Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-11-28

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syman and tell him to explain - God
dat she couldn't do without ths night
.ngale. oh. my own litt3e giriI Oh.
Tom. she's an have"
Tom was not such Q fool - - say.
'.You have me" He Only said. sXes, J
know" and pressed her hand.
| "You are good" she said, and went
back to the child.
| A little fitfuls sleep came In tie long
night hours Of that terrible Sunday. but
1t was broken and feverish. and a4 ev-
cry awakening the little voics. growing
ever weaker. said:
Isn't II dark yeti Wont God send
the nightinsalei Oh. Sissy. Do want
to hear him."
The old servant, who had been with
the two sisters since vynie's birth. two
months after the fathers death had
cost the life Of the mother. insistsd On
sending Rose to rest. and sat BY
vynie's side.
"Nursey," whispered the child. come
close. VIII you do what sayr
Anything. my precious" said the old
woman. holding the hot little hands In
her smooth. wlthered palms.
"WeH. kneel down and tell God l
shall die II Idon't have the nightingale
God will attend to you because you al
ways remember to say your prayers.
forget mine sometimes. even when I'm
not very sleepy. Oh, nursey, shall
never be sleepy any more. Do tell God
all about It."
The old woman knelt BY the bedside.
and with o faith simple and beautiful
as the child's own told God all about
it."
The dusk was deepening. The child
white pillow and shining eyes fixed ON
the slowly darkening squares OF the
window. She mOaned with pain and
the misery Of sleeDlessness.
"Open the window, nursey. my dear.
she said softly when the night had al
most fallen. II think I heard somel
thing"
! When the window was opened vynitl
held her breath and listened to a silenc.l
that after a moment was softly broken
by two or three mellow notes.
lis it-oh. is 1t? Nursey-Nursey-'
Its the nightingale, right enough
my pet" said the old woman, as Rosd
crept into the room like a ghost In hen
white dressing gown. .
"Oh, Sissy. my own! 1t is-it Is! Gods
not forgotten me. He's going to let me-
60 to sleep. and l shall hear the night
ingale even when Pm asleep. Listen!'
Again the full notes pierced the soft
darkness
Rose gathered her little sister In her
arms, and together they listened
Vynie to the song Of the nightingale
and Rose with a full heart to the
breathing. gradually more even and
tranquil. Of the little child she held
against her bosom.
She's asleep" said the nurse. softly.
II won't move." whispered Rose. IN
stay here Oh. thank God. thank God!'
Tom came every day to inquire. and
1t seemed to Rose that he grew paler
and thinner In this anxious time, and
every night the notes Of the nightingale
sounded from the dark wOod-through
nights radiant with clear moonlight.
night wild with wind and rain. And
Vynie grew stronger and ate and drank
and played dOminOes, and was on the
high road to well-being once more.
Then came a night when the nightin-
gale did not sing. Vynie did not miss
it; she slept so sound O. nights now
And on that night followed a day when
Tom did not come. and then another
day. and another. Rose missed him
miserably. On the first day she was
angry at his absence: on the second,
anxious: on the third she sent the old
nurse to see whether he was Ill
You'd best so round" said the old
,goman when she came back from her
mission; hes more than Ill. Pneu-
monia or something, and he keeps ask
Ing for you. Go you; I'll stay with the
child. He's got no one with him but
his landlady. q feckless body. II ever
there was one. Go now. my lamb"
So Rose went
His face showed ghastly in the frame
of his diso..,ered hair and Of a three
days beard.
That woman says I'm dying" he
whispered; but Vynie's all right. isn't
sheY
Yes, yes; but what have you been
doing? oh. Tom, 1t isn't my fault. is II
Tom? didn't drive you into folly
That woman says you've been out all
nisht-every night since Vynie's been
Ill. Say 1t wasn't my doing"
1T was for Vynie." he said. Il was
the nightingale. dear. Don't you re-
member how I used to call the robins
for you In the winter? 1t was silly lit
tie thing, but 1t was all I could do for
the dear. And 1t did her good. You
said So"
He turned aside his head, exhausted.
Roses eyes were full Of tears. You
] stayed in that wood all night, every
night? You initiated the nightingale
/ IN all the wind and rain? And now
She had crouched by the bed, and lay
/ ing her head on her hands she sobbed
| aloud.
Don't" he said. feebly; 1T was
nothing. Just a little thing to please
! the child"
/ She lifted her face, flushed and dis
;orted by her violent weeping. and laid
t gently against his. He put up fee
ble hand and touched her neck.
You're sorry for me-" he whispered.
You needn't be. l can't even be un-
Apply after this. Your face-your dear
.ace-I don't In the least mind dying
low"
She sprang up. Dear Tommy own
lear Tom! You're not going to die.
hall send nurse to take care Of you.
low promise me at once. that you Will
! t we'll. because Vynle and l cannot
.ossibly live without you. My dear.
ear, dear"