A Day of Fate
sense that it was my body only that was weak and exhausted by disease, for my mind seemed singularly elastic, and I felt as if the weight of years an
ouquet, that, for some reason, suggested Adah. "It's very pretty," I thought, "but it lacks the dainty, refined quality of the
ore very long a musical laugh that thrilled every nerve with delight
he entreated me to live. Reuben's words suggested that she was depressed while I was in danger, and buoyant after the crisis had passed. That she feels as I do I cannot yet hope. But what the mischief do she and Adah mean by saying that
y the entrance of Mrs. Yocomb with a
always welcome; and that bowl is
way. "I'll kill for you a young gobbler that Emily Warren think
already devoted to Miss Warren's Thanksgiving dinner.
and Mr. Yocomb cast a quick
point, and then all comes to a full stop.
o have father tell thee what thee said when out of thy mind from fever. I c
ery suddenly. One thing is clear: you are the kindest p
we didn't turn thee out of doors or
t to become very ill, and I started off in the dark and never stopped till I reached the shelter of Mrs. Yocom
rotested Mr. Yocomb, as
n on editors: I mak
d not expect to be treated one hundred
editors or otherwise. Th
l as if I had made too rich a
had thy turn, and mus
fast and his medicine.
nurse in town, and betw
family I have a
on a rueful look. "I do it, thee knows, to set the children an example.
d with emphasis, and I imagine that Mrs. Yocomb gave
nues to improve so nicely, we can move thee
"Mr. Yocomb, they are spoiling me. I feel like a great petted boy, and beh
ner. Keep on-keep on," and his geni
lah flitted in and out with h
at thee, but I mustn't
hanging on her arm, brought me a dain
em for thee," she said,
. "I fear my memory is playing me sad tric
es thee t
color has got i
ike them-the stra
d, "I like both. I don't see ho
ity pallor best," she r
trawberry came into my face, for she
sewing and sit here by the door for a while. Call me if
to have me stay?"
I eat these strawberries? I've d
ys so, and thee'll pro
tle, and her words had much of their old directness and simplicity; but the former flippancy and coloring of small vanity was absent. Her simple morning costume was scrupulously neat, and quite as becoming as the Sunday muslin which
ed very much," I thought, "and
uestion or two. "Surely the little girl would not have don
ged, Miss Adah. What
uestion, and did not answer for a
says, it's time I
kes you now as she
ily Warren best-s
ren differently from the way in which she just looked at yo
t think a
urself as much as you did. Perhaps
lf at all any more," and
ith Mrs. Yocomb, and Ad
rapid convalescence, and giving a medicine that
Reuben quietly busy at his carving, dozed again in a delicious, dreamy r
may I c
be stone dead before I could be unmoved by thos
exclaimed; "and you ha
mily. Would thee mind staying with Richard for a little while? I wa
e for a time, and will
needs a
the rosebuds. They were taken away this morning; but I had them brought back and placed here where I could touch them.
nd colored slightly, bu
a poor nurse if I le
romise to listen as l
on an agreea
ame to life. It seems as if I had been dead, and I can't recall a thing tha
g very bad. Mr. Morton, you can't realize how gl
I would like to think that you are very glad. Do
ed, looking away, with somet
ed to become a part of the sunshine that was shimmering on the elm-leaves that swayed to and fro before my window
t it's empty, and the q
mouth and swallow' are
arden all day long. The
h young life, unshadowed
l always keep you young at heart. I can't imagine yo
rton," she said, with a trace
was a characteristic of
d, smoothing her brow as if this were an excuse for
if I did, it would seem impossible to be conventional in this house. Am I not the most singularly fortunate man that ever existed? Like a fool I had broken my
ng to herself; "so strange that I cannot understand it. Life is
yle," I said, laughing. "My only dread is getting out of the
hall all leave you
have done t
she asked, with her brow slightly knitte
I'm tempted to think it is
aid a great deal
you playing Chopin's nocturne as distinctly as I see you now. Do you know that I had the fancy that the cluster
ul. I hope you will grow mo
ught me slightly in
you would see things just as
t as they seem to me. Perhaps I
ful. If you don't improve in this respect, you'll have to take a course in
e garden, and you were to invite me into the arb
ill pull up t
t show me which
e out into a low laugh at this reminiscence, and said: "Afte
est. "A most important exception," she responded, her old troubled look coming back. "But you are talking
. You are doing me good every moment, and it's
our editorial friends must think a great deal of you, or else you are valuable to them, for your chief writes to Mr. Yoc
e's faith in human nature. I didn't know wheth
" she said r
after your words. Indeed I imagine that you were the only reason I did live. It was your
eagerly, and a rich glow of
had a subtle power over
ist, and don
now," she s
reated. "I've a mess
resolutely n
her-why is it gettin
shower," and she glanced app
look on your face bef
essage for M
anger the other day. Then Adah and-pardon me-you also used expressions which puzzle me very much. I can't understand how I became ill so suddenly. I was feeling superbly that Sunday evening, and then everything be
to tell when Mrs. Yocomb hasn't
augh isn't natural. I never heard you
s the window, and the girl gave an
rough my mind. In strong and momentary excitement I rose on my
, in a low, distressed voice, and she cam
and I sank back faint and crushed. "I had no ri
Mor
oo weak to be a man, and I
et well-you pro
low, bitter tone. "Wh
d-b
blight my life?" she as
blame f
vitable. Curses on a world in
If this should go against you-if you wi
ke the whole comfort of that truth. Nor was I either. That Sunday was the day of my fate, since for me to see you was to love you by
s, "you saved this home; you saved Mrs. Yocomb's
aned. "All would then have been
. "I can't-oh, I can't endure this!" she m
I shall be like a planet hereafter. The little happiness I have will be but a pale reflection of yours. If you are unhappy, I shall be so inevitably. Not a shadow of blame rests on you-the first fair woman was not truer than you. I'll do my
ill-so changed-
ed my life," she breathed softly; but as she
b," she sobbed,
could not h
ot-it came to h
lame for anything-only myself. Please keep my secret; it sh
ard M
e time. I'm too sorely wo
stances," she said, firmly, "and it is your first and
nything that will make me strong, so that I may keep my word
and with thee, as if thee were my own son. But I wish thee to rem