The Argosy — page 233: what you’re looking at

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

218 Winnifred Dee. mixture ; and the days went on. Winnifred got up again, and came downstairs ; but she looked like a shadow, and her cough had a hollow sound. “Tf I might but die!” she murmured in pain to her weary heart ten times a day; ‘if I might but die!” A moment of inspiration took Martha White. Seeing the Doctor pass one afternoon, she ran out and asked him to step in: for | indeed Winnifred’s cough was getting beyond her. “Not well ?—can’t eat P—coughs day and night!” echoed Mr. Probert, as he rubbed his boots, all muddy with the thaw, on the door-mat. ‘‘ Not been taking care of herself, I suppose? Where is she ?” She was in the little room behind the shop, shivering over the fire; a shawl on her shoulders, and a cup of hot tea in her hand. ‘““Good heavens!” cried Mr. Probert, under his breath. For he had not seen any face in the course of his practice look much more like a dying one than that looked. The cheeks had a hectic flush, the eyes were hollow. However, he sat down by her with a cheerful word, and put a few questions. ‘““Not very well! Indeed, I should think you are not. And now, tell me why you did not send to tell me.” | ‘“J—I don’t suppose much can be done for me, and I did not like to trouble you,” she answered, looking up at him with eyes so sad and weary that his heart ached for her. “Do you cough much ? ” ‘* A great deal.” ‘Get pretty good rest at night?” “Not much. I think it must be consumption,” she suddenly added. | ‘Why do you think that 3 die ‘Because I seem to be going just as my father went. He was apparently in the best of health, and he took cold, and consumption came on. It was very rapid; he died in less than six weeks. My symptoms are just like his—the cough, and the weakness, and the : ‘All the more reason that you should have sent for me, interrupted Mr. Probert. ‘Do you want to die?” She did not answer for a minute; Mr. Probert noted it in his mind. ‘‘My father had every possible medical aid, and it did not save him,” was all she said. “That cannot be any reason why we should not save you. What did your mother die of ?” “The same thing—consumption. ‘They are better off.” ‘“Have you anything on your mind?” resumed the shrewd Doctor, struck with her despairing look and hopeless tone. She gave a faint gasp; her face turned deadly white. Ah,” said he, “I see there’s something. Is it anything that you can tell to mee” ) CORNICE OOO KS (ECO)