Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-07-11

. 81 see no reason why sou s..va., r-y,,
was tie answer, in an odd voice.
Carruthers leant his elbow en- his knee
and stared into the fire. Then he said:
Upon my soul, IS she sat there read
ing and singing to us tonight. with that
b2byish seriousness in her eyes-bless
her!-l tell sou. Darrell, could have
taken her in my arms and kissed her, tho
little darlinSr
lie stirred tho fire into rousing blaze
as he spoke and smiled-a little caressiuc
smile. Darrell altered his position slight
ly. but he did not speak. and the other
prCceeded:
i've fancied once or twice. you know,
from her manner and that-that pertains
I might have q chance. Eli? What do
you think
How the devil should 1 know re-
turned Darrell suddenly and savagely.
The girl has not confided in mel"
well. you needn't flare up like that
about it," observed Carruthers, after
surveying his companion in und;ss-;sed
amazement for perhaps minute. "Dash
it all, we've always been chums. and l
naturally thought you. But. Of
course, it's no matter" he broke OF
rather huffily.
Darrell laid aside his pipe-it had been
out for some time-and rose to his feet.
The freight flashed full on his face. and
Carruthers exclaimed hastily:
Il say old chap. are you illy' By Jove!
you look uncommonly queer!
"Ill-no." said the other. speaking
seemingly with an effort I've felt
rather done up all day. though. some
how. think I'll so to bed"
Leslie noticed next morning that OAR
rell was unusually silent, even for him,
and he was never talkative fellow.
She also noticed that his breakfast con-
sisted of half a cup of coffee and nothing
more. They breakfasted in the sitting
room tina, morning. for the kitchen
chimney had taken to smoking violently.
Il say. Lance" said Carruthers, when
the meal was over. and Leslie had fitted
AVA, to the kitchen. "are you afraid Of
the provisions giving out altogether, that
you took no breakfast? We've still
enough for day or two. Miss Heath
found two more tins Of tongue this morn
Ing"
NO. it isn't that" said Darrell, who
was leaning back in his chair, looking
wretchedly white and ILL "But l have
q most internally sore throat, and feel so
completely done up can scarcely move.
Don't worry me. there's good fellow.
And don't say anything to Miss Heath"
But Miss Heath saw for herself that
Darrell was looking very i'll. and that as
the day advanced he looked worse. His
voice, too. grew hoarsc and thick. and
finally almost inaudible.
"You have got shocking cold, have
you not9' she said, looking down ct him
anxiously as he sat shivering over the
| fire in the winter dusk.
Eyes, suppose I have" he answered,
trying to smile. II feel regularly
| 6oored."
Some hours later, when Leslie had left
the room to SEQ about supper. Darrell
rosc suddenly.
Il say. Gilbert" he said family, II
can't sit up any longer. l feel awfully
IL; and | don't want any supper. Mako
my excuses to Miss Heath, will your
Poor old chap! you do look bad, said
Carrathcrs in concerned voice. as it
your throatY'
Partly. Besides, l am horribly sick. /"
Have some brandy" suggested tho
other.
mo, thanks. I can't swallow any
thing" And he went languidly out Of
tho room.
| So Gilbert and Leslie had o tete-a-tete
dinner, and rather silent one.
Darrell was very Ill all night, and in
tho morning was quito unfit. to leave his
bed.
II can't get him to take anything.
said Carruthers to Leslie, after breakfast
Il tried to give him teaspoonful Of
brandy-he's been 50 sick. you know;
but don't think he can swallow at oil
now. And he seems so awfully weak;
he can hardly Mt his head. I can't un-
derstand his losing strength 20 in tha
time"
II hope It Is not diphtheria," said Les
lie. speaking almost in q whisper, and
turning very pale. ut begins gust In
that way. And it Is such q swift, insid-
ious thing. had o cousin who died Of
Il; and she was only III o few daya"
Il don't know what It is," said Car
ruthers gloomily. II don't like his
looks, anyway. Hi throat has boon bad
for some days, he says. but he thought
it would pass o."
II say. old fellow" muttered Darrell
late that night, when the other had been
vainly persuading him to have o spoon.
full Of timed soup he had heated fol
him, keep laway from me as much a
you can. I know what this is now.
It's diphtheria, and it's horribly infec
tious"
"Oh. no, It Isn't, old man; it's just q bad
cold, you know" said Carruthers hastily.
But he felt more alarmed ut DARRELL
looks than he would have cared to own
and. rs o matter Of fact. he was begin
ming to feel queer enough himself. fol
his own throat was just sufficiently pain
full to render swallowing q very disagree
ablo necessity. and has limbs felt as tiret
ond heavy as though he had been walk
ing for days
II wish there was anything I coult
do" he went ON In q troubled voice.
The other smiled family.
"Leave me alone, there's o good OLE
chap" lie said. YEARLY and indistinctly
Its no use. Idon't think shall sc'
another night This sort Of thing Lose
no time, you know"
"Iwish you wouldn't talk like thai, Oar
rell," demonstrated Carruthers. "Why
VOL have you % we'll as ever in q coupl
Of days" he added. with q poor attemp
nt cheerfulnesa
In the morning, however, Darrell coull
not speak above whisper, and hardl,
that He was not unconscious, but ut
terly PROSTATE and powerless. He shool
his head when Carruthers brought him
cup Of coffee, and altogether seemed d
far through that the other went back Il
the sitting room with terribly anxiou
look in his bonnie blue eyes and Gu
rious. unwonted tightening at his heart
For they had been friends. indeed al
most brothers. since their school days.
Leslie looked up quickly ashe entered
"How IL her she asked In o voice tina
shook perceptibly.
Every bad" was the brief answer.
us he worse. do you thinkr' she fal
tered.
Hes about a. bad as he can be, +" b,
answered In . choked voice. Ho bit hi
lips nervously and then burst out: "Oh