Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-01-15
CHAPTER vi.

A STRANGE MIDNIGHT vIsIrATIoN.
The farmer scarcely waited to close
the door of the room before question
ing the doctor.
"Will she get over it. sir? Will she
get over it? It's no use deceiving me.
sir. l know she's very Ill. But-will
my dear get over it? Or will she-will
she''-
His voice faltered and died away.
Great drops Of sweat stood upon his
forehead. He clutched the doctors
arm In grip Of iron.
1--WE must always hope for the best"
began the doctor.
But at these doubtful words the
farmer spurned him with so much vio-
lence that 1t was only by a quick move
ment that Mason escaped being flung
down the stairs on the tiles Of the out
house below.
81 beg pardon. beg pardon. sir"
cried the farmer. contrite Immediately,
as he held out q beseeching hand to-
ward the guest he had a moment be.
fore treated so roughly. "But If you
knew how feel. what it would mean
to me tiff my girl-my bonny girl
was to die"- Again his voice shook
60 much that 1t was almost inaudible.
you'd forgive me-"
He was trembling SO much that he
staggered and held on by the rough
stair rail for support. Mason. who
had gone down two or three steps,
looked up with warm pity into his
drawn and quivering face.
Indeed" said the doctor, II am tell
ing you the truth when ] say you have
no need to give up hope. Your daugh-
ter is very Ill. there Is no denying that.
But she is young. She has fine ply
sique, and we may well hope to pull
her through"
what do you call the fever. sir. that
she's gotT
"Pneum90fa."
"Ah! That comes Of cold. don't it?"
EYES,"
"That's got by being out In all
weathers. looking after the live stock
when | was III myself. Poor Gwyn!
My poor little Gwyn! II you knew
what she was like. sir; what sun.
sine she Is about the place. why you
wouldn't be surprised at my taking
on go"
do you leave her alone up thereT
asked Mason.
"No. sir ! was up with her myself
all night. and her granny's been with
her all day. till Gwyn herself sent her
down stairs to get my tea for me. And
tonight It's her brothers turn. only
he's afraid. the blockheadr
"l'll do the watching tonight But
should like you to tell her who am:
| that I'm doctor and that there's moth
Ing to be alarmed about. She seems to
be afraid Of me-"
"Why, yes. sir; ! noticed 1t myself.
I'll speak to her. And thank you kind
ly. sir, for your offer. won't refuse.
for you'll know what to do for the
best. for sure. and you wouldn't let her
die, a young thing like that, II you
could help It, sir; that know"
"Of course not. But you have more
to hope from her youth and strength
than from anything ] or any one else
can do" a.
"And now come, sir, and have bite
of something yourself. You must be
starved. after all these hours In the
cold. Come, sir; come, and you're
heartily welcome to the best we've
got"
Transformed into the most attentive
of hosts to the guest who was ready to
try to save his daughter, the farmer
drew Mason into the kitchen. where
another figure, that Of thickset
heavy looking lad of u or II. now com.
pleted the strange party.
he was sitting covering over the fire
In his rough shepherds dress, and
when told By his father to lay the table