approval, seeing him fling it
out into the street. 81 must have been
very foolish when thought that book
good"
Then she turned to read and leaned
her little elbows resolutely on the great
volume and knit her brows. This was
Shakespeare. 1t must mean some
thing.
81 wish you would take handker-
chief and tie it tight round my head
1t aches So"
He had not been long in his seat
when he saw drops fall from beneath
the hands that shaded the eyes on to
the page.
II am not accustomed 10 SO mucn
light. 1t makes my head swim lit
tle," she said. $50 out and close the
shutter"
When he came back, she lay shrivel-
ed up among the pillows.
He heard no sound of weeping, but
the shoulders shook. He darkened the
room completely.
When Gregory went to his sofa that
night, she told him to wake her early.
She would be dressed before breakfast.
Nevertheless, when morning came, she
said 1t was a little cold and lay all day
watching her clothes upon the chair.
Still she sent for her oxen in the coun-
try. They would start on Monday and
60 down to the colony.
In the afternoon she told him to open
the window wide and draw the bed
near 1t.
It was leaden afternoon. The dull
rainclouds rested close to the roofs Of
the houses, and the little street was
silent and deserted. Now and then a
gust Of wind eddying round caught up
the dried leaves. whirled them hither
and thither under the trees and drop
ped them again into the gutter. Then
all was quiet. She lay looking out.
Presently the ben OF the church began