The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-07-03
A DUSKY -DIPL0MATIST.

IL FL
old-fashoned Jar on the dining-room table smiled
on the old negress commiseratingly
We don't find it quite as roomy as the old
place In Virginia, do we, Aunt Debbie? But after
the mortgage was foreclosed-Lesleys civil-service
appointment was godsend. / don't know how the
child ever got the idea of standing civi-service
examination. She always was a queer child
though Mrs. Blair sighed as if the matter was
beyond her comprehension, and followed her char.
aeteristic tendency to avoid troublesome thought
Aunt Debbie beat the batter for her cake ener-
getically.
Miss Lesley-she's every bit quality-every bit
SAINT angel, she said, bristling at any idea dis
parag1ng to her nursing. 'Dey's never been pur-
tier child, young lady neither than little Miss
I'm de Idly of ma chile wurkin' for her bread Jest
can't seem to stomach it." She beat the substance
In the yellow bowl viciously "'Ain't lack her ma
and her grandma done befoah her. Dey had close
and parties, and married de best catches in de
country. What chanst has lite Missile to make
fine marriage, | wanter know? Goes to work evvy
mornin' at nine. De Lawd knows useter les be
carryin' her mas and her grandmas coffee to they
beds at nine En- hows she a-goin' to meet any
senators and presidents and things to get a chanst
to marry"
The old nanny beat away as if she had fate in
the yellow bowl and intended to render it harm
less
1T worries me dreadfully, Aunt Deb" Mrs.
Blair finished the dahlias and stood off to admire
them at seems preposterous to think that daugh-
ter of mine should ever be old maid. We've
been here year, though-and Lesley hasn't become
acquainted with single man of desirable calling
acquaintance. 1t would have been SO different if
her poor father had lived"
"Or if he hednt gambled away and drunk UP
all his money foah he died." muttered the old
under her breath
Mrs Blair sat down in the Morris chair and
took her embroidery from the ancient mahogany
sewing table
well I'm doing all cam insisted on rent
ing this fiat in fashionable neighborhood but the
house is filled with young married couples that I've
never met. ! don't believe there's more than one
eligible in the building, and we've never met
him.
Huh, Who is hez" demanded Aunt Debbe,
seeming a prospect for matchmaking with as much
eagerness as if she had been of French instead Of
African ancestry.
Its that young doctor in the first floor front.
He seems to have all the swell automobiles and car
riages in town stop at the door. But no matter
how desirable acquaintance he might be-we
don't know anyone to make the necessary introduc-
tion-and we are never sick" The mistress laughed
at the old woman's falling expression.
Il seen him look at Miss Lesley, anyhow, when
we passed him in the hall! Huh! it's enough to
make anyone sick to live in a ole bandbox of
fiat" said Aunt Deb, dolefuly.
DR.. Fenton came in very late that night and was
smoking a final cigar when his telephone rang.
please come up TO Apartment No 34-quick-
it's fainting flor something dreadful" said
girls excited voice.
When he reached the door of the apartment
the girl with red blonde hair-the same girl he had
often noticed in the hall-met him at the door Her
face was still flushed with sleep-but her eyes were
dilated with anxiety as she wrapped the folds of
her blue kimono around her slender figure and led
the way toward the little back bedroom.
Its my old colored NANNY" she said, breath
lessly 81 never knew her to be sick beforehand
I'm afraid it's apoplexy or heart trouble some
thing. If nanny we're to die-we would be abso- 5
lutely helpless"
Dr. Fenton noted his patients pulse and listened
to her heart then looked at Mrs. Blair in puzzled
Her hearts all right-rather unusually strong.
Has she been eating anything that might give her
acute indigestionW
I'm sure 1 don't know" said Mrs. Blair, help
less. i was asleep when she called me-and she
groaned several times, then became absolutely I'M
conscious"
atmosphere suspiciousy.
''No-indeedp' said the girl, Indignantly
NANNY never was intoxicated in her life. spilled
that on her trying to force some down her throat"
The doctor, after several minutes work finally
held some strong ammonia to his patients
trils and she opened her eyes.
Take dat dar stuff away she said, Indignantly,
do YOU want to kill me jes' couse Use wuthles
old niggerP
"Tbere. there [ guess you are not dead yet.
T+'s sign of a good constitution when they re-
cover and begin fussing and Tuning. Shows they
have grit enough to pull thro all right. Where do
you feel bad, auntie e
I'm ma head and back, and laigs and
awful misery in ma stomach. | reckon I'm mos
done for and she groaned in self pity.
"Iin going to give you powder that will stop
All the misery auntie. You must stay in bed to-
morrow and I'll come in and see how things are
goinr with YOU. | expect you have taken cold and
have neuralgia and cramp. You'll be busting
around as lively as anybody in few days
n1,,rob n death" and the old negress whimpered.
p''t One night long after Aunt Deb's recovery DR..
rerton sat IN the tiny parlor of Mrs. Bairs apart
rnent, and casual observer might have thought ne
was noting Jesley's pulse.
4he building for whole year before had an oppor-