Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1906-10-04

Frankly, uncle, was deeply in
terested-too much so for my own
peace of mind"
What can he mean? He was al
ways coolly polite-nothing more. II
he had not seemed so Indifferent
But again the Judge is talking:
81 am quite surprised. But she is
a very charming girl. l am sorry she
could not reciprocate."
Oh, want to 90 homei But l
must stu keep behind them. And |
never got chance to reciprocate or
refuse. II he had only spoken! But
what Is he saying now?
"Don't misunderstood me, please.
never preached the subject to her.
She is wealthy, and | have only q
bare competence.
''But there Is the hsusa, and who Is
that old woman at the gate?"
It is old Nanny Sue, my mothers
naio and nurse. She fairly idolizes
me. She is leaning on her stick and
the tears roll down her wrlnkled face.
The two men look at one another and
hesitate a moment. The judge asks
how Miss Brandon isis there any
improvement?
"Oh, gentlemen, she's gone! MY
Ill Miss Bella is daid an gone"
Willis Vernon turns deadly pale
and clutches the judges arm. / lay
my hand on Nanny Sues shoulder
and give her G. little shake.
Nanny, wake up-youre dream
ing! Your Miss Bella is here-she
isn't dead!"
But for the first time in her life
she does not notice me, but sobs as II
heart-broken. Then she goes on
"She fall sleep bout an hour ago.
an de nuss went to supper. When
she got back she was gone-oh. my
lamb, my lamb"
Willis Vernon groans: "Oh, my
lamb! Oh, my bonnie Belief"
The judge asks: is the DOCTOR
here? He passed us on the road.
"Yas, sab; two doctahs an de nuss
am wukkin' ober her. But she'll neD-
Der open he sweet eyes no noah. On
my own Miss Bella-my lamb, my
lamb"
Once more l speak to her. pass
between her and the men. But she
only sobs and wrings her hands. Can
it be that she does not see me-that
none of them see me? Is 1t possible
she is right, and L
/ run toward the house. 1 glide
through the open door and hasten TO
my sick room. stop short at the
threshold and look in. Something
holds me; l cannot cross the sill.
The nurse and the doctors are
bending over the bed. What is ly'
ing there? A girls body, still and
straight; the head tipped back, the
eyes half closed. The nurse Is put
ting hot-water bottles around it; one
doctor has his fingers on the wis.,
another holds a hypodermic syringe in
his right hand, while he pushes back
the loose sleeve with the left This
is surely my body lying in that bed;
but what is this standing in the door
way, with feet chained to the thresh-
old? Is this my spirit and has 1t
left my body forever? Is this, indeed
death9
The doctors look at each other; one
shakes his head, the other reflls the
syringe l will try again-no, can
not go forward. and will not go
away! How can leave this world
Just as l know my hearts desire Is
granted - that Willis Vernon loves
me?
The nurse is rubbing the feet, and
one doctor is moving the arms up
and down over the head. But still my
poor body lies motionless and my ago.
nized spirit watches their every Ell
fort-all seemingly In vain.
oh, Father in Heaven, let me stay!
Christ, the Merciful, plead for me!
Thou who hast broken the bonds OF
death, help me to live little longer!
Dear Lord, thou hast given the one
Joy craved on earth, do not snatch
it from me! God, who art Love, FOR
love Of thy dear Son, let me stay
let me stay!
Once more l struggle-the spell
holding me yields. and cross the
threshold.