The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-02

| lHteEesls' lie lobSeu IpI ~ beSauhe ~
had filled his days and made him sleeI
from sheer weariness. He missed
Eloise more than for ten years. Ever
Alfaretta noticed it.
"You're lonesome" she said, tersely
swell, it's material. Why don't you &c
calm on the ladies?"
Alpheus regarded her with frown
with all this commotion and talk
I'm afraid to speak to single woman
Alfaretta laughed.
"They've actually bit Off their own
noses," she said, sagely, "but you car
visit the sicls I hear that the Widow
Paul's little Phil is down with fever
! I'm fixing up some jelly now for some
one to take down there. The fever al
ways does bad work in those creek bot
TOMS"
| Thus Alfaretta became an humble in
strument in the hands OF Providence
The parson went, not only one day, but
| another, to the several sick souls on
the flats. And, mipistering, forgot hia
loneliness once more.
The sewing circle met one afternoon
at the parlors over the Sunday school
rooms. They were to finish up six seta
of rufiled Swiss curtains, deemed nee.
essary by the Bowles faction, to light.
en- up the parsonage bedroom windows.
They were discussing whether they
might not now take up some work for
the heather, when Miss Sophronia
Nesbitt came in. She seemed decidedly
thoughtful.
II don't hold doing anything for the
heather just now" she said; mot un.
til we do little for those sick peo.
pie on the flats. They need sheets and
pillow cases and nightgowns. The
minister has been taking over the par.
sonage things. There are II eases Of
fever and it is certainly spreading"
Does your paw think it's catch.
ing?' inquired the anxious mother.
"He says it's infectious" replied Miss
Sophy, land Brother Wentworth has
been over there day and night. Paw
says he's run down anyhow. Seems a.
if we ought to do more"
What can we do?" said Miss Julia,
in her superior way. '"Im willing to
give money. Why not get nurse or
two from the city and relieve us from
feeling that we are doing nothing?"
1t was voted an excellent plan. but
Miss Celia, who sat near the door, b ad
bright spot on each cheek.
Maybe we had better not wal" )"
She said, quietly, ''since things are 50
bad. I'm not afraid to go
There was chorus of Obs" and
negatives. Only one little, weazened
woman who did not count for much
save to do great deal on the sewing
machine. said she'd "go il she was
needed"
This pushed the plan about the
nurse to head and one was to be
telegraphed for at once. But at that
moment Alfaretta burst in breath
lessly:
"Excuse me, but the parsons down
fairly ravin' with fever. He's been
sick all day, but l thought he was
just tired out. I got to have help"
THE fever!" gasped Miss Julia, re-
treating hastily.
"They all huddled away into a cor
ner, leaving the little woman and Miss
Celia in their chairs.
Alfaretta's eyes swept the room
with a sarcasm not to be misunder-
stood.
"The fever, yes!" she announced,
"and he man of God that went
down among EN- over there with no
thought of danger. Now he needs
help"
Miss Celia reached down her hat
from Il hook behind her. The small
woman folded her work up.
There's no need of any more" said
Miss Celia in low tone, 1--WE can be-
gin, anyhow, and they'll telegraph for
a nurse. I'll not stand back. and Mrs.
Hodges will stay with me-
Don't you dare go!" shrieked her
aunt, you'll bring the fever home
"Then I won't come home" Miss
Celia said. 'I'm all alone, anyhow,
and it don't matter
She went out of the door. Alfaretta
and the small woman followed, some-
what amazed at the turn matters had
taken. At the parsonage door the
handmaiden grasped Miss Celia's
arm:
1--WE made lots O. fun O YOU to
him." she said, hoarsely, "but l take
it back. You've got the real feeling,
you have
Miss Celia smiled wanly.
mo, haven't" she said. ~ didn't
care a straw only to have a little fun
going on and beat the others. Blu.
I'm not afraid
Then she went steadily up the stair
way to the room with the blue pin.
cushion and monogramed towels.
But there are people in Redwood
who believe that Providence played
them shabby trick when the fever
came over from the Flats and the
long illness ended with .