The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1890-11-26

story of the past-only one of present
suffering and a terrible battle with the
king of terrors on the sands of a shadowy
sea.
So these three, mother, daughter and
| physician, watched the stranger as he
went down, down to the river of death.
At length there came day when
there was slight change in the daily
routine.
AS soon as the doctor had looked al
his patient he asked that the boys
might take care of his horse.
81 shall stay today and tonight" he
said by midnight we shall know the
worst or the best, whichever it may be. 81
He looked at jamie. "Love is immor-
tai in her eyes, he thought. "She doesn't
believe that he can die, but it will be
far better for her if he does. She will
always believe then that her love would
have been returned, and If no one claims
him she can have his grave to love and
devote her life to planting flowers on it
but l think he will live, and what
then? Well, we shall see."
AS midnight approached a deep silence
|
tor sat with his fingers on the pulse of his
patient. jamie stood near him with look
of awe on her face, but with no fear.
Her mother sat near the foot of the bed,
her head resting upon her hands, wait
ing. Suddenly there was slight move
ment; the doctor arose, laid the sick
mans hand across his breast, slightly
changed the position of his head, drew
the covers up over his shoulders, then
turned to jamie and said: $50 up to bed
now and sleep until morning."
us he dead?' she asked, with white
lips.
mo, he is asleep. His sleep his nat
ural, his skin is moist When he wakes
he will be conscious, but very weak /
will watch until then, and it may be
several hours. The few moments after
he awakens will be critical ones. l want
to be by him then. Can you sleep? II
not will give you something to make
| you sleep. You must rest"
"Oh, not tonight! Please let me stay.
don't care If die tomorrow. Let me
stay here tonight"
Every well. / have no right to COM
mand you. You have not employed me
as your physician, but as your friend; if
you will consider me such l will say
you are unreasonable, but that is a wo-
mans privilege"
Mrs. Burton, when she knew that the
crisis was passed, retired to the attic to
rest and sleep. The doctor drew his
chair to the hearth, stirred up the
smoldering fire and laid on fresh wood
jamie had disappeared, but soon re-
turned with delicious coffee, cream toast
and cold chicken, which she placed on a
stand, and drawing it up in front of the
fire requested the doctor to eat, while
she took her position by the bed.
II am going to be obstinate as we'll as
YOU" he said; II will not touch your
nice lunch unless You eat with me.
Gomez
He drew chair opposite his own, and
she came and sat down.
How good this coffee smells!" he
said. II have found out the secret of
your family's health in the midst of all
this malaria. Your mother knows
how to feed her children and how to
keep everything pure. She is one of
those who could make the stable in
Bethlehem a fitting place for the advent
of the King. If your mother and you
should start out and convert all the peo-
pie on the Sender to your way of living
l should have to move away"
jamie slipped her coffee with her eyes
fixed upon the glowing fire and made no
response to the doctors kindly praises.
How long will it be-" she asked at
length, "before he can talk-before he
will be well:'
HE will talk little tomorrow, or
rather today, when he axes, but he
must not be questioned or worried. l
need not tell you that, however. What
born nurse you are! This man, who
ever he is, owes his life to you twice
over. A month of such DEVOTION! How
have you kept up? 1t is the most Won
derful thing that ever knew"
II am strong" she replied; II haven't
felt tired, but it will soon be over, the
weather will be hot and there will be
fever all along the Sender, and the days
will be so long"
There was an infinite pathos in her
voice and words that shook the firmness
of the man opposite her. His voice
trembled in spite Of his self control as
he replied: Hope for the best, Miss
jamie, Try to think everything will be
as you desire. From my heart hope
that no disappointment awaits you, but
should it be otherwise be courageous.
You are young, with grand capacity
for happiness and usefulness. Time is
the great healer and consider.
"There is no trouble, however unen-
durable it may seem, that cannot b.
lived through by q brave soul. 1--we
lose the one great joy Of our lives we
will find that much is left worth living
for. have seen You walking on the
bluffs in the early morning, breathing
the purer air and gaining health for
your body; remember there are moral
heights to be climbed and health to be
gained for the soul as we'll Will You
promise me to try to be bravo girl,
whatever course events may take, during
the next few weeks!"
"Yes, will try" she said, and burst
into passion of tears.
CHAPTER IL