The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-11-11
Tuesday. Nov. a.
who had endured his contagious car

who had endured his contagious car
esscs.
The next morning he found Il suit
of his old clothes. frayed overcoat
and a lot of patched underwear laid
out for his use.
where did these rags come from"
he howled.
please wear them today, dear" she
pleaded. I've sent all your Stein
meyer--you. Milwaukee clothes TO be
renovated. They'll he back tomor-
row."
He didn't want to make Il scene be-
fore Aunt Lavina and her children so
he ate his breakfast like an ogre and
bolted Tor the train without II word.
When he came home that night the
reinforced family which greeted him
without Offering to caress looked ut
him suspiciously and almost in pity.
Evidently they had caught the terror
of contagion and regarded him as the
possible vehicle of their combined and
several deaths. Mrs. Wilkins and her
sister didn't sleep much that night.
Two of the children We're restless and
there was much lowering and Whisper
ing through the fiat. Wilkins thought
it best to let them have out their
scare and then he would laugh at
them.
About o'clock in the morning his
wife shook him. He started UP in Il
fright and whispered whats the
matter?"
She gazed on him for a moment with
a look of agonized despair and then
groaned: They've got it,
Got what?"
"rhe scarlet fever, of couise," she
bubbered, Il knew what would hap
pen. but YOU never would listen to
me-
Wilkins was practical man, skep-
tical 10 n reasonable degree and de-
voted to his wife, but this wicrd scene
at > a. m. staggered him. He tiptoed
into the little trundle-beds where his
three children slept ana turned up
the Gaslight.
Harry's face was covered with u
bright red rash. The babys face. too,
was flushed and fcversh. Then lie
rushed back to his room and fairly hop
ped into his garments.
What are, you going to do?' she
asked.
Going for he doctor, of course"
In Il minute she heard him gallop-
ing down the stairway, and while he
was gone Mrs. wilkins and Aunt La
vina had Il good cry. They swapped
stories of their darlinss as though
the dark earth had already swallowed
them, and before wilkins came back
they had experienced an altogethe'
wrctChed half hour. He went 10 bed
with Wake me il the doctor comes"
In his dozng he heard disjointcd SEN
tences about the indifference of men"
'the hearts of mothers" and other
things that made him dream that he
was Herod slaushtcring innocents.
The doctor didn't come till after day
light. aud the whole family assein-
BLEED like mournerS to meet him, lie
was "A cheerful little man and went
about his business hummine an air
that evoked the scorn and hatred of
buth mothers. From bed To bed he
passed, peering into little swollen eye
lids. looking at furred little tongues
and feeling for fevers with thermom-
eter like silver bodkin. Wilkins could
hear his heart beat when the doctor,
still smiling silently, sat down in the
easiest chair and pulled out pencil
and paper. Al last he looked up AT Will
kins, and, with a grin. said:
Well they've got it"
NrS. wilkins tainted. Aunt LaVina
shrieked. The five children set up n
bitter wall,
Got what?" yelled Wilkins above
the din,
"Measles.' replied the doctor.
"Measles. That's ALL
tie was ministcrng to Mrs. Wilkins
now. and Wilkins the heartless brute.
WAS laughing like a fool Chicago
Record.
Excited His Pity.