Vashti's Fate — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

80 A GRAPPLE WITH DEATH. — _ - -_, = al Se ™ » » «# 7? —® aa < > “a2 4 Sy 6. ‘ ‘ 7 a + ‘a 4 * ; . ipo x Ry . A a ¥ < 2 Ay % 7 y were having terrible times in the sick-room, when Philip and the doctor came from it, weary and panting like men overcome with excessive fatigue. In the paroxysms of the fever, it was only by the main strength of two men and a woman that Margery was kept in her room. “She will never be better till she yields,” said Dr. Gracie. ‘‘She keeps the fever up by fighting it.” One day he came to Leon Brownlee, saying : ‘Young man, we must have help in taking care of that sick woman, and there is nobody in the house fit to go near her but you. Bryce and I are completely worn out, She is a perfect giantess, and at times as bad as a mad woman. We keep a strait-jacket on her some of the time. Will you try it?” ‘‘Certainly, if you say so; I shall be glad to be of any service. But, doctor, why don’t you have some woman to relieve Elise ?” ‘‘Because there isn’t another sensible one in the house. No, no, Elise is a jewel; she'll stand it, ’m convinced. We favor her all we can. But, Mr.—Mr. Brownlee I be- lieve your name is—you're related to Miss Gresham, I hear ?”’ ‘‘Ves, sir; she was my mother’s cousin.’ ‘‘Well, sir, as kindred of hers, I suppose you might be trusted with her life, eh ?” ‘Sir!’ exclaimed Leon, astonished at such an address. ‘‘Or something that she holds dearer than life,” con- tinued the doctor; *‘the occurrence, for instance, that is the immediate cause of this present illness ?” ‘*You speak blindly, sir. Jam incapable of betraying any trust reposed in me.” ‘‘Exactly; right, sir, right. Miss Gresham is delirious most of the time, and might say something in her ravings ° i] a - e 7 . ef ly ¥ > gar 5 Ae > - A i '? hh AD : 4 at . } - P « , z »” , - ey / ~* £4} ” s -_ s* e Ad i td rte Pe ese. e iF ie oe eT ae wee” FM A A Noh LTE ot BF, ‘ ‘