The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-08-22
Chapter 50
sELF-sAcRIFIcE

sELF.sAcRlFIcE
You win meier know said
Marsha what your faith in
me. and your cring for me, means
TO me: viii always mean to mel"
Her voice broke: she saw Mrs.
Powers EYES all and she spoke
quickly. lightly. Of other matters.
Marsha's hrst thought now was for
Mrs. Powers and for that which was
good Tor her; she was learning that
lesson Of love which makes the
needs Of others ones own.
She had new eyes. and they told
her that FRS. Powers was helped by
seeing her on those sleepless nights
when pain kept vigil and that Mrs.
Powers knowing the nurse to be
awake and alert was not the same.
The fact warmed Marsha, who
felt from Il rise OF tenderness that
made her eyes sting: an almost ma.
ternal tenderness. She reflected
often and gratefully on the fact that
she Was. $50 absurdly strong" and,
aeetingly. she unused upon the
mercy OF crowded hours and the
WEAKNESS that sent her soon into
sound aud dreamless sleep.
The loss that she would know
with Mrs. Powers going. a loss that
must come 10 Marsha who had be-
fore known nothing Of gentle and
real affection. would have crippled
her had she had more time to brood
upon Il.
As { was-by day there were
trips mp erd down stairs. domestic
matters 10 attend to IN the house,
ordering 10 do. the doctor to see, be.
side the odd. intreeping extras that
took time.
snch. for Instance. was the call of
Mrs. Powers old friend. Mrs. Vim.
inE. who always stayed a round two
hours. There were checks to write
o. the family attorney might come
os the Curate or the Rector. And
a0wers must be arranged and Mrs.
Powers must be diverted. enter.
talned-and l30b's letters must be
written every two days.
Many we're the worlds for Marsha,
who had known but her own selfish
and sometimes cruel world: and
there was so much to do in each Of
them.
Day done. Marsha would creep
Into the high. black walnut bed to
sleep soundly ;or an hour. perhaps
tHa. TO wake gith eompunction and
to tumble thIekly for her elusive
slippers.
Then, q negligee around her. she
would make shiyering. stumbling
way down the passage. II the light
by Mrs. Powers bed showed a vel.
low slit beneath the door. Marsha
would blink herself to sharp wake
fulness and pash open the door.
pain. dearest?" she would ask
anxlonsly we can do no more than
80 mnch." the we; ry doctor had ad.
milted to Marsha: "the effect of
upiates wears away with this!"
She would see Mrs. Powers smile
on her. .er eyes brighten: she
w0uld hear. lust a little. dear"
CHE would settle by the bed;
- sometimes Mrs. Powers admitted
that she would have TO have "a little
pellet" and when this happened
Marsha would lrop II in a glass OF
waier The she would slip her
arms hent ath Mrs. Powers shout
asrs 10 lifi her while she drank.
After that she would sit down by
he bed to walt. watch and hope: to
hope so fully. so fervently. that she
vas often drained by the energy she
Gave to hope.
please. pleased" she petitioned
silently Of that vague something
that was drawing closer and grow.
les warm Cor Marsha: "Please keep
pain from her!"
"ioH'll set cold. DEAR" Mrs. Pow.
sFs would murmur.
Marsha would answer with con-
FlncinT. I'm quite warm" fire.
lasaily when her hands were stiff.
iened ~ the cold and she had to
SET her teeth to keep them from
SCATTERING.
~will you. just to crafty me.
wrap that comforter around you?"
u you like. but I'm not cold. Is 1t
any better. dear?"
4 think So"
And then again. she'd sit back to
wait. Il vas at such times that she
felt oddly close to Bob; quite as IL
bic strength sustained her. as II his
lore encompassed Ier. as IL every
thlag were well between them, and
as II he cared.