The Opelousas courier., 1901-01-12
WONDER who he's fretting
for?" asked Mrs. Granthen of
herself as she passed Mr..
--z Soo- 49, hanzl

i Holbrooke's door. and heard
weary sigh escape him.
Alwyn Holbroke was lying back
.eainst the cushions Of his invalid's
ebair. Fierce, wild rebellion had shak-
en- his frame.
"a prisoner of Fate!" he cried with
! strength born of rage, which passing
left him exhausted, a dull languor sue
eeeding.
illness had not brought patience or
resignation. Stricken from a strong
manhood to a helpless rheumatic suf-
ferer. he could learn neither.
"Aud she dares come to mi now, as
am" he said with bitter scorn, "be-
cause I have wealth. when she turned
from me as I was because ] had 1t not.
would that 1 could forget my wrecked
life! But I seem tied to remembrance,
as a prisoner of old>to a dead body. To
endure. endure-that is all that Is left
mets he cried passionately.
He touched the bell. Mrs. Granthen.
his h~ousekeeper, answered the sum-
mems.
envy head is horrible, Mrs. Granthen;
can't you try n of your dozen rem
edies?"
aYou are fretting yourself ILL.," she
said, compassionately, looking at the
paliid, haggard face. "You are worse
Of late, and neither the doctor nor ]
can do anything with you, IL you con-
tinue to worry"
"Is Dorothy never coming homer" he
asked irritably. "I could always watch
her In the yard, or have her come to
read or sing to me. Is she coming
again."
II am sure I don't know, sir"
4 aThen won't you find out?"
II think her aunt did not like her
coming over here, and yet could not
refuse, you being so Ill. so she was sent
Of, sir"
Alwyn made no answer. But all that
day, except when out for his drive, he
cat ut his window. looking into the
empty garden next door. thinking of
the little figure which graced 1t, the
one bright spot in his dreary life.
He had heard her reciting once TO a
crowd OF children, and had sent over
aud asked IL she would be kind enough
to come and read to him. Her aunt,
With whom she lived and who was
known to Mrs. Granthen, had con-
ssnted because Of his peculiar misfor-
tune and loneliness.
you will come again, won't your
be- asked wistfully, as she left him.
II win come, IL aunt will let me" she
answered simply, and she did. He was
often morose and critical, yet with her
wonnan's pity she made excuse for his
laults, and tried to amuse him. When
ghe knew him better, and he asked the
usual question, Wont you come
igain?' r. she would answer, "If you will
Do good and do not fret" OF IL speaking
10 d sick child.
81 shall never be good, Dorothy, for
ly soul is warped by rheumatism and
q woman"
sMercy. What a combination Of
A look into his face, with Its depth Of
pain and misery, checked the saucy
cords. She liked to distract him from
bis trouble in any way possible, yet her
Instinct was quick TO tell her when he
Eas In depths beyond idle pleasing.
The bright mood which generally be
gnllsd him was stilled instantly. The
Girl, who knew herself to be but a
pleasing toy, became with her tender
symDathy, the comforter.
You must never talk like that" she
said 'aThe soul Is not subject to the
fsstrictions OF the body. It al never
be warped, save by sin. It can rise
aDoye everything. every wound that
life inhicts.
III not hate sin?"
Yes. hate is sin. But surely you do
nOt hate any one? Your misfortunes
90 not come from an earthly source. "
Not my bodily misfortunes, but
lose Of my soul"
she looked at him with gentle con-
rern In her eyes.
: think" she said, ssthat you brood
aere alone until you magnify some
sllgat resentment to q worse feeling, a
easerfeeling. q unworthy Of you"
AZ, child you have not tasted yet OF
she bitter cup in which hate is brewed,
ana hope You never may"
+ don't know" she answered. zone
Whpm ! loved and trusted wasted, in
5stslessness, all that was left in his
snafgs Tor me. and / became a penni-
less independent on my aunt.
And you hated him?"
No. When he came to die I went
Y nm, and cared for him until the
szs.s I would rot soil my soul with
aaea q vile feeling"
xet, Dorothy, that did not touch
5pak aaLecticns. Suppose" he said, be-
ssess his heavy heart craved the rest
u a~nnuEdsnlng itself, "you loved one
saereturned your love. and yet valued
w cheaper than wealth, gave herself
y another because / was poor, though
ss1aaEs then. physically. Then, when
NsslsA came, though with this wretch
n ueloEmity, she returned. Would you
pe1 hste. her?e
Lat you think she shows that
sssasA sas is weak, she still loves you
sssss md can YOU give hate In en-
sesaess Il she loved me still / think
soaad forgive her and forget the
b happy ever afterward?" be
Is 3S ~ to be-" corrected the GIRL
eve advice is useless. / cannot
.ssssKs she ruin OF my faith in human
NJ sE fcEgst the pain II brought me,
s.ssst nsFet be well again, and some