The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1904-09-14
By
:. S. REID,


]
I With an effort she reused herself
and this time dragged the little paper
from the hole. Perhaps the bluebirds
had carried 1t in. and. finding it un.
available for their use. had pushed il
to the rear out of their way. At any
rate. it had evidently lain there fol
many years, as the curves of the wa.
ter marks were brown with age. Halt
eagerly. half fearfully, she unfolded
the little sheet. and. although the twi.
light was deepening, and Miss Phoe.
be's eyes were not as strong as they
once we're. she read ON till the last
faded letter was deciphered. Then,
without a sound. she sank down and
buried her face in her hands.
1t was almost dark when Miss Phoe.
be finally dragged herself from the
damp grass and entered the house.
Once inside the stately old drawing
room, she drew the folded paper from
her bosom. and again read It over,
while tears coursed slowly down her
cheeks.
She approached an old brown cabi-
net which stood in a corner of the
room. and, taking therefrom a little
rosewood casket, laid the scrap of pa
per within it.
Then she turned ort the light and
crept to the window. where she sat
looking out across the way. Evidently
she was still uneasy about her neigh.
Dor. for there was no light from his
window. nor did one appear while
Miss Phoebe watched. although It was
late when she retired.
The following morning she again
took her place by the window. But
the bus passed and Mr.. Lorton had not
appeared.
During the day Miss Phoebe called
Dinah to her room.
"Dinah." she said, II believe some
thing has happened to Mr.. Lorton, or
he a III over there in that house all
alone"
Il spec you said it bout right, Miss
Phoebe, cause l ain seen i'm to-day,
nor yistiddy. neither"
"Oh, Dinah, it would be awful If he
should die there all alone" and Miss
Phoebe turned away her head.
The afternoon wore away. At length
the shadows began to grow long and
the anxiety Of Miss Phoebe's charit-
able heart overcame her patience.
"Dinah." she said, as she passed
through the hall, Il am going to Mr..
LOTIONS. l feel that it is my duty. for
I am sure he must be i'll; and think,
Dinah, IL he should die there with no
one"-surely the sweet voice trem-
no n to hear his last
words"
Out n the yard she sought among
the late flowers until she found a sim
gle white rose re,dy to scatter its pet
ais. This sh. plucked; then, passing
through the gateway, crossed the
The Horton house was an old-fash-
toned one, with a street door at the
end Of an open entrance. Through this
doorway Miss Phoebe entered and ad-
vanced along the passage. made dark
and gloomy by the dense, untrimmed
growth Of shrubbery in the little side
yard.
Approaching the door Of what was
probably Mr.. LOTIONS sleeping room,
she tapped gently upon the panel.
After a moment a weak voice from
said, "Come in"
Miss Phoebe hesitated !. moment,
while she felt the blood rush to her
temples: then she firmly turned the
knob and entered.
At the sound Of hes step the figure
revealing the dazed, feever-
eyes Of Mr.. Lorton; then Z
hand wandered toward a table that
stood at the head Of the bed, and on
rested a pitcher of water. 4
yes. Miss Phoebe drew a
|ong breath as she saw that the hand
was reaching for a little box in which |
lay the l~ong-seered petals Of q once
red rose.
With. . swift impulse Miss Phoebe
the white rose over the with /
cred petals Of the red one. Then lay
ne her cool hand ON the hot sAneers Of
he SICK man, che said gently: