Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1899-02-24

minutes persuasion and the promise
of fairy tale soon induce Bob to fol-
low his sisters example. But smell
has no need to cudgel her brains Tor
the promised legend. No sooner does
Bob's head touch the pillow than he,
too, sinks into troubled sleep.
Descending to the big tagged kitcn-
en-, Shell holds hurried consultation
with the farmers wife, the result OF
which is that a boy is despatched for
the nearest DOCTOR. 49,.
Whilst she is waiting his arrival, Pl-
per turns up explaining that she has
only just been down to the village for
a few stamps; she looks much taken
aback when she hears Of the children's
illness and finds that she cannot pooh
pooh 1t. f.-'
After two hours waiting the doctor
comes. He is an elderly man, genial.
reliable and fatherly: Shell and the
mistress of the house accompany him
to the sick-room: When the three
return to the big kitchen there Is a
scared lc:k on two at least of the
faces. -.
"All connection with that part OF
the house must be cut off, Mrs: Pom
fret and sheet with Condy's tiuld
hung at the end of the passage: Will
telegraph at once to Mr.: Champley, II
you can furnish me with his address,.
Piper, locking scared and pale, pro-
duces the address, and the doctor takes
his departure.
"The doctor Is not certain" answers
Shell in her low sweet voice-"but he
fears smallpox; It seems there are
some cases in the neighborhood."
Smallpox" shrieks Piper. And
am expected to stop here and lose
my life through nursing children with
smallpox? l won't do it-no. not Tor
Queen Victoria herself!"
Shame upon you, woman!" cries
Mrs. Pomfret wrathfully. do you
mean to tell me you would have the
heart to go away and leave them poor
little babies, with their father away
goodness knows where, and their poor
mother lying buried? I'd nurse 'em
myself, and welcome, only I've got my
own children to think of, and l can't
be running to and fro to the sick-room
with smallpox hanging about my
clothes"
"Let who will nurse 'em-I won't"
remarks Piper doggedly.
do you think l would allow you?"
flashes Shell, her bosom heaving with
suppressed scorn and anger. do you
imagine for one moment that you are
fit to be trusted to nurse them?"
you are right there, MISS" agrees
Mrs. Pomfret: "for she neglects them
poor dears, shameful. AS for nursing,
1 wouldn't trust her with sick cat;"
then, turning to the nurse, she con-
tinues loftily-"T Take your precious per-
son out of this as soon as may be
though who's to attend to them chill
dren, don't know" ...- -
Don't trouble yourself about that,
Mrs. Pomfret. I will take care of them
till proper nurse is found" says Shell
gently.
you mustn't insists catching
dreadful catching" demonstrates Mrs:
Pomfret.
"Only when people are afraid"
laughs Shell. Il don't feel in the least
nervous about illness
"Cause you haven't seen much"
opines Mrs. Pomfret, with a sage bead
shake.
There is general CONSERVATION at
Gorse Cottage when Shell arrives with
her news.
Smallpox! Are you quite sure he
said smallpox" cries Ruby, with
shudder. "How terrible! But surely
it can't be small-pox-the children
must have been vaccinated."
THAT is the strange point" an
swers Shell. There is no mark what
ever on Meg's arm-a very faint one
on Bob's. The doctor says he can't
be sure for another twenty-four hours.
They ought to have been in bed two
days ago-they do nothing but SILVER
and SILVER and shiver."
What is to be done?" asks Ruby
blankly; and then, bright idea sug-
costing itself-''We must telegraph at
once to London for an experienced
NURSE" '7..>
And who is to nurse them till she
arrives?"
piper, of course"
"Piper has flown by this time. I left
her packing her box" ..'.s,
"How disgraceful of her! However,
Mrs. Pomfret must get some one to see
to them" - g~---- ~. 1v..
Robert Champley told me that you
had promised to see to them during his
ABSENCE. .fE -, 3
"How utterly absurd and impractical
you are, Shell! OF course am very
sorry for the darling children; butt
can't possibly risk such catastrophe
as small-pox-no one could expect it.
Had 1t been anything else"--grandilo-
quently-"anything less repulsive, I
would have gone to them myself"
"And they are to be left entirely to
strangers, with no familiar face be-
side them?" queries Shell in her even
voice. .-,,
II don't see any other possible ar
rangement, since you have been foolish
enough to let Piper forsake her post"
answers Ruby with sigh.
"But see that some other arrange
ment is Imperative says Shell decid-
eddy. 1T would be too cruel and cow
ardly to leave them to strangers. If
you won't go and remain with them til,
the nurse arrives shall" af