Dr. Lavendar's People

dows had been left open after Mary had been taken away, so that the room was cold; and there were still two chairs facing each other,-a certain distance apart.

back of his trembling hand across his nose. Algy had had broken nights for a fortnight, and the last three days and nights of Mary's life he had almost no sleep at all; these two days when she lay

good girl. And her folks treated her bad. They'd always treated her mean bad. My goodness! if they'd 'a' let me come to see her respectable, as you would any of your lady friends, 'stead of skulkin'

he old friendship for Mary. Mrs. King sent them. She's

ood wife, sir, too. I tell you, you never saw a better wife. I used to come home tired, and there'd be my slippers out for

. Lavendar

r, I loved Mary"-he stopped and cried, openly-"I loved her (I didn't need that hell-hound of a brother to come after me)-ye

aid Dr.

asant. It isn't every woman tha

isn't,

t she was pleasant. Course I don't mean she was lively. She used to remember-well, that we'd made a mistake. You know? And she used to kind a brood on it. She talked to you con

me to know her Saviour

s," the poor husband said, with tearful r

have got to remember that they might have been

d. "I hope they'll

said Dr. Lave

r. The man wanted me to take a plated one. I says 'no,' I says; 'I don't get plated things for my wife if it takes my las

place, Algernon," the old minister

he other broke out, angrily. "I gues

e

d, resentfully; "what'

ndar was

I could 'a' got a cheaper coffin; but I wouldn't. As for the doctor, I got the best in town. I don't believe in economizing on your wife. And I paid him. I paid him $204 yesterday morning, though it seems high, considering he didn't cure her. But I wasn't going to let Mary get buried owing the doctor. And I paid for the coffin. 'Spot cash,' I says to the

against the wall and brought the other to Algy's sid