Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-06-19

! Bella herself ran to the door. Two
men were lifting a tall figure from the
hack; but Harry's voice treasured her,
Ecalling.
Don't be frightened. Bella. 1t is
only sprained ankle" - 81.
But trying to stand in the hall, the
strong man tainted, with the excrutlat-
ing pain.
Bella was not the woman to stand
helpless or screaming She led the
man who held her husband to the spare
bedroom opening from the parlor, and
sent the servant for doctor, busying
herself with bathing Harry's face with
cologne water, and trying to restore
consciousness.
Chow did it happen?" she asked.
I" A fall. marm," said one ofthe men,
/ touching his cap respectfully. "There
is Just snow enough to be slippery, and
the gentleman twisted his ankle. He
and this man saw him fall, and took
him into a store Just. handy. 1t was
quite spell before we found where he
lived, and then we had to so good
ways for hack. Can we do any more,
marin % ..srF A.. ..aW s.F5
Thank you; [ don't know of any
thing. But you must let me give you
this. know your time is va luable,"
said Bella, pressing 81 bank note into the
hand of each one. " | cannot tell you
how much I thank you, 'she added,
with look in her face that caused
the men to agree as they walked OFT
that ....... s..a,...
"She was plucky little trump, and
wouldn't cry, though she wanted to Dad
enough"
The doctor pronounced the sprain q
very severe one, and Harry knew he
must be q prisoner in the pretty spare
room for many long days. 80
! 1t was bondage very lrksOme to
the active man; but Harry thought
more than hundred times a day how
much more terrible it would have been
for Bella. She opened the folding doors
leading to the sitting-room, so that 1t
was like one large apartment, and
moved the piano where he could watch
her as she played and sang for him.
She taught him to find baby a most
amusing companion when household
duties called her away. She played
chess, dominOes and checkers by the
hour, and found all the interesting,
amusing bits in the newspapers Tor
him. She read aloud or worked while
he read. AS for nursing, bathing the
swollen ankle, connecting wonderful
cooling drinks, preparing tempting re-
pasts, language would tail me if [ at
tempted to describe her success in that
line of duty.
While Harry was confined to his bed,
Bella seemed never to leave him. Day
and night she was watchfully attentive,
never firing, never ceasing her efforts
to make the time pass in pleasant
amusement. But there was rapid i'm
provement soon in the limb, and one
March morning the physician gave per-
mission to his patient to limp with a
cane into the sitting room.
"You must not try to rest your weight
on that foot" he said. 1t must have
entire rest for several days
"There is no more pain, Harry
said.
mo, but the weakness remains. If
you use it too soon, you may suffer tor
the imprndence by far more serious IN
jury than the first sprain.'
| So Harry submitted to the imprison-
ment with the best grace he could
muster, and Bella made him comfort
able in a great easy chair by the win
dow, with a table beside him covered
with books, smoking paraphernalia,
newspapers, and choice foreign fruits
and sWeetmeats.
But having made him thoroughly
comfortable, Bella mysterjOusly van
ished. Now and then she fitted in with
a cup of coffee, a luncheon, a word of
love, but pleaded world of house
hold cares as an excuse for running
away again in moment.
Harry found it rather stupid, but
looked forward to evening tor some
music, a long chat, or a chapter or two
more of the book they were reading
together, which seemed to have lost all
interest pursued in solitude. His
amazement was almost ludicrOus when
Bella after clearing away the dinner
table, put on her hat and shawl.
Il am only going over to Mrs. Lees
course tone, absolutely stunning in
Harry's ears; "but [ have left you the
newspapers, If baby cries call Jane"
Harry tried to demonstrate, but found
he was talking only to himself. He
tried to read, he smoked, he started
new problem in chess, he yaWned fire.
auently, said bad word Or two about
Mrs. Lee, till eleven o'clock, when he
began to grow uneasy.
In the meantime. naughty Bella had
crept softly up stairs to the bedroom,
taken off her bonnet and shawl, and
calmly stitched upon an embroideie led
cloak for baby's spring outfit until mid
night. Then she wrapped herself in
outdoor garments, stole down to the
front door and after much rafting of the
night-key, and a loud goodnight,
walked into the sitting-room to poor
yawning Harry.
Twelve O'clock" she said, yawning
" had no idea it was so late ~
"You must have had very pleasant
evening"" said her husband with intense
sarcasm. as
"DeliphtfI1l y was. the emphatic an