Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-01-24

1
The sick girl was lying on her side,
painting and gasping for breath. At
the sight of the doctor she uttered n
cry and beckoned him toward her.
doctor" she said, not in the feeble
voice he might have expected, but
clearly and firmly, Pm Ill again, I
think. Tell me, If you can, what's the
matter with me-"
But this was not easy. He felt her
pulse; he looked ut her; he asked her
some questions. How did she feel?
In pain? In discomfort?
Her answers puzzled him. She said
she thought she was going to "have
her illness again." She felt uncom-
Portable, restless. She had worse
pain Mt her chest than ever And her
hands and head were so hot. She was
feverish again, she was sure.
So he took her temperature and
found 1t normal.
ut is all nothing but fancy" said
he at last, smiling at her fears. "You
are going on as well as you possibly
can. You have nothing to do but to
keep quiet, and you will be quite well
in no time. If you go on as you are
doing, you might get up for little
while the day after tomorrow"
But she shook her head.
II am not so well as you think" said
she obstinately. do you think l can't
tell whether I'm getting better or not?
tell you l feel dreadfully Ill, as If
We're going to die"
Again she lay back and closed her
eyes. Mason was rendered rather
nervous and uncomfortable by the
presence of the old grandmother who
never once changed her position during
this scene, but stood on the same spot,
like Il malevolent witch, watching them
with her beadlike eyes. In the circum-
stances 1t was difficult to speak US
cheerily to the patient as he would
have liked to do.
"Oh, no. no, you are not going to
die" said he promptly. II never saw
any one who looked less like dying
than you do. You have been wor-
ried perhaps, or you have had
fright"
By the spasm which contracted her
features US he made this suggestion he
saw that he had probably hit upon the
truths He glanced at the old woman
with frown.
as 1t your grandmother or your
brother who has been frightening
your" asked he abruptly.
But the girl did not answer.
II shall have to speak to your fa-
ther," he said, with decision.
i
ed her eyes again.
"Yes," said she. 1--WE will speak to
my father. will speak to him."
She addressed few words quer-
ulously in Welsh to her grandmother,
who, without making any reply, went
out Of the room. Then she lay with
closed eyes until few minutes later
her father came into the room, looking
anxious and distressed.
"What's this, Gwyn, my girl? What's
this l hear? That you're i'll again2"
he came close up to the bedside, TAX
ing one Of the girls hands in his and
looking into her face with eyes full of
tender, yearning affection.
sYes, father, I'm not so well today"
said Gwyn, drawing breath which
seemed to be labored.
The farmer glanced suspiciously at
Mason.
doctor, what's this?" he asked
sharply. "She doesn't look SO i'll nor yet
talk as weak as she did. What's this
that's come to her? Can't you ex-
plain it7 What does it mean, sir?'
"She has been worried, alarmed, by
some one" said Mason. i
The farmer frowned, and Gwyn
glanced from him to the doctor.
II want" said she In voice which |
now began to tremble little, ito
speak to my father."
Mason proceeded to withdraw, but
reluctantly. The girl was evidently
exciting herself much more than was
prudent. He gave a warning glance
at Tregaron.
Don't let her talk much" said he.
"And don't let her excite herself"
1t was only too evident, however,
that the Interview between father and
daughter would be of harassing ma
ture. for the farmer had begun 10
shake and CULVER as he looked with
curiosity and suspicion first at Gwyn
and then at the doctor.
Mason left them together.
About 20 minutes later Tregaron
came down stairs into the kitchen.
looking sullen and gloomy. Mason
met his eyes with questioning glance.
'She's full Of fancies," said the farm
er shortly; "mad rancies as ever came
into lass' head. You'll have to give
her q quieting dose, sir, or we shall
have her Ill again, sure enough. And
Tom mustn't so near her, he must un-
derstand that. He bounces into the |
room, like the great gawk he Is, and
makes her jump like SO she thinks all |
sorts Of wild things, all sorts Of wild |
things"
And as he repeated these words Tre-
garon fixed upon his guest eyes which
were full of conjecture and doubt and
eager scrutiny.
Mason wondered what the commu-
nication was which his daughter had
made to him. Was 1t some hint Of an
ugly plot which Tom in panic had
communicated to his sister? Was It |
something about the well In the out
AOuoS6 liz WIS upOuI put u QueS- l
ton to the farmer concerning that adj
venture Of his, when Tregaron said
simply:
''She wants to see you again, sir. l |
think"
And then he took up his hat and dis
appeared into the washhouse.
But Mason ran after him.
"You are hard at work. aren't you.
clearing away the snow between this
and the cowhouse?"
~ believe you. Merrick and me and
Tom have got our work cut out. We've
got to get to the sheep If we can and
save 'em If we can. AS hard work as
ever we've had in our lives"
All the more singular. surely, that
Tom should have been spared for that
mysterious work in the clubhouse!
"Tom" repeated Mason quickly.
'He was ut work indoors just now by