The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-10-09
F0RTESCUE's SORE THROAT.

F0RTESCUE'S SORE THROAT.
1t was a delightful morning liz early
spring; a gentle wind caressed the ten
der leaves which had burst forth inthe
night; a bird twittered now and again
with that peculiar clearness of sound
that only the first birds of the season
seem to possess, and the sun had sent
his heralds OF the dawn far in advance
long lines of yellow, purple and Grim
son, with tender pink and blue still
higher in the sky.
Mr.. Fortescueh had risen early on pur-
pose to feast his eyes and mind on the
beauty ofthelandscape, and stoodlost
in thought at his dressing-room win
dow. Aplain business man, a thorough
going man, his neighbors called Ned
fortescue; but he had an artists eye
and a keen poetic instinct.
But suddenly his face c~louded-he
had heard a sound thatheunderstood
only too well. A harmless noise YOU
would have thought it-merely a slight.
jar of iron against wood as Mrs. Fostes-
cue turned the bed-key.
"She's taking down our bed, as I'm
alive!" soliloquized Mr.. Fostescue.
"That means housekeeping, and no
peace for a week at least. What can
be done? Is there no way out of it?
I'm sure every carpet in the house was
lifted last fall" The husband stood
looking out of the window, but no
longer needing the sunrise-he was re-
volving Il plan. I'm risk it," he said
at last, and proceeded to hunt up
some strips of flannel. Just as he was
swathing his throat in a long strip Of
red flannel Mrs. Fortescue came to the
door.
eve taken the bed down, Ned, and
shall set to work at once. Hear the
birds! it's high time we were through
house-cleaning. But, my dear Ned,
what is the matter? Don't tell me
you'veasore throat"
Mr.. Fortescue nodded, pointed to
his throat, and shook his head, as if
solemnly to Indicate that speech WAS
an impossibility.
dear me. how very unfortunate. /
can't possibly clean house with you
ill.,
Mr.. Fortesque turned suddenly to
the window lest his delight should be-
tray him.
''We must send for DR.. Horton
continued his wife, ''and you Unjust not
leave these rooms. | don't wish to
alarm you, my dear, but you know
diphtheria is so catching, andthe chill
dren-''
For q moment our hero wavered;he
had not anyidea OF beingquarantined.
Besides, the doctor would see through
his deception. If only his wife had
held her tongue for a few minutes he
would have confessed his w~ickedness.
and thrown himself upon her mercy;
but she, foolish woman, did not know
when to keep still, 'Ill tell you, Ned,
what III do she went on, '.if it's not
clear diphtheria, I'll Just run off with
the children up to Aunt Maria's, and
then, if you are not better, I'll leave
them there and come back. To be
sure, L want to nurse YOU"
Here was a respite! No house-clean-
ing, and n house all to himself at that
loveliest time OF the year. Annie was
such a slave to her house and her chill
dren that he couldn't be blamed if she
seemed tiresome once in u while! so
Mr.. Fortescue speaking us hoarsely
as he could, and SO over.acting that
Annie began to fear pneumonia, and
was thoroughly frightened) agreed to
takehis breakfast apart from hisfam-
lily and see the doctor as soon as pos
sible.
you'll be able to swallow a soft
boiled egg, dear, and cup OF coffee,
won't your said Mrs. Fortescue; and
Ned, who could have eaten three or
four mutton chops with u relish, had
to look i'll and nod acquiescence.
DR.. Horton was sent for, and came
round very promptly, and, as Mrs.
Fortescue was washing the breakfast
china, she sent him up to see her hus-
band, intending to follow soon.
"Im i'll a pickle, and | must talk
fast, said the patient, in a remark
ably clear, smooth voice, 'sfor my wife
will be up in q moment. To tell the
truth. Horton, I've slammed sick to
get rid OF the housekeeping, and you
must help me out. Your bill would
have come i'll a month later if | had
not, for Annie is always sick after a
spring cleaning. Now, tell her I've got
diphtheritic throat-nothing serious,
but that it would be safer for her to
take the children to Aunt Maria's." r
~ know your wife too well to i'm
orrit,n. chn'l la, w y-r,,s'S odd +hn l~a
tor, 'for all her devotion tothe young
ones
"But she'd take them there, and
then I'll telegraph that I'm better, and
perhaps they'll stay a few days: This
lovely weather won't last a week, and
then she'll be glad the cleaning is put
off,"
Mrs. Fortescue's voice was heard
giving some directions to the servant;
there was only time for an asserting
nod from the doctor, and she was in
the room, anxious to learnhis opinion
ofthe patient.
"Adiphtheriticthroat, ma amt there
is no cause for alarm-none whatever,
yet what is a light attack for thefath-
err might prove fatal TO a child"
on take them away at once-at
oncel Ned, you don't think III meg
lect you? I'll be back tomorrow, and
you must telegraph tonight. Doctor,
you must telegraph, and let me know
the truth"
The two men felt guilty as they saw
that Mrs. Fortescue was really trou-
bled. 1t was only the vivid recollection
of the last spring cleaning, and the
belief that a few days at Aunt Maria's
"would really do Annie good" that
enabled Mr.. Fortescue to carry out
his part. AS for the doctor, he assur.