The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1901-11-01

oNAs AO DSncNG We kOL uuo BChItCt
fever, and you must run for the doctor,
quick"
Scarlet feverI' repeated Billy, why,
you've had 1t once, and you can't have 1t
again, can your
"Oh, | don't kncw-I never was like
anybody else and can have anything a
dozen times. Now be spry and fetch tho
doctor; but before you go hand me my
snuff box and put the canister top heapin'
full of tea into the teapot"
Billy obeyed. and then, knowing that
the green tea would remove his mother
ailment he hurried away toward Mrs.
Howard's. The sun was just rising.
Within the cottage there was no sound or
token Of life, and, thinking Its inmates
were asleep, Billy paused several min
utes upon the threshold, fearing that he
should disturb their slumbers. At last,
with vague presentiment that all was
rot right, he raised the latch and enter
ed, but instantly started back In aston
ishment at the scene before him. On the
thundle bed lay Frank, cold and dead,
and near him, In the same long, dream
less sleep, was his mother, while between
them, with one arm thrown lovingly
across her brothers. neck, and her cheek
pressed against his, lay Mary-her eye
lids moist with tears which, though sleep
ing, she still shed. On the other side Of
Frank, and nestled 30 closely to him that
her warm breath lifted the brown curls
from his brow, was Ella. But there were
no tear stains ON her face, for she did not
yet know how bereayed she was.
For a moment Billy stood irresolute,
and then, as Mary moved uneasily in her
slumbers, he advanced a step or two to-
ward her. The noise aroused her, and
instantly remembering and comprehend
ing the whole, she threw herself with a
bitter cry into Billy's extended arms, as
IL he alone were all the protector she now
had in the wide, wide world. Ere long
Ella, too, awoke, and the noisy outburst
which followed the knowledge of her loss
made Mary still the agony of her own
heart In order to soothe the more violent
grief of her excitable sister. Billy's
tears were flowing, too, but at length
rising up, he said to Mary, Something
must be done. The villagers must know
Of 1t, and l shall have to leave you alone
while tell them"
In half an hour from that time the
cottage was nearly filed with people,
some of whom came out of idle curiosity.
But there were others who went there
for the sake of comforting the orphans
and attending to the dead, and by noon
the bodies were decently arranged for
burial.
''There will be no trouble" said one, 'in
finding a place for Ella, she Is so bright
and handsome; but as for Mary, l am
afraid she'll have to go to the poorhouse." "
Were I In a condition TO take either -
replied Mrs. Johnson. ~ should prefer
Mary, for in my estimation she Is much
the best girl; but there is the baby, who
must go wherever Mary does, unless she
can be persuaded to leave her."
Before anyone could reply to this re-
mark Mary, who had overheard every
word, came forward, and, laying her
face on Mrs. Johnson's lap, sobbed ont,
"Let me go with Alice; told mother
would"
Billy Bender, who all this while had
been standing by the door, started for
home, never once thinking, until he
reached 1t, that his mother more than
six hours before, had sent him in great
haste for the physician. On entering the
house he found her. as he expected, rolled
up In bed, apparently In the last stage Of
scarlet fever; but before she could re-
proach him he said, Mother, have you
heard the newsY
Mrs Bender Had a particular love for
news, and now forgetting 'how near to
deaths door" she had been, she eagerly
demanded, What newsi What has hap
penedY
When Billy told her Of the sudden
deaths of Mrs. Howard and Frank, an
expression Of what? That all?" passed
over her face, and she said, Dear me,
my snuff, Billy. Both died last night, did
they? Hain't you nothin' else to tell?"
Yes, Mary Judson and ella Campbell,
too, are dead"
Mrs. Bender, who, like many others,
courted the favor of the wealthy and
tried to fancy herself on intimate terms
with them, no sooner heard of Mrs.
Campbelps aff1iction than her own dan
gerous symptoms were forgotten, and,
spi.nging up, she exclaimed, ELLA Camp
bell deadl What'll her mother do?
must go to her right away. Hand me my
double gown there in the closet, and give
me my lace cap in the lowes drawer, and
mind you have the teakettlo billed agin
get back"
Before you 90 anywhere, suppose you
stop at Mrs. Howard's and comfort poor
Mary, who cries all the time because she
and Alice have got to go to the poor
house."
"Of course they'll go there. and they
ort to be thankful they've got SO good
place"
II want to ask you." said Billy, cant
we-couldn't you take them for a few
days, and perhaps something may turn
up?"
William Bender" said the highly as
tonished lady, what can you meanf A
poor, sick woman like me, with one foot
in the grave, take the charge Of three
pauper children sha'n't do 1t, and you
needn't thlak Of it"