The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-10-31
The Cup Of
Water
By HONORE wIILsIE
Copyright, 1905, by Ruby Douglas


ness and of the cooking of bacon and
corn cake In the adjoining kitchen.
Outside, through the tightly closed
window. he could see shreds of white
clouds scudding across the blue. For
days 1t had been matter of vital i'm
portance to him lest the green branches
that tossed so continuously across the
lower sash catch and hold the wisps of
white as the upper twigs scratched
against the blue, but now, as he tossed
In the misery Of his fever, not even the
scud of the clouds mattered He want
ed water-just drink, a single half
cup, just a drop on his swollen tongue.
Again and again he struggled to pull
himself from the bed. At each whin-
ing shrek of the corded four poster
old Mrs. Frazee came to the door, corn
cob pipe In mouth, and tucked him
kindly but firmly back.
you sure can't have no water-not
till the fever breaks. It's the only way
TO break up one of these long runs"
Esterly looked up into the kind old
face with his fever sick eyes.
Il know you are trying to be good to
a stranger, but if only you would send
for a doctorl And, for heavens sake,
just little waterp'
The old woman looked at Esterly
with all the horror In her face that the
suggestion of physician brings to a
backwoOdsman Laws" she said, Its
thirty miles to doctor and we'll have
you all cured by the time one could
get here! You have nothing but a run
of fever. Me and my old man are glad
to take care Of you"
Again she tucked the coverings about
him. My" she said, "ain't you a fne
big young fellowT
Esterly, like child In his weakness
and semidelirium, lay quietly till the
old woman left the room. Then again
the scudding clouds caught his eye
He wondered weakly how many days
1t had been since he had come into
these Tennessee mountains to hunt.
Old Fragee had found him crazy with
fever and had brought him to his back
woods cabin, a thousand miles from
and with the insistent hos
pitalty Of their kind the old man and
his wife were nursing him in their own
primeval way. And in all this time no
water; nothing but bowlfuls Of thoro-
wort tea, black and bitter as Quinine,
and at mealtime corn cakes with more
thorowort tea.
With difficulty he turned and looked
out the door into the kitchen. Old Mrs.
Frazee was tying on her sunbonnet.
After she had finished and relighted
her pipe she came In to Esterly's bed
side and looked down at him, leisurely
putting the pipe as she felt his fore
head with hand hard and knotted as
a mans. Then, seeing that his eyes
seemed clear, she said:
I've got to 60 over to Jacksonville to
meet my girl. She's been to school in
Nashville for four years, and l haven't
sean her in that time. But now she's
home for good. I'll bring some more
this vert back. Your fever's worse
than ever. Remember, now, it's no use
for you to try to get the water. Amt
any nearer n the spring. And remem-
Der If you do drink any it'll settle
you"
Then with a motherly gesture she
smoothed the covers about his shout
ders and he heard her heavy boots
dumping out over the back stoop.
Then again he went off into deIirium,
tossed and turned and called for wa
ter. After awhile he was conscious
that the sunset was lighting up the
tops of the trees and that the clouds
were no longer white hecks. but long
steamers of purple and gold He lis
tened intently. No sound came from
the kitchen. Mrs. Frazee had not yet
returned. With a supreme effort he
threw of the bedclothes and staggered
toward the kitchen door.
'"The spring." he thought, ''the spring,
the spring. And then black mist
enveloped him and he fell.
After long time he felt himself lift
ed and put into bed. Then he heard a
woman's voice. young, soft voice,
saying:
Poor fellow, poor fellowl Heavens
mother, what airl Open the window,
father"
Then Mrs Frazee's voice protested.
mo, no. Rose; no drafts. He'll catch
cold on top of 1t all"
Then there was the sound Of a win
dow opening, and with the sound be
opened his eyes. The candle was on
the shelf, just as usual. but instead Of
burning straight upward, with long,
yellow tame. 1t spluttered and flicker
cd In a wave of air that Esterly drew
into his lungs as though he never could
stop. He looked up. Bending over him,
soft and dim In the uncertain light,
was a woman's face, with the sweet
ness and elusiveness of Madonna.
water" he gasped. The girl turned
quickly. Mother" she cried, you
surely have not been trying that worn
0ut theory"
The old woman drew up her gaunt
agure. IT'S the way was brought
raised the same way"
Here old Frazee's gruff voice broke
n: II always said it was fool Idea.
Water never hurt no one"
The girl put her hands on Esterly's
forehead. HE must have water" she
yaid
The old woman shrugged her shout
lers. "Oh, II you want to try your
notions, go on. 1 have
nothing more to say" And she walked
,ut into the kitchen, Rose and the old
nan following.
Esterly sank slowly back into his
troubled sleep. Then he heard move
nent beside the bed. Close to the pill
ows, on a chair, Rose was putting a
wooden bucket, dark and dripping with
water. She slipped one hand under his
pillow and raised his head. With the
other hand she raised to his lips
great dipper Of water
Drink" she said. And Esterly drank.
Never to his last day was he to forget
he taste of that first drink after the
ong days Of parching fever. He drank
With sobbing gulps, drank and still
frank until the girl put the dipper back
INTO the water.
Now Sleep" she said. And EsterIy
'ank into long, dreamless slumber
hat lasted until the window framed
he first glimmerlngs Of dawn; then he
lad another deep drink.
It was afternoon .trhen he woke
again, with head clear and body weak
md helpless after the run Of the fever.
Mrs. Frazee hustled in.
Rose has made you bed on the
toop, and the old man and I'll carry
'ou out there. The water busted the
ever, guess"
In few moments Esterly was lying
IN a cot that snuggled under the vines
Il the stoop. He lay and watched the
plendor Of the mountain view which
stretched down and down for miles be-
ore him. Then he looked up. The girl