Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-10-04

spccts to M hor Grey, Int Mcver
once showed any disposition 70 aeair
h-eak taboo. For SOME reason ,hiA Wa
not al TO the liking Of Miss Janet. Shc
had discovered soon after he lief: fo"
MeNico that sine did love him. ana thai
her profession was not just what She
wanted most. after ali; but she WAS TOO
proud to say so, and she completed
her course and became 4 full hedgeG
sister of the Red Cross in cue time.
Early in the fifth year sonnet hing had
happened. Something seemed to pull
strangely at Janet's heart strings. Let
ters came but irregularly from Mexico,
and during the last ten months no let
tiers were received from Masters. Two
of her own letters remained unan-
swered and third had been returned
to her by the post office. a letter sent
to the Mexican post master brought no
reply, and now this dreadful yellow
fever plague had stricken the lane
where Masters planta ton was located.
Now, as she was speeding swiftly
over the rails toward Mexico, she
ponGered over these things Did she,
would he, think it unwomanly of her
self to seek him unasked'? She would
not believe that, for had not her own
mother agreed that she must go at
once? Poor Jack was he suffering
alone out there among strangers? Was
he alive? A long, sad journey full of
hopes and fears, misgivings, doubts
and fatigue; but all things have an
end.
A final change to snail-like branch
road, then the yellow flag and the an
nouncement that passengers were not
permitted to enter the fever district.
A hasty consultation with a cring-
ingly polite official. and pass to go
on, as she was trained nurse. Then
the dirty station at Panuco. Almost az
her journeys end-what would she
find? A sense of her own littleness
an6 helplessness came upon her for
moment, then was gone again.
Did the dirty little boy with don.
key cart know where Senior Masters
plantation was? His name was Pip
pc, he knew the plantation, but surely
the beautiful seuorita would not wish
to go there. They said Senior Masters
WAS dead Of the fever; he would not
wish to disappoint the senorita, but
he had no wish to go to the planta,
| ton.
A few silver coins, an appeal from
| two wet, soul-touching eyes, and Pip
pc thought he might drive her near
the plantation, where she might walk
to it if she must. It was useless tc
go, though, for was not the plantation
deserted? Had not FIR. Antonio, the
priest, said week ago that the senior
was dying? That was after he had
been taken home to his plantation tc
die. Yes, he would take her near the
plantation he would wait one little
hour for her. maybe two.
If her heart was being torn during
that long dusty ride her face gave nc
warning Of it. From pippo she
learned that Senior Masters had been
imprisoned for nearly ten months on
a false charge, that he had contract
ed the fever in prison. The real of
fender had been discovered and had
confessed and the senior was set free
FIR. Antonio had been kind to the
senior, for the senior had been good to
the church and the poor. He would
not let an innocent man die in prison
and had taken HIM home to the plan
tation TO die. There a faithful serv-
ant had cared for him but week
| ago the father had said the senior
could not live, his case was hopeless
Surely the senior was dead but he
had not seen the priest since The
senior was a good man and had been
kind to pippo. Pippo's heart was
sore for the beautiful senorita who
had come so far to find the senior.
She left Pippo at the entrance tc
the plantation and hurried to the
house. The place seemed deserted
Then the sound of a darky's voice. a
real Virginia darby. singing: 80! Carry
me back to ole Nirginny. to ole Nir
ginia Shore came softly from some
where above. Hope grew stronger
and Janet hurried in the direction OF
the singer.
The sound of footsteps siIenced tho
voice and then she heard: de Lave
be praised He done sabed de massa
De angel hab come. Peter he hcarl
her a comm an de angels Miss Janet
in de flesh sure as dis niger habe
prayed for her"
1t was Peter. good old garrulous
Peter! She knew ia X was alive now
and in another moment she was kneel
ing by her lovers bedside.
The sick man recognized her. Sht
was there, he was too weak then IL
know or care how, she was there. hel
soft, cool hand on his forehead, tina
was enough. That night he slep
quietly while Janet and the faithful
negro watched over him. The feve1
was broken.
1t was not genuine yellow jack, bu
kindred malarial fever. He ha,
called for her in his delirious mo
ments and had begged Peter to tall
about her and sing the old Virgini;
songs when the fever left him for
time.
Janet nursed him back to GONZALES
cence with the aid Of good FIR. An
: | F. ;%1 f,,1 M.