The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1917-10-27

Shaky nLtle Iool mat nunS over
the Mississippi River like a delapi-
dated match box oyer a muddy poo
OF water. She was exposed to all
conditions Of weather. A crude
Gain would walk up to her desk
and hand her a beautiful branch Of
oranges that he had thoughtfully
picked from his own grove for her,
while a savage wind from the river
would blow upon her through the
door which he had failed to close
behind him. Strange people these.
Thus, it was not until the Doctor
had given up all hope Of saving her,
that Edith Grey forfeited her place
to a roster, healthier girl, Con-
SUMPTION! 1t is hard to die when
one has lived but twenty years.
When this hideous realization had
soaked deep into her brain, she
closed her desk and turned her face
towards Abita Springs, her last and
only hope.
In this little town, there are but
four lights along the railroad track,
and when you have looked at these,
you have seen the whole place.
Nothing lives there but the pines:
its natives merely exist in dreary
silence. Consumptives often creep
out into its wilderness for a last
snatch for life. Sometimes, they get
we'll enough to walk through the
woods for a peep at other victims;
more often, they are driven back to
the station in long wooden boxes.
There was just such a creature who
crawled out there last month, trust
ing in the everlasting pines and
everfloWing spring water. A week |
later, an old woman came into town
with a large bundle Of beautiful
clothes. Their wner had no fur
Their use for the earthly garments.
Edith Grey had been impressed
with such stories with the sole idea
of convincing her with the danger
of delay. There is a hope, if one s
willing to bury oneself out there
with the very first signs Of the dis
ease. II mi is strong Of mind, if
not Of lungs, he will snatch this
only chance. Consumption never
There is nothing sluggish
in its movements. If it is allotted
duty, it performs it with tho
greatest energy. Knowing this, the
girl tried to fight bravely the bat
lie which meant her destiny. But
! gloom lurked about like the gloom
Doctors words had spread ovarI
her heart. Often, sns would crawl
1ut into the woods, where she :
would beat the trunks of the pine
rees with frantic fists and tear at
heir barks for health and recovery. ,
fore often, she would sink down f
mong their brown needles and cry
Ierself into exhaustion. |
One day, there came a man-hol- :
oW of eye, weak of voice.
I'm one Of them too,' he told
as he sank down beside her.
She laughed at him, not with bit
gladness, but because it saved
er from screaming out her own
gony. And he laughed with her,
the fact that in a few
lonths they two should be but grey
isions. Then, came the exchange
t sympathy and condolences. Slow
the girl Slapped the information
lat a hopeful young woman await
/ his return as a healthy husband
the father of a future genera
The battle he was fighting "
was two-fold, for he fought r.
IF another as well as for hiroself. b
,, day by day, she strengthened his :.
ght with her courage, while her o,
WI feet were slipping slowly back ~
ard. =,
Hours grew into days, days into
.eks, and then to beathe freer,
e sought the open country. She u
tered up to the motor track, and
aggered along its uneven ties.
When she reached the sweeping
Aries, she stumbled across the
cure of a man sitting besides the
road, a revolver resting on his
Iees. When he raised his eyes,
e walked over and took the pistol
I'M him. He made a feeble eff
It to regain it, but She shook her
ad.
Are you going to give up after
a brave fight?"
Il don't want to get we'll"
She opened her eyes very wide.
But the grip"
Just that. l shall never 20 hack
her now, never as long as YOU
d out" His voice ended in a
lrse whisper.
She looked past him to the sun.
ere 1t rested like a ball of f;ra M