The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-04

| please, and I'll get old Robinson TO MAKE
/ It up. He's done il before"
I What is food at one time may be poi
I son at another replied the doctor. court
! eously. Just allow me, If you please,
] and he made gallant attempt TO take
! her fiat wrist with his practiced fingers
IN take your pulse and your tempera-
| ture now | am here"
Miss Sophia jerked the sheet over her
hands. NO. young sir, she retorted
grimly. The prescriptonH set me VI
better than temperatures
DR.. Lyall rubbed hazard at his chin.
I'm sorry to say the paper never reach
ed me" he said. with considerable trepi-
dation. My man brought me only an
empty envelope"
DO you mean to tell me that that pre-
scription is lost?" gasped Miss Sophia.
oh, certainly not. II couldn't get lost
in Williams little kitchen. Let us say
misplaced, Miss Drew Il will turn up
shortly, you'll see. I'll send round sim
pie. cooling draught. and you'll keep quite
quiet in bed today. Light nourishing
diet"
Your advice. young sir" interrupted
Miss Sophia, goes in at one ear and out
at the other. ! wonder at your audacity
standing there and advising, after what
has happened"
Il should like to atone. as far as may
be, for my mans carelessness." said Gil
bert politely. as Returned to 60 i shall
look in probably toward evening"
Does he mean to say he will come.
whether I want him or not?" groaned Miss
Sophia. IN bar the door agin him if
he persists. such impotence on him"
The Constrnint of Love.
Miss Sophia spent the rest OF the morn
ing in solitude. but the afternoon brought
Miss Wise Familiarity known in the vii
Iage as Miss Tilly-the eldest daughter OF
the genial proprietor OF the Manor Farm.
Miss lilly was a small person, TO whom
nature had doled out few and scanty gifts
Of grace and beauty When barely thir-
ty she had been induced 10 undergo Sc
rious operation. and Gilbert Lyall, attend
ing her at that time with a solicitude fos-
tered by long and pleasant associations,
had grieved to see her hair turn rapidly
from black to grey as she CROPPED in the
thick darkness Of the Valley Of the Shadow
The operation had greatly prolonged her
life. but she and her father and the doctor
shared between them the secret that her
years were certainly numbered.
Yet week in and week out she went her
quiet way about the village. scattering
seeds OF loving kindness from out an ever
fun basket. and looking for no return in
the way Of harvest. Her rich and beautiful
voice. the one great gift that had been
bestowed on her. was ever at the service
Of the sick and needy. and faded eyes,
strained and weary with watching for
death often looked up into her white face
as she sang, and caught the light Of heaven
on her brow. and beheld in her the beauty
and grace and sweetness OF a minstering
angel
I have come" she said brightly, Ito
spend a long hour with you. VIII you have
me-"
There's a chair" said Miss Sophia. nod
ding toward the accommodation specified
and lilly accepted even this small courte-
sy-coming from Miss Drew-as a token
that she was welcome. II was thus that
she contriyed to gather so much sweetness
into her Swallowed life, being content TO
receive little If she might, but give much.
Conversation. always difficult with Miss
Sophia. was particularly SO today. Tilly
tried many themes. but all fell fiat. and the
invalid returned with dreary iteration to
the lost prescription, and the audacity Of
the young doctor.
Il should like either to read or to- sing
to you. ventured Tilly presently.
Whichever you like" replied Miss So
mia. 1t makes no difference"
Then / will sing said lilly and she
started OF with Rock Of Ages" a hymn
for which she was famous in the village.
But the passionate tenderness Of her song
seemed TO awaken no response in the heart
Of the hard old woman.
Not for the desire to hide in the Cleft
Rock: she crayed. ssther. the power to
stand erect before her Maker and proclaim
herself worthy by virtue of her service.
"Id sooner have had Thou Judge Of
Quick and Dead she said by way OF
comment. as Tilly ceased. Then soft sort
Of hymns don't touch me. Some OF EN-
in that Sankey's fairly sickens me with
their 'dears' and 'preciouses. "
I'm sorry you don't like Rock Of