The morning times., 1896-02-23

Daphne patted his great brown paws and
allowed little wan smile of gratified
vanity TO flicker across her face. Let the
woman be ever so old and plain, she is
never beyond the reach ofa compliment from
the man she loves.
an avs the roads lookin' out baek?'
she asked.
"AI AN no mistake; green as leaf all the
way. From here To Kidgeree Creek there's
water III every hole, an the little wild flo W.
ers you used to like is that thick along the
track yer can hardly see the grass for 'em.
] brought yer some"
Out OF the lining Of his big cabbage
tree hat he took tiny bunch of Bush blue
bells and placed them in her hands. 1t was
a critical moment for both of them. He was
acutely afraid of ridicule; she, for some
reason she could not have explained, did
not know whether to laugh or cry.
She laid the flowers on the table by her
bedside, and then turned To her husband,
the better TO express her thanks.
BILL she said softly, "yau was allus
a good chap TO me-
Nay, nay, my lass, you mustn't say that.
You don't know 'ow we misses yer out
yonder. Things amt the same at all with
out you. Make 'aste an get well an come
back TO the kids ana me, an let's get out
of this 'ere town.
"Blll l shan't be"
'Shan't be what, lass?''
He looked rather anXiousiy down at her.
Il shan't be"
The weak voice paused as If to think OF
word, then she seemed TO choke, and after
that n nainful Silpnc,, encund
Finally she said:
II shan't be long"
Bill gave a sigh of relief and continued:
I'm 'avin' new tires put on the fore
wehels. n we've got the new pair o.
steers in place u Bllabong an Blossom
that were too Old for work. We've got
full loadin' out to- the Diamantina an
back. an when tie trips done therem
perhaps be a matter O. e20 to put in the
stocking for the kids. Get well, my lass,
an come back 10 yer place on the load;
the Bush wind, an the blue sky, an the
sight o them wild flowers II soon set yer
right Yer amt feelin' any worse, are
yer?"
No, old man; the doctor says III be
out this side o. Sunday"
That's the talk! Were camped down
yonder on the creek. an the day we're
out I'll come up and fetch yer myself.
The team'Il he all fresh, the loadin II be
aboard, an the very next mornin' wen
have the yokeS on. an be where a mans
got room to breathe,''
why, Bill, ] never card yer talk so
before! It's like what the parson. who
comes here every Monday, calls poetry!'
There was an ocean of pathos in the
mans reply:
Yer see, Old girl, must talk a hit
different, Tor yer ain't never teen III like
this arore!''
Another long silence fen uron the pair.
Then he rose TO say gocd-by, and his
wife's face grew, if possible, palcr than
before.
''BiIIr' she Legan falteringly, "Tve been
tryin' ali tie tine yer've been here 10
tel yer sOmethin', but dunno how TO
begin. It's this way"
"Out wi il, my lass. What's wrong?
Amt they been a-ucatin' yer Well in
'orsepital?"
IT'S not tEat, BILL" she answered. But
therc-T can't tell you Flesh and blood
couldn't let alone yer wife. You must
just ask the doctor. when yer get out side,
if 'e's got anythin' TO say agin' lie walk
in with the team, Will yer?"
''If yer says so, in course. But, Daphne,
there Amt Iothin ag'in it, is thcre?'
You AK him; Ell tcll yer, Bill But 'cre's
thcmatron comm; guess yer'd d better bcgo-
in. Tel them kiddics their mother amt
forgot EN-"
Raising herself with an effort, she pulled
the mau's tangled forehead down 10 her,
aud kissed him on the forehead with a gen
tleuess that wouid have been grotesque If
the sentiment that prompted it had not
been so grewsOmely pathetic. Then, as the
matTOn approached the bed, he went down
the corridor to find the house surgeon.
The latter. ] may tell you, was a rough
man, cmbittered by hard work and insuffi-
cieut returns, the position Of house surgeon
in Bush hospital being but little sought
after toy the shining lights Of the profession.
When Daphne's husband entered he was
eDga ged writing 10 the board, demanding
for the sixth time, an increase in his neager
salary.
II clooked up. and, seing the man before
him, said, roughly:
We'll, what do you want?'
The carrier shifted from one foot to the
other with evident uneasiness.
BEG your pardin, sir, an sorry for in
terruptin'; but the missus axed me TO ak
you If 1t Were likely yer'd have any OBJ
lection 10 'er waIkin' alongside the team
when she comes out?''
Whose miSsus?-oh, ] understand; the
woman in the ward there. Walk beside
the team? Good heavens, man! What
are you talking about? Are you mad?
How on earth can she walk beside the
team?'
Il mean, In course. sir, when she's well
enough TO come out
Wen enough 10 come ont? Why, man
alive. she's as well now as ever she will
be. 1t was compound fracture of both
femur and Il double amputaUion. She hasn't
leg to stand ON, much less to walk with,
No! MOI You'd better look out for a
house in the township, ana find somebody
to move her about fer the rest of her life.
Shc'n never he able to travel with you
again. Here, hang il, man, go outside if
you are going to be ilI.''
Il AK yer pardin, sir. but-if yer don't
mind, III just sit down for minute. Every
things -a-goin' round an round, an don't
somehow feel kinder weIl!' Chambers
Journal.
o
COULDN'T STAND IT.
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