er
the apple boughs where she could reach a wild strawberry herself. Why,
she hedn't ben off'n the porch sence he went away two years ago. But
every day he stayed she got brighter. The last day 'fore he left she
seemed like she wasn't sick at all. She wanted to get up early, an' she
wouldn't take no nap, 'cause she said she couldn't waste a minute of the
last day. Well, she actu'lly got on her feet oncet an' made him walk her
crost the porch. She hedn't ben on her feet fer more'n a minute fer ten
months, an' 'twas more'n she could stan'. She was jest as bright an'
happy all thet day, an' when he went 'way she waved her hand as happy
like an' smiled an' said she was glad to be able to send him back to his
work. But she never said a word about his comin' back. He kep' sayin' he
would come back next spring, but she only smiled, an' tole him he might
not be able to leave his work, an' 'twas all right. She wanted him to be
faithful.

"Well, he went, an' the coach hedn't no more'n got down the hill an' up
again an' out o' sight behind the bridge 'fore she calls to me an' she
says, ''Meelia Ellen, I believe I'm tired with all the goin's on there's
been, an' if you don't mind I think I'll take a nap.' So I helps her
into her room and fixes her into her night things an' thur she's laid
ever since, an' it's six whole weeks ef it's a day. Every mornin' fer a
spell I'd go in an' say, 'Ain't you ready fer me to fix you fer the day,
Mis' Brownleigh?' An' she'd jest smile an' say, 'Well, I b'leeve not
just now, 'Meelia Ellen. I think I'll just rest to-day yet. Maybe I'll
feel stronger to-morrow'; but to-morrow never comes, an' it's my
thinkin' she'll never git up agin."

The tears were streaming down the good woman's cheeks now and Hazel's
eyes were bright with tears too. She had noticed the transparency of the
delicate flesh, the frailness of the wrinkled hands. The woman's words
brought conviction to her heart also.

"What does the doctor say?" she asked, catching at a hope.

"Well, he ain't much fer talk," said Amelia Ellen lifting her
tear-stained face from her gingham apron where it had been bowed. "It
seems like them two hev just got a secret between 'em thet they won't
say nothin' 'bout it. Seems like he understands, and knows she don't
want folks to talk about it nor worry 'bout her."

"But her son----" faltered Hazel. "He ought to be told!"

"Yes, but 'tain't no use; she won't let yeh. I ast her oncet didn't she
want m