The Somerset reporter., 1905-11-09
The Cup Of
w alter
By HONORE WlLLSIE

with his feYeriSh hands, tossed his
long legs about until the bedclothes
were a hopeless tangle and then lay
still The little room was deadly close
with the air that smclled of long sick
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 scuddins across the blue. For
days ii 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 tWig5 scratched
against the blue. but now. as he tossed
in the misery OF his fever. not ,syeii die
Scud of the clouds mattercd. lie want
ed water just Il drink single half
cap. just drop on his swollen tongue
Again and again he struggled 10 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.
1Ou oNiC mi bh g Az Nhlti NV
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
Il stranger, but if only you would send
for doctor! And, for heavens sake,
Just little water
The old woman looked at ESterly
with all the horror in her face that the
suggestion of physician brings to
back woodsman Laws" she said, ITS
thirty miles to a doctor and we'll have
you all cured by the time one could
get here You have nothing but n 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 fine
big young fellow"
ESterly. like a 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
it had been since he had come into
these Tennessee mountains to hunt.
Old Frazee had found him crazy with
fever and had brought him to his back
woods cabin, IA thousand miles from
anywhere and with the insistent hos
pitalitY 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, bluck 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 religated
her pipe she came in to EsterlY's bed
side and looked down ut him. leisurely
putting the pipe rs she felt his fore
head with Il la,nd hard ana knotted rs
Il 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 | haven't
seen her in that time But now she's
home for good. I'll bring some more
this vert bnck. Your fcvers worse
than ever Remember, now. it's no use
for you to try To get the water. Amt
any nearer n the spring. And renem-
Der if you do drink any it'll settle
you
Then with motherly gesture she
smoothed the covers about his shout
dcrS and he heard her heavy boots
dumping out over the back stoop
Then again he went off into delirium
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 fleckS, but long
streamers of purple and gold lie lis
tened intently. No sound came from
the kitchen. Mrs. Frazce had not yet
returned With supreme effort he
threw off the bedclothes and staggered
toward the kitchen door.
81 he spring" he thought the spring
the spring. And then uaek mist
envejoped him and he fell
After long time he felt himself lift
ed and put into bed. Then he heard
woman's voice, young, soft voice,
saying;
Poor fellow, poor fellow. heavens
mother what air, Open the window,
father"
Then Mrs. Frazce'~ voice protested.
NO. no. Rose; no drafts. IIelI eateh
,nlJ al, tn, ,C IL AN