Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-01-07

there -
What's the matter now?" said Nelly,
With her pretty face curiously unchanged
by the news of her father indisposition.
"Oh, just enc of his nervous spells !!
And | think he said he had headache.
too I Lroied him bird and he seemed
to relish that, and drank some buttermilk
of the mornings ckurning."
''WelI, tnen, If he can eat and enjoy
buttermilk,' remarked the girl with
short laugh she is not so very bad off.
Be honest now, mother, do you believe
much in fathers ailments? No, no; don t
you frown, but tell the truth! Aren't his
appetite and looks too good for there to be
much the matter with him? | declare
have caught DR.. Lester smiling broadly
several time when ne has been here to
see father, and it was all he could do to
keep from laughing right in his face
Mrs Belton's kindly face wore half
amused, half-frightened expression as she
listened to her daughter, but she answered
demurely:
How can you talk so, Nelly? OF course
your father is i'll, or why should he feign
TO be sop
He likes petting and coddling just like
baby, and, mother, | really believe you
know it is mainly his imagination THAI is
at work, but you have got in the habit of
waiting on him and humoring his fancies
until yon do it as matter of course. Now
own up. Do you believe in his sickness
today?"
TIE mother evaded the clear, truth
compelling eyes turned up 10 her own,
but she laughed and whispered bach:
We'll, he did eat about six biscuits with
that bir:. and drink three glasses of the
buttermik and dispose of nearly
third of glass of my strawberry pre-
serves"
Nelly caught her mother in her arms
with shout of delight. ''Bravoi brave!
You have owned it aud that is half the
battle. Mother [ know in the bottom of
your heart, kind and tender as it is, you
are tired of fathers morbid ia, cies, and
10 mlnlsterlng to his imaginary ailments.
And it is time something was done to
arouse him or he will become confirmed
hypochondriac, for he is nearly that now.
believe | could break him
mo, you couldn't, child, | used to try
and get him to shake off his dependency
and not to think so much Of his little
aches and pains, but only got called I'M
feeling for nay exertions"
We'll, | would approach him diff rent
y. Listen, mother. have a plan"
And the two heads, ore still brown and
handsome in spite of the fine lines of sill
yer over the temples, and the other
bright chestnut. drew close together and
in the golden sunshine of the beautiful
September day dark plot was formed,
and when Bob Harper came strolling in
with the most purposeless air that ever
conceived a purpose the same was impart
ed to him under the seal of secrecy Then,
when Nelly CHANGED to walk as far as the
turn of the road as Bob took his way home,
he doctor, driving past, was halted and
made partner likewise in the mysterious
business.
The afternoon slipped away and the dav
had given place to the purple twilight
when Hiram Bolton awoke from his pleas
ant nap ard stretch d out his hand for TIE
pitcher of ice water usually placed right
by bis side on such occasions by his de-
voted wife. but this time he felt in vain.
He pressed his hand on his forehead and
groaned twice, thrice, very heavily, but
there was no one who came tiptoeing into
the room to bend over hi :. and beg to
know what could be done His groans
crew louder aud more alarming and still
they produced no effect, so presently the
invalid raised himself slowly, and advanc-
ing to the door called family: Barbara, -
returning to the couch at once. No Bar
bara answered, but in a few moments
Nellie came nonchalantly singing into the
room.
THAT your father?' she said careless
ly. Have you taken a lazy spell. too?"
a groan was the reply, which only
brough forth, Drank toe much butter
milk, Ell? | did myself, and tell you 1t
ave me pain
Where's yonr m0ther?" put in the in
suited invalid. glaring at his daughter.
Gone to bed. She had headaC he and
made her GO, for there was really no
reason for her keeping up if she felt indis-
posed"
mo reason!' snorted Mr. Be'ton. "And
NE as Ill as | am! | wonder who she
! thinks is going to nurse me; but it is like
a woman to give up at the slightest ache
or pain, and just when they are need
| ed most"
o., YOU will be all right in an hour or
two! Father. if you don't mind III 90 to
prayer meeting with Rob Harper. By the
way, mother said would you please get the
churn ready for her, and here's the key to
the dairy"
She was gone gefore Der irate parent
could frame the cutting speech he had IN
mind, In which he mingled a serpent
tooth. an ungrateful child, his wife's un-
! accountable and preposterous failure to
perform her wifely duties. and the heart
less madness of expecting him to rise from
. couch of pain and illness to set churh.
He lay and pondered tie thing over. They
| wrr evidently growing increduious on the
sui jet of his ailments and needed les
son, severe one, 10 bring them back to
the IT allegiance. In The meanwhile Nelly.
| leaning one her lovers arm, con6ded TO
him that Father alN ays fell i'll so OPP
portunely, and recovered with snch sur
prisirg readiness whenever BE- found that
| illness was inConvenient" They both
| laughed, but a quick sense Of remorse
smote he girl when on the return they
saw lights elancing about the house
neard N IN servant on a horse go
| tearing after the doctor, and Mrs. Bolton
| met them with
Oh, Nelly. your iather s dying. deing
| 1t is judgment on Us for our wicke d
doutting at him this afternoon. ., can
! Mt yer. never forgive myself
But when Nelly, fol owed ny Rob, enter
ed the darkened room where her father la
| the color came back to her cheeks and her
eyes lost tt cir look Of horror, for with
L