Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-06-10

II must get up and carry my pa
pers," he managed to say.
"That's all right, Blake. Don't wOr-
~ about your papers. They're being
carried all right"
Edward recognized Wheaton's voice
and dimly saw him. Then his mind
wandered off In a fever!sh delirium,
and he lost all recollection of his sur
roundings.
When he came to himself again, a
woman was sitting by the side Of the
bed tanning away the flies. 1t was
afternoon again and very hot.
Mother, is that you" Edward whis.
pered.
''Yes, Ned, dear boy" replied his
mother, and she leaned over him and
kissed his cheek. AS she did so tear
fell on his face.
"How long have been sick,
mother?"
NEARLY five weeks, Ned. But don't
talk. You are getting better, thank
God"
Then he lay still and gazed vaguely
at his mother, host Of questions In
his mind, but he was too weak to ask
them and soon dozed off again.
When he was at last able to sit up In
bed and talked little he learned by
degrees the history Of nearly two
months. Parts Of it affected him a
good deal.
"Mr. Wheaton has been like son to
me-" Mrs. Blake said when Edward
was able to hear. "He sent for me as
soon as the doctor declared your case
dangerous. You have had typhoid,
Ned, and have been very sick. At one
time we feared"-
"Was it so bad as that?"
] at certainly was. don't know what
should have done if Mr.. Wheaton,
HAS Wheaton been carrying my
papers?"
Eyes. He said your route was con-
venient for him to handle, and he has
been doing that and his own too. He has
collected every Monday and given me
the money each week. And, besides
that, Ned. he has sat here with you
forenoons and insisted on relieving me
good many nights. He's a splendid,
Christian boy. and feel proud to think
you have won such a college friend"
said Mrs. Blake innocently.
Edward did some hard thinking. His
dislike for Wheaton had been caused
by two things mainly. One was
Wheaton's habit of going around with
Bible under his arm and talking re-
ligion so much; the other was his
poor scholarship. which seemed to Ed
ward inexcusable. And yet, he now
asked himself, Is it any worse to carry
Bible around under ones arm than
to puff cigarette smoke into peoples
faces, as half the smart boys in Hope
were In the habit of doing? And when
It came to scholarship, was Wheaton
to blame If his mental ability was Of
a second rate order?
"Mr. Wheaton told me-" continued
Mrs. Blake timidly, that he has been
praying for your recovery and hopes
you will become Il protesting Chris
tian."
Edward felt uneasy. He wished that
his mother had not said anything about
that. OF course, he said to himself, he
felt grateful to Wheaton for the way
he had acted. 1t had been an unself-
ish. noble thing for him to do. But he
disliked Wheaton's praying over him
and talking about his Christian life.
And yet why not, Edward Blake, NOR
al stickler for truth and Righteousness?
Is it so common thing that one man
should have an earnest solicitude for
another mans eternal welfare that it
can be carelessly or even impatiently
treated, as you seem to treat this feel
ing of another soul for your soul?
There was long silence in the room.
Mrs. Blake did not know anything
about Edwards thoughts or expert
ences along the line Of a personal
Christian life. He had never written
her anything about it, and the two
had seldom talked about it. Edward
had always avoided the matter.
How are the folks at home" Ed
ward asked as Mrs. Blake rose to ar
range some medicine.
"They are all we'll. Freeda has man.
aged matters beautifully in my alb
sence She wanted to come on here
and help, but it was not necessary.
Miss Seton has spent part Of the
summer on the farm, and Freeda has
enjoyed her company. She has taken
hold and helped Freeda and Aunt Sa-
rah wonderfully. You would think she
was born ON farm instead Of In
city. Freeda wrote you several letters
to read when you were able. l was to
give them to you one ut time, one
day, as you grew stronger.
"Give me one of them now, mother"
II don't know. You have talked
good deal. Aren't you tired?"
Edward protested that he was not,
and his mother let him have the first
letter. During that week he enjoyed
reading the letters one day. They
| were written in Freeda's brightest
style and gave accounts Of the happen
ings on the farm. In several Of the
later letters Ida Joined with Freeda in
hoping that Edward would speedily
recover and sent her regards to him.
1t was during the week Of his recov.
cry that Edward had little interview
H. AN