Gratia's Trials — page 16: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

GRATIA’S TRIALS. q burning in the sick-room, and Gratia could just see a death- white face tossing to and fro ina sea of pillows, and catch the low, monotonous sound of a moaning voice. ‘“Mamma !” she cried, catching her breath with a quick gasp. ‘*Gratia, my child !” The gladness of those tones ; the sudden brightening of the face ; the hands groping: wildly about, as if for the warm clasp of her fingers; Gratia Kempfidld never forgot those things while she lived. It was but for a second, however, and then Almira Bassett, flinging to the ground the cup of water she carried, rushed forward and thrust Gratia by main force out of the room. ‘*Child, are you crazy?” she shrieked, her own face nearly as _white as that of the sick woman. ‘‘Ira Kempfield !” she con- tinued, as the astonished farmer came forward in a lumbering sort of way, ‘‘ I swear to you that if ever this happens again _ I will leave your house within half an hour.” ‘‘It’s my mother !” gasped Gratia, struggling to escape from Miss Bassett’s wonderfully strong grasp. ‘*‘ Who should be by her bedside, if not 1? I wz?/ go to her!” Almira’s eyes blazed defiance. ‘‘Tra Kempfield,” she panted, ‘‘decide between us, Am J to nurse your wife, or is Gratia ?” ‘¢T believe the gal is out of her head,” said Farmer Kemp- field, beginning gradually to comprehend the exigencies of the case. ‘‘Gratia, go about your business, and don't let this ’ere be repeated, or I'll know the reason why. I’m ashamed o’ you, arter all Cousin Almira’s kindness. Ask her forgiveness this instant.”’ ‘<T will not,” uttered Gratia, in low, husky tones. Mr. Kempfield seized his daughter's arm, as if he would have shaken the demandéd words out of her firmly set lips ; but Miss Bassett interfered, smiling and sweet-voiced asain as ever. ‘‘ Don’t be hard on the child, Cousin Ira. I really shouldn't have spoken quite so sharply myself, only you see it was running Comicboo (ee) =)