Hilda's Mascot Part 9

"No," replied Diana sadly. "Mr. Merryman's errand boy, Perry, pa.s.sed just now on his way from the postoffice. I ran out and asked him if he had a letter for you, but there was none. I hoped you would not ask until you had taken your tea."

"Oh, Diana, two letters unanswered! Sister Sarah is surely ill or she would write to me, whether she had received my letters or not. I know that she has much on her mind with the care of her two boys and the farming, and Ohio is some distance from here, but the reply to even my last letter has had time to reach me."

"Yes, there has been time," agreed Diana sympathizingly.

"She and my brother Herbert were opposed to my marriage to Mr. Ashley, but they were always loving and kind. They wrote affectionate letters to me as soon as they received my letter telling them that my husband had fallen in battle, and Sarah offered me a home with her, and said to bring Hilda. She was glad that I intended adopting her as my own, and said she would be much company for me."

"Yes, anyone would think so," agreed Diana as she drew a stand to the bedside and arranged the toast and tea upon it.

"I do not wish any tea, Diana. I had so hoped for a letter. Surely Sarah must write and give me the comfort of knowing that she will take Hilda when I am gone!"

"I am sure she will; we must give her time," answered Diana, soothingly.

"But Sarah is always prompt; a n.o.ble, active, Christian woman. There is no one on earth that I can look to but her, to train Hilda as she should be trained. Oh, if she would but write and give me the a.s.surance! but I fear that Mr. Courtney did not tell her in the letter he wrote for me how ill I am;" and tears of anxiety and longing filled her beautiful eyes.

"Mr. Courtney said he would state the case exactly as it is, and ministers should do as they promise."

"Yes, Diana, so should we all; but you remember my heart troubled me so little that day that I fear he was deceived. You said yourself that I was the picture of health with my bright eyes, the flush upon my cheeks and lips, and my natural appearance in every way. Oh, I fear he gave Sarah the impression that there was no need of haste!"

"But you told him there was; he would be guided by what you said and not by how you looked."

"I believe that Dr. Lattinger is also deceived by my appearance, but I knew when I took ill that I would not get well, and if it were not for my anxiety in regard to Hilda I would be glad to go. Heaven seems very near to me; I have so many loved ones there, so few on earth."

"I was thinking, ma'am," remarked Diana, "that maybe your sister is coming, and that is the reason she does not write."

A gleam of joy illumined Mrs. Ashley's face, and she partly arose and stretched out her arms as if to welcome her.

"Oh, Diana," she whispered, sinking back upon the pillow, "that would be such a happy thing; G.o.d grant that it may be so!"

"You say that she is prompt in her ways; she may not have waited to write, knowing that she could reach here as quickly as could a letter,"

she said comfortingly.

"Yes, Diana," smiled Mrs. Ashley, "that is the reason she does not write. She is coming! Dear heavenly Father," she continued, putting her small white hand upon the head of Hilda, "grant my heartfelt pet.i.tion that this loved child be a consistent Christian, and may her home and that of Sarah Warfield be one and the same."

Cheered by this hope and trust, Mrs. Ashley partook of the toast and tea with relish, and laid her head again upon the pillow with the smiling, happy expression of one who had never known pain or trial, causing Diana to again wonder that the week's illness had made no change in her beauty.

"I feel so much better, Diana," she said cheerfully. "Do you and Hilda go and take your tea together; do not mind leaving me alone. I have pleasant thoughts to keep me company. I shall see my sister-Sarah-Warfield-in the-morning."

The kitchen where the supper was prepared looked very bright and cheery to the little girl and the light tea biscuits, sweet b.u.t.ter and honey were delicious to her taste. She enjoyed the meal, then fell asleep in the chair where Diana let her remain until all was put in order for the night, then prepared her for rest and laid her beside Mrs. Ashley, who appeared to be in a sweet sleep.

Her own cot was in an opposite corner of the room, and after fastening the outer door she lighted the night lamp, shading it from the sick bed, then, as was her custom, lay down without removing her clothing that she might be ready at any minute to wait upon the invalid.

She had, she thought, scarcely slept, when she was waked by a rap upon the outer door of the kitchen, and arose quickly that Mrs. Ashley might not be disturbed by a second knock.

What was her astonishment on opening the door to see the eastern horizon tinged with a ruddy glow, betokening sunrise!

"How is Mrs. Ashley this morning?" asked Dr. Lattinger as he stepped over the sill.

"She must have slept all night; I did not hear her speak or stir,"

replied Diana in bewilderment.

The doctor made no remark, but pa.s.sed quickly through to the other room, followed by Diana bearing the lighted lamp.

"She has been dead several hours," he said, taking the lifeless hand in his.

"Oh, doctor, do not think I neglected her!" exclaimed Diana, with blanched face and trembling with grief and excitement. "She was so much better last evening and ate a slice of toast and drank a cup of tea. Oh, how I wish now I had not lain down!"

"You were worn out with watching and should not have been left alone,"

said Dr. Lattinger kindly.

"Any of the neighbors would have come had I asked it. I did not have an idea that anyone was needed."

"Who would you like to have with you? I will call any place you specify.

In the meantime it would be better to remove the little girl to the cot, that she may not know when first waking that her aunt is gone."

"I will, doctor; and if you are going out upon your rounds please call at 'Friedenheim' and ask Mrs. Courtney to come. Mrs. Ashley admired her, and said she reminded her of her sister, Mrs. Warfield."

"I am on my way home and have just pa.s.sed 'Friedenheim;' but it will be no trouble to drive back and tell Mrs. Courtney, and I hope she can come."

Dr. Lattinger left and Diana removed Hilda to the cot, then sat by the bedside of Mrs. Ashley and wept without restraint.

It took but a few minutes for the doctor to reach the lane gate that led to the main entrance of "Friedenheim."

His ring of the door bell was answered by Mose, who informed him that Mrs. Courtney was suffering with sick headache and was unable to go.

Disappointed, Dr. Lattinger turned away and in a few minutes reached home, where he sat down to breakfast, weary and listless, having been all night beside a sick bed.

"Diana Strong needs someone to a.s.sist her this morning," he said, when a good cup of coffee had refreshed him. "Mrs. Ashley died during the night and Diana is there alone. I called at 'Friedenheim' to ask Mrs. Courtney to go, but she is in bed with one of her attacks of sick headache, and it is impossible for her to give aid."

"Of course, Diana feels the responsibility," rejoined Mrs. Lattinger.

"Mrs. Ashley had no relatives and her reserved disposition prevented her making acquaintances. 'My Lady's Manor' was the only place she visited, and after Anna Ashburton left it she had not one whom she could call a friend. I wonder why Diana selected Mrs. Courtney?"

"She said that Mrs. Ashley admired her greatly, and said she reminded her of her sister, Mrs. Warfield."

"I doubt, however, if Mrs. Courtney could have done what will be required. A burial robe will have to be made unless Diana sends to Baltimore for one."

"I think she is at a loss to know what to do. Perhaps you can go down and advise her. She is depending upon me to send someone."

"I cannot possibly go from home to-day, for I have invited Mrs. Merryman and Mrs. Watkins to luncheon, and Jerusha Flint is coming this morning to cut and fit a dress for me, and if I disappoint her she would take pleasure in refusing to come another day."

"If she can make burial dresses perhaps she would go and help Diana."

"No one could be of more help than Jerusha in every way, if she will go.

And I will be glad to postpone my work until another day."

"Well, see that someone goes," said the doctor, as he arose and went to his office, and at that moment a light, brisk step was heard upon the porch, followed by a sharp peal of the bell.

"There she is now," thought Mrs. Lattinger, as she arose to admit Jerusha. "I will tell her before she lays aside her bonnet."