The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-30

hot irons The l1eenest delight known
to us is that which comes with calamity
unrealized. Yes, yes, it is we'll that We
are ignorant"
you are a philosopher, Jones'"
Don't call an old friend names" ssil
Jones gravely. Zone day down there
word came from out in the country that
a, family-a whole famly-was down
with the fever There was no one to
give them care. The messenger, negro
boy, asked if we could not send some
one to them, and it just happened that
I was so situated that I could go.
knew they would be glad to see me.
1t was worth the long ride under the
broiling sun ana through the choking
dust to meet an honest, heartfelt, fer
vent welcome from some of ones fellow
creatures. It-was-worth-the -. while
-and-more''
He repeated the words slowly, moisten-
ing his lips the while, as one does when
the memory of something pleasant lin
gers
ct was well that got there when
did. There were three in the family
a man, woman and a daughter-a fam
lily that had come from the North for
the sake of the mothers health. Their
small plantation was practically isolated.
and they had not feared the fever. They
were quite unprepared for it. 1t is
not necessary for me to tell you of the
struggle we had; it is sufficient to say
that they all lived And one afternoon
when they were convalescent and was
able to remit the. care, which to that
time had been constant, 1 seated myself
in a rocking chair, with the family photo
graph album upon my lap. ] did not
remain scared long, for among the first
re in bo xUac hot Of oirl
a girl who looked like one 1 had known
at home. I rose to my feet excitedly
and carried the book to the woman,
pointing with a finger that shook dis
gracefully to the portrait.
{" Who is it?' 1 asked.
My brothers daughter she said.
" And her name is
Mary Brown
'My legs went out from under me
then, and my head buzzed 1 was tired
out, 1 suppose. I collapsed into chair,
and the woman, in her weakness not
noticing, went on talking as some women
do.
My maiden name was Brown she
said. L haven't seen my brothers folks
for ten years or more, but we have never
ceased to correspond Poor Mary was
sick a while ago. The doctor called
II Sdi1OplLS COIlSuIIpllOu. buI 1t WASH
If it had been she'd have died. The
doctors don't always know, begging
your pardon, sir Twas something else
like decline, kind of pining away
that was mystery to everybody
Her mother thinks now twas love for
young feloW-one of the harum-scar-
UNI sort-that lived in the village once
She thinks so because the girl got into
way after while of taking in her sleep
repeating over and over the fellows
1irh Ia -
Jones was her whole life, and yet,
after he'd f1irted with her for time he
went away, and has never been heard of
since. He must have been a heartless
scamp. Poor girl!
"'And she isn't married yet?' I asked
My throat was so dry that had to
exert all my strength to make my voice
audible.
No
And you think that, bad as he is
and shameful as was her treatment of her
she'd be glad to see Jones'
There's no doubt of it, poor girl
II left the room then. [ couldn't stand
1T any longer. 1 went and threw myself
upon the ground, and sobbed and laughed
and kicked up my heels like one gone
daft. She had spoken my name in her
sleep! She wanted ne! She would be
glad to see mel
1.-THE quarantine was raised four weeks
later, and I went North. It was all true
She was glad to see me. She reproached
me for going away from her, and I was
sorry clear down to my feet. But after
all-and there's comfort in it, as [ told
her-I'm more worth marrying now than
1 was then
you are going to remain in the SER
vice?' inquired the other.
NO Tam going home to settle down
at ast-home-home"'
There was rapt expression upon his
worn face and he raised his eyes Fever
entity to the sky.
Home" he repeatedly softly, "home-