Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-12-22

heart, Mrn Cathsrwood lsft the sleep
Ing little one In her companions care.
and went out, accompanied by her
maid, 10 buy some little necessary gar
ments and toys for her Christmas
treasure.
She saw NO familiar faces among tho
throng that crowded the stores that
night. But dainty Mrs. Cottonwood
found actual pleasure In mingling for
once with this good-natured strug-
Cling mass OF unknown Christmas
shoppers.
II was late before she reached her
home, and she was hastily opening her
various packages, and beginning TO III
the little stocxing-the arst child's
stocking she had ever filled-when her
companion summoned her In alarm Tho
child had been croupy all the evening.
she said, and was now rapidly grow
The laborcd breathing and little
flushed face frightened Mrs. Gather
wood, and. late as IL was, she sent ut
once for her physician. Almost Inn
mediatcly word was brought back to
her that the old doctor had gone away
TO spend Christmas, and that DIR. Har-
mon was to I'LL his place in case OF
need. But rs i,r. Harmon lived quite
ut the other end of the town, tho mes
sengcr had returned TO know II she
wished him summoned that night
One look ut tho suffering child and
Mrs. Catherwood's sharp struggle with
herself was ended with the quick an
swer: Eyes; ask him TO come at once"
And now ut midnight she was nnx-
iously awaiting the arrival Of the man
she most dreaded and disliked.
The young physician who stood 30
high in his profession. was the one
who had been too honest and sincere
ever to Aattcr her. He had resolutely
kept aloof from her. even though shc
had once stoopsd 10 far as to try to
win attention from him.
But she had never forgotten the
quiet scorn OF the condemnation he
had once uttered In her hearing OF the
frivolous lives OF society women and
their ill-considered charities which 40
often did moro harm than good.
She had chosen to give personal
application to his words, and to ignore
him after that whenever they chanccd
TO meet; but nevertheless his words
had ranLled In her, and had sown the
seeds of discomfort ut her own unsatis-
flying life.
At last he was at her side. His quick
glance had instantly taken in all tho
details Of the room; the suffering child.
the beautiful, anxious woman. the lit
tie cast-off garments, the new ones
still unfolded on chair, the tiny half
filed stocking. and scattered toys. and
II was not hard for his practiscd eye
to read the sweet and pathetic story
that they told.
Together they bent above the little
sufferer, and together they worked
over her, fighting for her life. 1t was
sharp hand-to-hand struggle with
death that night, but In the gray dawn
Of Christmas morning their victory was
won, the child's labored breathing be-
came easier, and rs her pitiful suffer-
ing ceased she had fallen into o quiet.
refreshing sleep.
"All danger Is over now" the doctor
said, and THANK God! Mrs. Gather
wood murmured from her heart
You don't know how / feel" she
went on, brokenly. "She only came
to me last night, but 1t seems as II she
had been scnt-a Christmas gift-to DO
my very own"
DR.. Harmon took Mrs Cetherwoods
hand In both his own and seemed to
forget to let II 60.
"Lct me thank you for the conf
dence that you have shown In Inc to-
night" he said. ~ misunderstood
you once, and you have Judged me
even more harshly than judged you;
but you are q noble woman. 1t Is
Christmas morning now" he went on.
land with that large charity You have
shown towards this little child, will
you not give me the privilege OF learn
ing to know you better, and OF over
coming your dislike TO me-if camp"
And Mrs Catherwood answered.
"Yes."-Judith Spencer, In N. Y. OBJ:
server.