St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1901-05-11
BERTHINE'S ILLNESS.

Ihere was something serious Iae
matter with Berthine. Her mother
worried about it a great deal and told
her brother Richard that she did not
know what she was going to do about
the girl. She and Berthine were on a
two-days' visit to Chicago, and, of
course, they stayed with Uncle Dick
and Aunt Eyeline.
.What seems to be the trouble?"
asked Uncle Dick. .She looks well
enough.
aThat's what we can't tell exactly.
I had DR.. Lomax see her and old DR..
Potter, and they could neither Of them
give me any satisfaction. DR.. Lomax
said it was some sort Of nervous dis
order, and he thought that tonic
and a change Of air would do her good.
I've been giving her iron and quinine,
and / thought it might help her to
bring her up here with me. She
thought so, too
What was the other mans dag
nosis?n
Mrs. Wilkins colored slightly and
tapped her foot on the carpet, which
was a trick Of hers when she was an
noyed. ssOh, I've no patience with
that old bear" she said. & told Viii
liam that [ wouldn thave hind doctor
sick dog for me. No, be couldn't
understand anything about consti-
tuition ike Berthine's. She's natu-
rally delicate and nervous, and she
needs careful and wise treatment. |
try not to let her know that / think
she's sick at all; think that's about
the best-how do you feel thiseven-
ing, darling? You must be careful
not to oYerexert yourself 2
Berthine had just entered the room.
She was about 16 years old, and, as
her uncle said, she looked well
enough, but she sighed YEARLY and
= i - lglse
passed her hand over her forehead as
her mother spoke. s<I think [ should
like to so up to my room and lie down
a little While," she said, in a faint
voice.
"Why, you poor ehild!" exclaimed
the anxious mother. Let me go up
with you, dearest. Ii it your head
where you feel bad, 2
BY that time she had passed out Of
the room, and Uncle Dick, turning to
Aunt Eveline, said, in his coarse, un-
feeling way:
Wouldn't that jar you, Evvy?"
sI wish you wouldn't be 50 slangy,
Richard, . said Aunt Eyeline. q sup
pose the poor girl isn't to blame if
she's sick.D
"I suppose she isn't" grinned
Uncle Dick. "I'll bet moderate odds
that the old doctor sized up her COM
plant all right, though" he added,
after a moments pause. & don't
know what he said, but it was prob
ably the plain, blunt truth, without
any oil finish"
They had to send up for Mrs. VIII
Hns at dinner time, and Mrs. Wilkins
sent down word that she hoped they
would excuse her, but she had to stay
with poor Berthine, who had one Of
her nervous attacks. Aunt Eveline=
went up and found her holding Ber-
thine's hand and trying to battle the
interesting patients head with CO.
Iogne at the same time.
.SShe can't bear to have me leave
her." said Mrs. Wilkins. Just see
how she twitches and how her eyes
roll. She says she wants to scream
and go out and run up and down the
street as hard as she can tear.
think I had better have a doctor in to
see he7, Eyeline." !"
There came sharp protest from
the led. Il don't want any old doc
.tors, said Berthine. SIf you bring
one here it viii drive me frantic. Just
stay here and hold my hand.o
But you've got to eat something
said Aunt Eveline. Here, you go
downstairs and eat your dinner and
I'll stay with her"
After some pressing Mrs. Wilkins
did this, but when she went down
Uacle Dick promptly announced his
intention of taking charge of the in
valid. .fll telephone and get our doc
tor oyer before ! go. he added. Hes
a good man, and I'm pretty sure he
viii beableto DO her some good.
Bat she'll have fit Of Mysteries
Il you DO that. She doesn't want any
doctor"