Family Pride; Or, Purified by SufferingHolmes, Mary Jane
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Family Pride; Or, Purified by Suffering
Holmes, Mary Jane
American fiction; Dime novels
"Send for Helen; I am so tired, and she could always rest me," was her
reply, when asked by Wilford what he could do for her. "Send for Helen;
I want her so much," she had said to Mrs. Cameron, when she came,
repeating the wish until a consultation was held between the mother and
son, touching the propriety of sending for Helen. "She would be of no
use whatever, and might excite our Katy. Quiet is highly important just
now," Mrs. Cameron had said, thus veiling under pretended concern for
Katy her aversion to the girl whose independence in declining her
dressmaker had never been forgiven, and whom she had set down in her
mind as rude and ignorant.
She was well suited with Katy now, petting and caressing and talking
constantly of her; but it did not follow that she must like the sister,
too, and so she checked the impulse which would have prompted Wilford to
send for her as Katy so much desired.
"If her coming would do Katy harm she ought not to come," and so
Wilford's conscience was partially quieted, white Katy in her darkened
room moaned on.
"Send for Sister Helen, please send for Sister Helen."
At last on the fourth day came Mrs. Banker, Mark Ray's mother, to the
house, and in consideration of the strong liking she had evinced for
Katy ever since her arrival in New York, and the great respect felt for
her by Mrs. Cameron, she was admitted to the chamber and heard the
plaintive pleadings: "Send for Sister Helen," until her motherly heart
was touched, and as she sat with her son at dinner she spoke of the
young girl-mother moaning so for Helen.
Whether it was Mark's great pity for Katy, or whether he was prompted
by some more selfish motive, we do not profess to say, but that he was
greatly excited was very evident from his manner, as he exclaimed:
"Why not send for Helen, then? She is a splendid girl, and they idolize
each other. Talk of her injuring Katy, that's all a humbug. She is just
fitted for a nurse. Almost the sight of her would cure one of
nervousness, she is so calm and quiet."
This was what Mark said, and again the next morning Mrs. Banker's
carriage stood at the door of No. ---- Madison Square, while Mrs. Banker
herself was talking to Wilford in the library, and urging that Helen be
sent for at once.
"It may save her life. She is more feverish to-day than yesterday, and
this constant asking for her sister will wear her out so fast," she
added, and that last argument prevailed.
Helen was sent for and now sat waiting in the parlor for the coming of
Mrs. Cameron. Wilford did not mean Katy to hear him as he whispered to
his mother that Helen was below; but she did, and her blue eyes flashed
brightly as she started from her pillow, exclaiming:
"I am so glad, so glad. Kiss me, Wilford, because I am so glad. Does she
know? Have you told her? Wasn't she surprised, and will she come up
quick?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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