The Republican journal., 1899-01-26

artist, mingled rage and modification at
having failed 50 completely in her object
rendered her for once in her life unable to
say a word Just then a sharp shrek
broke upon their ears, and Blanche sprang
to her feet white as death. 'It is Berta, 7"
she gasped "She is hurt and without
waiting for Winnie she ran rapidly down
the steep slope toward the brook She
arrived to find Roscoe Ainsley lifting Der
ia gently from where she had fallen. "Do
not be alarmed, Miss Carleton, y he said his
blue eyes full of sympathy. cit is only
bad spran, | think. Blanche knelt beside
her sister, trying with trembling fingers
to unlace the dainty boot 'That is
right Roscoe said approvingly. 1.-The
foot may swell badly before we are able
to get her home. Meanwhile we must re-
store her to consciousness" In a few mo-
ments Berta opened her eyes, her lips
quivering with pain. ''Berta, darling, lie
very still until Mr. Ansley gets team of
one of the neighbors to carry you
home" Eyes, Blanche, but O, the
pain is so severe it makes me faint"
Blanche supported her tenderly while
Roscoe set off at full speed for convey
ance. In a short time he returned with
an old fashioned farm wagon, the bottom
of which was covered with robes and
shawls. Berta was lifted in and lay with
her head in her sisters lap. "Here, Fred
you drive them home and | will go for
physician, y and he started off on run,
his fair boyish face glowing with the
haste which he had made. When he ar
rived with the surgeon he found Berta
lying on the sofa and her mother bathing
the injured member. She stepped aside
as they entered and the physician pro-
ceeded to examine it. "The bone is brok-
en- just above the 'ankle,' he said gravely
''Now, my little lady, You must lie very
still while | am mending this broken
bone. Mr. Ainsley, you will sit beside
her and hold her firmly should she at
tempt to move. Mrs. Carleton, you will
please be ready to pass me anything |
may chance to need.' The setting of the
broken bone was very painful, and once
she grew SO deadly pale that they thought
she had tainted. She was very quiet, only
the compressed lips and the tight grasp of
her hand on Roscoe's arm told of her
suffering. She gave little cry of relief
when it was all over. CHOW, my dear,
you must lie still for few weeks and
then you will be as we'll as ever" And
after giving Mrs. Carleton a few direc-
tions the kind old doctor took his leave.
81 suppose you think | am careless girl
me tell you how it happened. Miss GRAY
and saw some lovely flowers just little
way from where we were standing, and
we tried to see who would reach them
first. In running caught my foot in some
underbrush and fell, twisting it beneath
me. felt sharp pain in my ankle and
feared l had broken it. blanche, and
Mr.. Ainsley heard me scream and they
were the first to reach me. Oh, dear.
L m always doing something | ought not
to-" And Berta could keep back the
tears no longer, they would have their
way. For the first few days the pain of
the broken limb was intense and the child
was so unused to pain that it wore upon
her terribly. To Roscoe's secret delight,
Fred Summerton transferred his attention
to la belle Trevor ''For | couldn't DOS
sibly confine myself to the house these
lovely days. he said to Roscoe. "Of
course like the little girl we'll enough.
but am not going to make myself wretch
ed trying to amuse her. I'll leave her to
your tender mercies, old fellow, for Pm
getting rather tired of playing mock
devotion.'' Roscoe made no reply. but
he gave him such look of contempt that
Fred colored and walked away. The
guests We'd with each other in trying to
amuse Berta, for she was favorite with
nearly all of them. Roscoe would take
long tramps and come back with his hands
laden with wild flowers, feeling amply re-
Maid nv tho look Of pratitnde haapo;,r