A Day of Fate
ires," were the reassuring words that greeted my waking later in the eve
d my kind hostess, an
you are, Mrs. Yocomb; but don't let me make
ng trouble. The more we can do for thee the better we shall be pleas
e you. How long
thing at a time. The doctor has put thee in
ere perfect bears when
it, but not another word to-night-not a
g will bring you around in time. You've had a narrow graze of it, but
nd darkened the room. But it was not so dark
ren," I e
ocomb quietly; "she's been
ied eagerly. "Mother, may I speak to Richard Morton?"
if I disobey you this once," I interrupted h
ld out my hand to her. I wondered why h
never thank thee enough. Oh, I feared
n't say another word; R
er mine. "Good-by," she br
ith her knitting by a
dark foliage wave to and fro, and the leaves grow distinct in the light of the rising moon, which, though hidden, I knew must be above the eastern mountains. I had the vague impress
ct peace and restfulness. The past is forgotten, the future a blank, and I see only
ul, Richard. The doctor
exquisite rest and oblivion could last, I am like a ship becalmed o
en spring up and carry thee homeward. Fear not even rough winds, if t
g to sit up to-ni
r finger o
!" sh
d. "The ideal government is that o
mething from Mrs. Yocomb's hand, and then sinking back into an enthrallment of b
ning my eyes, I looked intently through the open, window and gladly welcomed the early day. The air was fresh, and I felt its exhilarating quality. The drooping branches of the e
t content with which I had watched the foliage grow distinct in th
r wistfulness. "Can I do anything for thee, Richard Morton?" she asked, rising from her chair near the
r young, beautiful face comported so well with the early morning of the summer day as to greatly p
to go away, but I must go and
hing so strangely! I feel as if I had known you all a long time, and ye
wer questions. She says thee knows thee's been sick and thee know
eep and the good things your mother h
't know how to take care of thyself, and that thee'll use
going to take
pleases. I'l
ad. I shall have so nice a time getting w
ng as thee'll let me, for no
going to help me to get well, and will come to my room daily with a fa
ks I look well. They are all saying I look pale and am growing thin, but i
ght once more. I have the strangest sense of not knowing what I ought to know well. You and your kind father and mother brought me hom
r a walk," said the
gue sense of trouble-of something wrong. I tried to raise my hand to my brow, as if to
rren was singing. Your mother spoke-would that I might hear her again!-it
ocomb reproachfully. "Thee was
d out; I know that something happened the other evening when you spoke so beautifully
esn't thee believe
ed be a total blank
depends on quiet? Thee can scarcely lift thy hand to thy head; thy words are slow and feeble. Can't thee realize that it is thy sa
ugh, but I felt almos
rust thee as a nurse,"
my fault," I whispered. "I'll be very
what I have prepared, and th
concerned; you haven't done me a bit of harm. You
been for the
warning finger, and
s Warren this morning?
st sleep
else sleep was the remedy that Nature instinctively grasp
to take stimulants and nourishment. The heat and glare of the summer day had passed. This I could perceive even through the half-closed window-blinds. At first I thought mysel
I laughed, "so you
od, Richard Morton?"
ope
as soon as thee really
ent, and tell m
n't tell thee anyth
going to
med the boy, i
of me that I am going to play sick the rest of
with me. He'll put life into thee-never fear. When I get hold of the reins he fairly makes my hands tingl
en? Is she never
o the village this morning, and she had almost as much spirit and life as Dapple. She's a jolly good girl. I like her. We're all so glad t
alking," said Mrs
re the most amiable and beneficent dr
ee's into mischief, and the young people are just as
xclaimed; "she'll do m
ease her wonderfully. Go away, Reuben, and tell Zillah to brin
ll. I'm ashamed to
od sign-a ve
by the oddest sense of not remembering something th
k-thee knows that. Then thee had been overwork
fted into this quiet harbor before the st
ave another bad turn. I hope, however, that thee'll be too
ocomb, and-and-Miss
till I said he could come; but he's so hearty-l
ke also? It seems to me her lau
mummy, so she can't
g a general sense of comfort and refreshment. Now she lifted my head on her str
tle fellow. I've taken care of myself ever since. You can have no idea ho
ee now; but thee mustn't say anything more;"
oftly, "I should ha
nting-house could take care of the
I must have bee
better every way after a good fit of sickness. I believe the Good Physician will give His healing touch
both hands, she en
aited on right royally. I'm going to drink that broth to your health, as if you were a great lady. It will do me mo
er with pleasure as she
" she cried. "Thee talks queer, but n
mother checked her, and she
ard has taken this I'm not going
Zillah?" I asked, smiling into h
gerly and mos
a chair and g
ing look at her mother,
ell them all that you did me more good than the
she whispered, "something that Emily Warren g
nce by the perfume of an exquisite cluster of rosebuds arr
e by Richard, and then th
, will make me well. Tell Miss Warren that I am going to thank her myself. Good-by n
the young people out of thy room. Reuben asks a dozen times a day if he can see thee, and father's
had stood there together, grew so vivid that I saw her again almost in reality, her face glowing with the undisguised, irrepressible pleasure that had been caused by my unexpected tribute to the absolute truthfulness of her character. Again I heard her piquant laugh; then h
o myself. "At any rate I see no Y
t thee gazes so long and intently
ill sufficient blood to
to me that Miss Warren had grown there too, she was so like them; and that this imp
gravely, and her eyes rested on me in a questioning and sympathe
ffort on her part, she won my absolute trust. This at first greatly surprised me, for I regret to say that my calling has made me di
s my companion
e a vague, tormenting impression that something occurred which I cannot recall. The la
e effects of the fever in thy system before thee or any of us knew what was the matter. Thy mind soon wande
uch a stranger! But Miss Adah made refere
"I'll ask Adah," she said, gravely. "It'
words had been, for I remembered nothing more disti