Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1885-11-26
WE AT 1T COST.
BY LOUISA II. ALCOTr.

each with guBskot wound through the
night arm below the elbow. They were
about the same age, each had wife and
children at home, and both hoped to save
these useful right arms, for on thcir
strcngth aud skill the support Of their
families depended
Clarke was a farmer, pleasant, happy
tempered fellow, bound to lock on the
bright lido Of things, aud to get well a.
soon - possible, though his wound was
the worst Of the two Morse had been
Z blacksmith and was proud of his
strength, but said little, and seemed to
have something on his mind, being
moody as we'll as tactiturn.
The two men were soon friendly, for
neighbors in hospital can hardly help
being SO, but Clarke did most of the
talking, and Morse seemed contented to
lsten'to his lively gossip without making
any return. Therefore l knew very lit
tie about him, and when the surgeon one
day asked me if Morse had been drink
ing man, I could not answer.
"Wby do you want to know, Doctor?'
HE is not doing as well as Clarke,
though his wound is a safer sort, and
ought to be nearly well by this time. 1t
il in bad way, and I'm afraid he will
have to loose that arm of hls," answered
the surgeon, shaking his head over a
particularly bad-smelling dose he was
preparing for some unhappy patient.
~ hope not, thought he was doing
well, and that Clarke, who sufferes much
more, was the one who might have to
lsose an ARM l said rolling baudages
for both as l talked.
mot he his blood is as healthy as a
child's; he will be all right in month;
you may tell him So"
II am very glad, for he is always talk
ing about the happy times when he can
60 home to his wife and babies. Morse
says nothing, but is as anxious to get well
/ think, though when you speak Of his
family it docs not seem to cheer him up
n wish you'd find out whether he has
been drunkard. cant make him talk,
and it is important to know, for if it is so
the sooner the arm is off the better" and
the doctor corked his bottle with leci
sive rap.
When saw the men again my feeling
toward them was quite changed, for now
anxiety about Clarke was all gone, and l
pitied Morse so much could not bear to
ak that hard question. soon learned
Me fact, however, without asking, and
u this way:
As ! went through my ward with
glass Of wine-whcy for another patient,
! stopped to wet Morse's arm, for I saw
: look Of pain on his face and knew the
comfort Of cold water. He did not
speak, and | went to refill the basin, leav-
ing the glass on the little table near his
bed. When I came back il was empty.
"Why, Morse, that wasn't for you!
Etimu!ants Of all kinds are bad tor you
Just now" said, thinking how impatient
poor Martin would be at having to wait
fsr second supply.
II know i'll couldn't help taking
i-the smell was too much for me"
nuttercd Morse, looking red and asham-
cd, though tho fierce, hungry expression
st his eye betrayed that he longed for
more.
sIm afraid you ike that sort Of thing
too much for your own good ventur-
"a to say.
ut has been the ruin Of me; but
Aght against it, indeed do" he said go
earnestly that believed it, and longed
to prepare him of what was to come, feel
ing that l could tell him more gently
then the surgeon, who had somewhat
startling way of saying to a patient,
"Now, then, my man, l shall want this
leg Of yours in about an hour
perhaps the pain you have suffered
here may help you in your fight. Times
like thea. do much to stteissheu good
resolutions if one is sinssre,'' 1 said,
pleased at having won him to talk Of
himself.
81 know it, and Nv made many since
I've been lying here. But you see I
sculdnt resist a small temptation like
hat. I wish I'd had bullet through
both my arms before did It'll" be an
Ivered under his breath, with a, remorse-
hl look at the empty glass.
"Pcrhaps the lose of one arm will help
on to resist" l began. finding it hard to
often the hard truth after all.
"You don't mean that?'' and he look
up at me with scared face; for the
~ Of right arm was more dreaded
l