Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-21
CHAPTER xxx.
The Charm Fails.

Where now, my dear? asked Mrs.
Montjoy of Antoinette, who was putting on
her broad brimmed shade hat. Where are
you going in this terrible heat?'
I'm going to see Nose. Cover told me
he was sick and 1 thought I'd go and see If
he needed anything. I'm quite Interested,
for he is my first case. you see.''
your first case?" repeated her mother,
mystifed.
Sounds like a doctor, doesn't it? But 1
mean he's my first sick person since
Joined the Kings Daughters" and An
toinette pointed te her silver cross. 81 Won
der what 1 should do first-ask him IL he
wishes something to eat?'
See if there is anything he needs. and
read to him. perhaps: but do not stay there
long. 1 presume he Is not very H.
mo. l won't stay long. I'm almost too
lazy to walk up the HILL but goodbye"
She crept along. very lazily. Even Alexis
was oppressed by the heat, and Jagged
behind Nothing but a strong sense of
duty took him out on such an afternoon.
The cabin door stood wide open and An
toinette could hear groanins in the back
room. She knocked, but getting no answer,
stepped inside the door and called, 1T is
Mose-Antoinette Montjoy. come to see you
Shall / come in?'
eyes Miss Ant'nette suah. / needs COM
fo't an 'sistance in desc da'k days.
air rushed out as from furnace seven
times heated. almost overpowering her.
Dear me! Why do you have the win
dows and door closed on such day as
this? l never felt such heat in She
looked at Nose and the sentence remained
unfinished. The grotesquesness Of his ap-
pearance stopped her
"Wha-what on earth has happened to
you?" she said
use done got haht failure. Miss Athletic"
and he made an affecting gesture toward his
heart.
The girl tried to conceal her smiles But
not in your lip, Nose. What's the matter
with It? and why have you the handkerchief
tied around your face"
''Oh dat. well, you see had my gun
powder and terbaccer in de same pocket,
an. when | lit my pipe. my lip was biowed
up. an KEEP on swellin' an er-blowin' till
It shet up my nose an had to tieer down
SOS L could breathe. But dat am nothin
to dis mo'tal sickness
Your rheumatism is worse. them"
'Oh. 10. no, indeed. 1t am gettin bet
tab all de time. l don know what de mat
tab Is. 'cept what toll you. but dis am my
las sickness. Miss Ant nette."
The visitor did what she could to cheer
him. promising to come again and also have
the doctor sent to zee him.
My doctah's dun gone away from Easton.
an odder kin do any good" groaned
Nose.
Wen try another one, II you get worse.
But you must keep the windows open.
and I'll come again, and so will Jim, to see
IL you need anything.
He does seem pretty Ill, mamma, and IL
he isn't better tomorrow / think DR.. King
should see him." said Antoinette when re-
lating her experience.
Cover tells me he is always very much
frightened when he is NJ returned her
mother.
On her second visit Antoinette found the
patient worse and tossing uneasily on his
bed AS soon as she returned home she
sent Jim for DR.. King. He reported him
quite Ill. but not dangerously SO. He is
so supersthious 1 don't believe he will take
the medicine. He kept saying something
about charm. But never prescribe them
myself. though Blackhart may" and he
laughingly drove away.
The truth of the matter was that Nose 8
Illness was caused by his remorse and anx-
iety. Phil had not neglected any service
for his friend that he could find to do He
was far more cheerful since his fathers
letter. but often spoke Of the GOODNESS of
the MOntjoys.
Only Cover believed In him, and Madame
Dupre. And Enough the lonesome boy
found comfort in these friends. he could not
be contented until the others knew him to
be honest. He explained this to Nose. and
the guilty one, who really had meant to do
nobody harm. suffered as deeply as Phil.
But he couldn't quite make up his mind to
confess and spoil the effect OF the charm.
Use an awful sick man, amt 1. Miss
Antnette?" said he. the first thing as she
came in the room one morning. q week
later.
Yes. you are suffering a great deal but
you will soon be better, We think"
II dunno bout dat. It's berry doubtful
Use thinkn'.'
I'm going to read you. out OF the good
book, Nose. Would you like thatr'
''Yes-powerful. But what yo' bring In
dat kivered basket?"
"Oh, / nearly forgot. Fanny sent YOU
something nice. Fried chicken and wine
Jelly, And the doctor said you might eat
It. Where shall 1 read?"
Read what yo like best Miss Ant nette -
The girl opened her Bible and read first
In the New Testament and then at his re-
quest. in the Old.
az arays likes some OBJ bofe," he said.
''Thoa shalt not defraud thy neighbor
neither rob him" read Antoinette.
Use too thed to heah any mo-" said the
listener, conscience-stricken. II mus be
gittin' bsttah when Fsc strong enough to
feel tihed"
Phil appeared at the kitchen door the next
day before breakfast Fanny" he said
will you tell Miss Antoinette that Nose
wishes her to come to see him at once?"
La, mel Phil, Is he worse? Believe I'll
go an see him myself. Yes. I'll tell her.
Right away, you said?"
Yes she Is not to lose q moment He
seemed awfully zanxious."
Antoinette started as soon as she received
the message The morning was cool and
pleasant. and this time she enjoyed the
walk. g,s7. -
Sc the doctor has Just been hsrsi What