Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1902-08-06

was kindly invited TO remain I'M
til she felt we'll enough to proceed
on her way, then the man would
carry her the remainder of the
distance. AS she followed the
old woman into the room she
heard the feeble wall Of a young
child from the room across the
hall.
Days, weeks slipped by. Mrs.
Stanley was at times dimly con
sciOns that she was very i'll, at
tended by a physician whom she
did not know, nursed by a
straoge old woman, and that the
vail OF the infant which fell upon
her ear was that of her own child.
Then she would drift away into
utter dreamless Inconsistencies.
Once she heard the sound OF loud
weeping and mourning, andalways
the fall of rain upon the low roof.
Then she suddenly and steadily
commenced to get well, and the
old woman placed the child in her
arms. She was told that the food
had cut off all communication
with the outside world, that once
when she seemed worse the SON
in-law Of the old woman had gone
for the doctor and both had been
swept away by the flood. The
selfish invalid scarcely uttered one
word of sympathy, but peevishly
demanded that her husband be
sent for, and resented the old
woman's powerlessness as she
sObbed:
"Ye'll iist have to wait for the
fresh to run down."
AT last after days of impatient,
complaining, waiting, in answer
to the message sent him, a car
riage containing her husband and
a nurse climbed the steep noun
tain road to the cabin.
Mrs. Stanley made no attempt
to conceal her disgust at her sur
roundings or impatience to be gone.
But her husband drew his purse
from his pocket and with amiable
cOndescension prepared to pay
for all expense and trouble
incurred.
At this moment a ghost like fig
Ure entered the room. Her won
derful beauty had been wrecked
by suffering and disease, but Mr..
Stanley recognized her at once and
exclaimed:
"Why, Nance, you heTe!''
"My name is Mis- Jones, sir"
was the naughty response. Yes,
Pm here, and you see that Pm
not long for this world. 1t was
my man that was dlOwnded gittin'
doctor for your wife. He was
drownded, too. 1t is my nanny
who day and night has nussed
your wife and child and saved 'em
for you"
81 am willing to pay for the at
received" with a sarcas-
tic information.
"YOu can't pay in money for a
mans life" was the vehement re-
spouse, 'fbut Pm gOin' to give you
and her the chance to pay up as
we'll as you can. My time is al
most up, but l have a little boy
not much older than yourn. He
is iist as sweet Snd iist as likely.
my old nanny is gOin' out to
Brother John in Texas. She can't
raise the child, besides, / want
him to have a chance in life. You
can't give his daddy back to him,
but will you and her take my boy
aud raise him long side o. yourn,
list as if he was bone of your bone
and flesh of your feshi In the
sight of God, tell me if you will
adopt my childi" 1
adopt your child You must
De crazy" exclaimed Mrs. Stan
~caressing the little form upon
ler knee. ''put it in a founding
hospital. Your suggestion is an
INSULT"
"Why Nance-Mrs. Jones'
your proposition is absurd. / will +;
)ay you in money the debt 1 owe
rOu."
I'll soon be gone" she walled.
Nanny is gOin' away and my
,oor little baby will be on the
of the world. {
''That is nothing to u.s." Mrs.
Stanley responded haughtily. j
won't you take him for the |
AXE OF his daddy, who died for
'our Wifeq" {
''No; most certainly not" {
81 have give you your chance {
o square up" she said proudly.
You have answered all / had [
- och uou -