The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1905-10-18
The Cup of
w aGGlo
By HONORE WlLLSlE
Copyright, l,c5, by Ruby Douglas

hess and of the cooking of bacon and
corn cake In the adjoining kitchen.
Outside. through the tightly closed
window, he could see slrcds Of white
clouds scuddinE 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 tWgl scratched
| against the blue. but now, as he tossed
in the misery of his fever. not even the
scud of the clouds mattercd He want
ed water Just n drink II single half
cup, Just Il 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. Fra2ec 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.
stranger, but If only you would send
FOR doctor! And, for heavens sake.
just II little watcr!'
The old woman looked nj EStcrly
With all the horror In her face that the
suggestion of II physician brings TO II
hnckwoodsman. LAWS" she said, ITS
thirty miles TO II doctor, and We'll have
nj Inv ~
get here! You have nothing but II 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 mint you fine
big young fellow
Estcrly, like child In his weakness
and scmldellrlum, lay quietly till the
old woman left the room Then again
the scuddlng clouds caught his eye.
He wondered weakly how many days
II had been since he had come into
| these Tennessee mountains Ia hunt.
| Old FrnZce had found him crazy with
fever and had brought him 10 his back
woods cabin, thousand miles from
anywhere and with the insstent hos
HltdlllN ol IttlI hiDt lnt Olil llliH ullu
his wife We're nursing him In their own
prlmeval way. And In all this tim" no
water; nothing but bowlfuls of thoro
wort tea, black and bitter rs quInine,
and Mt mcaltime corn cakes with more
thOrU ,yu,.t tea.
With difficulty he turned and looked
out the door into the Kitchen. Old Mrs.
II
| after she had finished and relightcd
her pipe she came In to Estcrly's bed
side and looked down mt him, lelsurcly
putting the pipe rs she felt his fore
head with hand hard and knotted as
n mans Then, seeing that his eyes
seemed clear, she said:
"Tve got to go over TO Jacksonville to
meet my girl. She's been 10 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 back. Your fepcr's worse
than ever. Remember, now, it's NJ use
for you TO try to get the water Amt
any nearer n the spring. And rcncm-
Der If you do drink any itll settle
you"
Then with mothcrly gesture she
smoothcd the covers about his shout
ders and he heard her heavy boots
| dumping out over the back stoop.
Then ngaln he went off into delirlum,
| tossed and turned and called for wa
| ter. After awhile he was conscious
| that the sunset was lighting MP the
81. Al. L.
were no longer white flccks, but long
streamers of purple and gold He lis
tened intrntly. No sound came from
the kitchen Mrs. Frazec had not yet
returned. With n supreme effort he
threw off the bcdclothes and staggered
toward the kitchen door.
"1'hc spring." he thought, the spring,
the spring. And then a blnck mist
enyeloped him and he fell
After long time he felt himself lift
ed and put into bed. Then he heard Il
woman's voice, a young, soft voice,
saying:
poor fellow, poor fellow! Heavens
mother, what air! Open the window
father"
Then Mrs. Frazec's voice protested
mo, no, Rose; no drafts. Hell catch
cold on top Of 1t all.
Then there was the sound of win
dow opening, and with the sound he
opened his eyes The candle was on
The shelf just ns usual, but instead of
burning straight upward. with long
yellow flame, It spluttcrcd and flicker
o 4 F.-t.. Il
into his lungs rs though he never could
stop. He looked up Bending over him,
! soft and dim I'm the uncertain light,
was Il woman's face, with the sweet
ness and eluslyeness Of Madonna.
water" he gaspcd. The girl turned
quickly. Mother" she cried, you
surely have not been trying that worn
out theory"
The old woman drew UP her gaunt
figure. It's the way was brought
up. Every one on the mountain was
raised the same way"
Here old FraZees grufl voice broke
In: II always said It was II fool idea.
Water never hurt no one"
The girl put her hands on Esterly's
f1t must luNF W At'lt Nii'
gaid
The old woman shrugged her shout
ders. oh II you want to try your
highfalutln notions. 60 on. ] have
nothing more to say" And she walked
out into the kitchen, Rose and the old
man following.
Esterly sank slowly back into his
troubled sleep. Then he heard move
ment beside the bed. Close 10 the pill
lows, on chair, Rose was putting Il
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 dlpper of water.
Drink" she said. And Estcrly drank.
| Never to his last day was he to forget
the taste of that first drink after the