The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1891-01-16
The Widows Ledger,

The Widows Ledger.
II know" he said, nothing could be
more hopeless, and / am wrong to build
up such . heaven out Of her Kindness.
She would be sorry, and angry too"
"Why?n
II shall have to depend entirely on
my profession, and that means many
years. hard work.
$50 much the better" said the old
gentleman, cheerily. "If a profession
is worth anything, you ought to desire
nothing better. You would hardly, if
you are the man l take you to be, care
to depend on your wife or your mother"
Certainly not
"And unless you have expectations
from q grandfather who may outlive
you, or an uncle with h~alf-a-dczen
nephews and nieces besides yourself,
what else would you depend upon? Be
independent-work and wait, and do
not forget the faint heart which never
won a fair lady. Not that Miss Allen
by is fair-it is just a healthy English
medium color that will wear well. She
might do worse"
"You refer to me sir?:n
Eyes, sir, l do. There are plenty of
better-looking men-plenty."
II know it," said Mr.. Parker, meekly.
"And you are not a genius the old
gentleman went on: 'sbut that is so
much the better. No woman in her
senses would marry a good-looking
genius. Work and wait, and win, my
boy, and you may find a friend in me.''
Mr.. Parker took comfort from that.
1t was a promise of the vaguest kind,
but the medical student had unlimited
faith in the eccentric lodger's power;
and from this time the oddly-assorted
pair were very much together; they had
an interest in common-little Arthur's
danger. The child was i'll much longer
than he would have been in the ordinary
course of things; for he had been over
INDUCED, and an obstinate low fever
chung to him. MI. Barker had misgiv-
iagso his own, based on a guilty knowl-
edge of tamarinds and preserved ginger;
but baby had been petted and spoiled
throughout the housa, and there was
great rejoicing when he toddled about
again. IIe was sadly wasted, and there
did not seem much of him left but gold
en- hair and large bright eyes; but he
soon picked UP.
A second blow, however, and q
heavier II fell upon the house. Mary
was taken ILL. She had been needlessly
anxious over her boy.
Now she was stricken down. Doctor
Hyde looked grave when Mr.. Barker
asked him what was the matter with
her, and the old mar said:
"There is danger?n
"There is danger" was the grave re-
ply, "her system is sadly shaken, and
some latent symptoms of pulmonary
disease have shown themselves, but the
worst feature is fever.
such as the boy had?"
mo, you must keep him away from
herr
"Merciful Heavens, man, you will
not tell me it is contagiousI"
mo more so than typhoid fever
usually is" the young doctor said, with
a dryness in his voice that was not in
his eyes.
The old man bowed his head in his
hands with a groan.
THAT is the one thing in the world ]
would not have" he said, "we mus
save her, George; you love her ! know
but not as l do"
Not as you do" repeated DR.. Hyde
quietly; "but my future lives or dies
with her"
He had never limited at this before
but Mr.. Barker understood him; hi
comprehended how difficult it would be
for Arthur's dearest friend to under.
take the guardianship of Arthur's girl
1sh widow, and retain only a brotherly
feeling as the time wore on.
George Hyde had intended to wal
till Mary's sorrow for her young hus
band became a memory, and left room
for new thoughts of the time to come
but he told the eccentric lodger nov
how much he had built upon winning
Mary's love.
81 had begun to feel," he said, that il
was only a question of time, and nov
this trouble has come"
"This may be only a question O
time," Mr.. Barker replied. MARY Ii
young, and if you doubt your own skill
or your affection renders you nervous
have a physician; then there is tn,
nursing. Margaret must not run tn,
risk, although she would, and it is
matter in which I am powerless."
"Mrs. Allenby has offered her services
and in the most generous spirit" sait
George; ssbut then"
"Do not think of me. Would she b,
worth having as nurse?"
"Invaluable; she has nerve and cool
ness, and is as clever as most medica
men; she would not be likely to mistak,
the medicines, give too little or TOT
much, O go past the time. You are tn,
only difficulty"
II shall stay in this house." MI. Bark
er said, 1.-THE boy wants me, no one els,
could keep him quiet, and / will no
leave her; as for the rest l can keep GU
of the way, and even should she NEE
me by accident l can take care she doe
not recognize me-. Do you think sh'
had better comet"
I'VE could depend upon her watch
fitness and attention, and she ha
nerve, knowledge, and experience"
Let it be SO then. The women ii
the house are kind enough, but they ar
clumsy, even with the best intentions
and the hired nurse is always hal
asleep, the normal condition Of hire
nurses, it-appears to me-"
Mrs. Allenby had offered her service
when she first heard of Mary's illness
but George had steadily declined them
The lady Of Orthorpe Square thought j
hard that she should be debarred a posi-
ton that she chose to consider hers b,
right since her reconciliation with Mar,
was 50 complete.
HVnt, lrayt ar , m, p,an. l.. -. - u,