Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-07-16

WW
Seated on the Ledge Was MIR, Phil
brick.
at the chamber when morning came.
He inquired about the patients condl-
ton rs naturally as if there were no
such thing as strained relations.
Miss Willis" replied the doctor. ''ts
as well as could be expected. but her
condition is critical. 1t is not advisa-
ble-I may say not possible-to remove
her without danger. Such q course
would probably be fatal"
II haven't the slightest desire 10
have her removed" responded the pro-
f~essor: "such a suggestion was the far
thest from my mind. And yourself,
doctor?"
Il need rest said the doctor bluutly.
''and I dare not and will not take il
until / can be satisfied to leave Miss
Willis. | want you TO send for MY
mother
1T shall be done at once, doctor
will have Louise drive over for her
after breakfast"
Give her this note, then" and DIR.
Williams handed the professor n letter
that he had written during the night.
In it he had taken pains to convey no
hint of the real situation, but had laid
stress on the serious nature of Anne
las illness and his desire to have her
faithfully nursed while he rested and
attended to other matters. He was re-
lieved, though little surprised. that
Prof. Drummond acceded TO his sug-
geStion without u murmur. He might
Well have insisted that either Betsey
or Mrs. Appleton could officiate as
nurse, and if he had done so the doe
tor would have unffesitatingly resOrted
10 extreme measures. That he vas not
compelled to do so seemed TO indicate
that the professor felt the power the
doctor had over him, and was ready 10
acknowledge it by respecting the doc
tors wishes.
When Louise had finished her break
fast the professor gave her some let
ters TO take to the postoffice and in
structed her to cali for Mrs. Williams
on her way back.
You'll find the horse harnessed and
hitched," he said.
Louise went To the stable by way of
lit brlSt uOtI. dS 10 tllIllD OIit IlEit vi
stairs from her chamber seemed easier
than TO go down two, including the
long steps to the piazza, and then to
go around the house and part way up
the slope that led to the ledge and sta
bic alike. Seated on the ledge, idly oc-
eupied in tossing bits of bark into the
river and watching them float away,
was Mr.. Philbrick.
Don't fall in again." she said, her
spirits rising at sight of him.
"Ah, good morning, Miss Drum
mond," he said getting up; Il was out
for a constitutional, and my steps as
usual were drawn in this direction III
spite of myself. 1 like early morning
walks. All well within, l hopeY'
He was close to her, looking down
with smiling admiration into her eyes.
1t was his way. He always approach
ed so near that her heart fiuttered like
a leaf in the breeze.
NO" said Louise, my cousin is Sc
riously i'll. The doctor has been here
all night"
Indeed! r am distressed to hear it.
What is the matter?'
Papa says her mind-but I don't
know that / ought TO repeat IT. The
doctor hasn't reported definitely yet
Il am sorry l asked a delicate ques-
ton, Miss Drummond. 1t was far from
my intention"
"Of course, and / don't believe II
matters anyway to tell you. only, of
course, you won't repeat IL in the viii
lage, for she may come out of It,"
Il am all interest and secrecy"
"You're DOkipp fun at mo-,
81 protest"
"Well. papa says her mind has been
overstrained by the shock of Mr.. Stark
weather's suicide. He suspects that
she felt an attachment for him, you
know, and then she would insist on
going to the inquest. II was enough
to upset anybody, wasn't it, Mr.. Phil
brickI'
Undoubtedly. What symptoms of
mental alteration has Miss Willis
showng'
"She wandered out of the house yes
terday afternoon, we don't know just
when. Papa found her unconscious
over there among the trees"
Where and Mr.. Philbrick peered
c~uriously into the wood.
last beyond the great hemlock. !
believe. They came past 1t In bring.
Ing her in. anyway. l am going for
Mrs. Williams again now. The doctor
wants her to nurse Amelia"
HIN, It's very sad"
MIR. Philbrick looked really iugubri
Gus.
"Are you going to be here when | re
turn asked Louise.
I'm afraid | shall be In the way II
there's illness in the house, but-ma,
~
"How absurdl OF course you may