The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-02-02


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
landladys 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 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. II 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
tiny morsel Of bread into her own
mouth and fed the dog with pieces of
meat put into his jaws with her fin
gers.
sIs it - o'clock yet?" she said. 81
think l 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 u, will eat
it."
She lay down, trembling. After a lit
tie while she said:
"Give me my clothes."
He looked at her.
eyes; am going to dress tomorrow.
should get up now, but it 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 di-
rected.
'Put it nearer" she said. 81 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"
Tie old, old tone was again in the
sweet voice. He obeyed her and open
ed the shutter and raised her VI
among the pillows.
'Now bring my books to me-" she
said, motioning eagerly with her fin
gers. 1.-THE large book and the reviews
and the plays. want them all"
He piled them round her OIL the bed
She drew them greedily closer, he
eyes very bright, but her face as whit,
as mountain lily.
"Now the big one off the drawers
No; you need not help me to hold III.
book" she said. II can hold it my
SELF"
Gregory went back to his corner, ant
for a little time the restless turnin!
over of leaves was to be heard.
'sWill you open the window" sh
said, almost querulous1y, "and throw
this book out? 1t is so utterly foolish
thought it was valuable book, bu
the words are merely strung together
They make no sense. Yes-so!' sh
said, with approval, seeing him fling
out into the street. 81 must have bee
very foolish when l thought that boo
good"
Then she turned to read and leane
her little elbows resolutely on the grea
volume and knit her brows. This wa
Shakespeare. 1t must mean some
thing.
81 wish you would take a handkel
chief and tie it tight round my hea(
1t aches So
He had not been long in his sea
when he saw drops fall from beneat
the hands that shaded the eyes Oh t
the page.
81 am not accustomed to so niue
light. 1t makes my head swim a Ii
tle,' she said. go out and close til
shutter"
When he came back, she lay shrive
ed up among the pillows.
He heard no sound of weeping, BIZ
the shoulders shook. He darkened til
room completely.
When Gregory went to his sofa til;
: night, she told him to wake her earl.
She would be dressed before brealSfas
Nevertheless, when morning came, ST
said it was little cold and lay all da
watching her clothes upon the chat
Still she sent for her oxen in the coul
try. They would start on Monday an
go down to the colony.
In the afternoon she told him to ope
the window wide and draw the be
near it.
1t was leaden afternoon. The du
rainclouds restedS close to the roofs
the houses, and the little street W;
silent and deserted. Now and then
gust of wind eddying round caught l
the dried leaves, whirled them hith
and thither under the trees and dro
ped them again into the gutter. The
all was quiet. She lay looking on
Presently the bell of the church bega
to toll and up the village street can
q long procession. They were carryi1
an old man to his last resting plac
She followed them with her eyes t
they turned in among the trees at tt
gate.
aWho was that?" she asked.