The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-11-24
1HH39G:99S43o339o339332s1
Ny Fellow Laborer. !
by q. RIDER HAGGARD.

ssseess y
ny q. RIDER HAGGARD. y
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CHATTER I.-(CoNT1NUEp)
A year after my marriage my wife
unAapply became the victim of bad
accident In a cab, as a result Of which
our child John was a cripple from his
birth. To this unfortunate babe, Miss
Denelly, OF Fanny, as we called her,
took a violent affection, which, as the
child's intelligence expanded, was am
for her than for his mother and my
seslf put together, and think that the
cause Of their mutual attachment was
to be found In Fanny's remarkable
strength OF body and character. The
pcor, weak, deformed boy rested on
so1id depths of nature. as some by faith
are able to rest ON Providence, with a
sense OF absolute security. However
much pain he was in he would become
quiet when she came and took him in
her strong arms and nursed him.
Oddly enough, too, it was almost the
0me thing with my wife.
She had never got over the effects Of
her accident, and the shock of the birth
OF our crippled boy. Indeed, as the
years went on, she seemed to grow
weaker and weaker. and to rely more
and more absolutely on Fanny.
The germ, small as q mustard seed,
which has now. after so many years Of
experimental Labor and patient
thought, grown up into the great tree
of my discovery, lay in my mind in the
form of q dormant speculation from
tho very commencement of my medical
career. After my marriage it began
to grow and take root there, but for
aome years I went on with my every
day practice. which was that of con-
sulfing doctor in the city, and said
nothing about it. The fact was that
the whole seemed too wild, and was
'afraid OF being set down as one Of
those enthusiasts who spend all their
Hives in chasing shadow.
At hast, however, my secret grew
too heavy for me to bear, and one
night, after dinner, acting on some
sudden impulse, began to unfold it to
my wife and Fanny. At first my wife
WAS much interested, and said that it
al sounded like one of Poe's tales, but
presently. when got more to the in
tricnte parts Of my theory, for it was
nothing but a theory then, she fell
info 4 brown study. and after while
hroxe into the conversation.
thought she was following my line of
argument, and about to question it, and
was rather disguised when she said:
Excuse me. Godfrey, but did you
remember to send that check for the
coalsT'
I suppose I looked put out, at any
rate I stopped abruptly.
Don't be vexed with me for in
7terTapting, DEAR" she went on, "but
Z want to know about the Goals, and
haven't been able to get word in
-etsxnways for the last twenty minutes %
Quite So" I replied, with dignity.
Pray don't apologize; no doubt the
GOALS are more important than my dis
cEEcry."
Nonsense, dear" she answered, with
"a smile; "of course, if there was any,
thing in what you say, it would be
veKy important. But if your story is
true. you are as bad as that man OAR
WIZ who believes that we are all
descended from monkeys, and what
we are told in the Bible about Eve
being made out of Adams rib falls to
the ground. So you see it must be
nonsense, and the Goals are the most
important after all"
Now my dear wife was one of the
sweetest as she certainly was one of the
'bess, women in the world, but on one
POINT she was always prepared to lose
her temper. and that point was Adams
titk- So, being aware of this, held
my tongue, and after talking a little
more about the Goals, she said that
she did not feel well. and was going
"a bed.