Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 1.djvu/191

 THE OLD MANSION.

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��As Susie entered and approached the bed, he opened his eyes and reached forth his hand and drew the child to his side.

" My poor children," he said sadly, " what will become of you if I am taken away?"

" Oh, papa! Please let me go for a doctor. I know he would make you well," said Bessie between her sobs.

A sad smile passed over her father's face, and for several moments the silence remained unbroken except by Bessie's sobs. At length the gentleman spoke.

" Bessie, you may go to the village for a physician if you wish. Wrap yourself up warmly and return as soon as possi- ble. One kiss, dear — there, go, and God guard you."

He sank back upon the pillow and closed his eyes. Susie, at a sign from her si6tei\ took the vacant seat at his side, while Bessie glided noiselessly from the room. A surprise awaited her, for as she sped down the long stairway she saw Esther standing by the outer door.

" Why are you here? " she demanded, as Esther came forward to meet her.

" To see if I can render you any assist- ance, Bessie. Susie told me your papa was ill," returned Esther gently.

"Will you tell me where I can find a physician?" asked the girl in a subdued tone of voice.

"I will go with you, my dear," re- turned Esther, as she helped wrap the girl in a nice woolen shawl which she procured from a closet close at hand, and together they left the house and hurried onward toward the village.

When they arrived there, Esther sought Dr. Neal, an old and experienced physi- cian, and leaving Bessie in his care, has- tened to her daily task.

As the days passed on Esther occasion- ally heard from Mr. Lane by the doctor, who seemed somewhat puzzled in regard to his malady. At length, one morning, Dr. Neal met her just outside the village. As soon as he saw her, he stopped his horse and greeted her with a cheerful "good morning." He anticipated her usual question by declaring that Mr. Lane was no better, and he added :

" What is worse, Bessie, who has been

��a most indefatigable little nurse, was taken ill last night. I don't know what to think of it. We have a council of physicians, to-da} r, however, and I hope we shall discover the cause of his strange sickness. By the way, Esther, do you know of any one I could get to go there as nurse?"

" I will go, if you wish me to," she re- plied.

" But how can you leave the store? " he inquired.

"Frank can take my place for a few days or weeks, as the case may be. I will be at the mansion in two hours," said Esther, as she hurried away.

Two hours later she took her place at the bedside of Bessie. The child knew her and welcomed her warmly, but the servant, Margaret, as Bessie called her, eyed her with marked dislike. There was something about the old woman that repelled Esther at first sight, and when, that afternoon, Dr. Neal took Esther one side and told her that they had not suc- ceeded in determining the nature of the disease, her mind was made up at ouce to the effect that there was foul play somewhere, and she resolved to watch closely. She said nothing, for she knew just how much her opinion would be thought worth by the learned physicians. As time passed on, Bessie grew better daily. Not one drop of medicine had she taken, however, while Mr. Lane hourly grew worse, and at length Esther de- termined to make known her suspicions whenever the doctor paid his next visit. That evening, hearing a slight noise in Mr. Lane's room, which adjoined Bes- sie's, she cautiously approached the door and, peering through the key-hole, she saw Margaret drop a tiny powder into a glass of water, and then approach the patient, and, lifting his head from the pillow, seemed about to place the glass to his lips. Esther opened wide the door and entered the room, and approaching the woman, said quietly, " How is your patient this evening ? " At the same time she adroitly managed to knock the glass from the woman's hand.

Margaret turned upon her, her eyes blazing, her form trembling with rage and fear. Esther stood calmly before

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