The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-01-29

"-A" wi NANAA AAAO- A"+- = +----''
what you mean. This child is mine"
Without lifting her eyes from the liyid
face and mangled body she removed
her gloves, her hat and cloak, and
dropped them, to be picked up or trod-
den into shreds
Then she asked the surgeon:
Have you all you need?"
Eyes, Mrs. Th0rne. AS soon as we
find the extent Of the injuries and
dress the wounds. we'II apply restora-
tives"
She sat perfectly calm. quieting with
kindly spoken words and gentle touch
es her older boy.
"Yes. I know, dear" she answered
his repetitions Of what he had told
her at first. yes. I know you always
care for your brother"
She never could have told whether
It was thirty minutes or two hours
that she sat there watching the sur
geons bathe and dress the broken arm
and leg Of her child. She only knew It
was done at last. At last the eyes
opened, the lips moved. Then she
knelt by him, saying only:
"There, now. mamma viii take care
Of her little boy. Mammals good boy
won't cry" and there was never
tremor in voice or hand.
She followed the surgeons to the
door.
"TeIl me the truth. What do these
fractures mean? Crippled for life!
What about his head and back?"
"They are simple fractures, Dr.
Bell answered. 1--WE find no indications
Of internal Injuries. The child is strong,
his blood is In good condition. He viii
require constant care for a few weeks,
that's all. The accident is not neces-
sarily any more serious than that.
Mrs. Thorne felt that she heard the
truth, and yet, she knew that physi-
clans were not infallible, and the best
OF them could not know or prevent
complications. The first thing for her
was unremltting watchfulness.
All, here was a respectable calamity.
This stranger had called and she must
entertain It. She must give It her
thoughts to the exclusion Of everything
else. 1t filled the house, the world.
Was there anything else she ought TO
think Of? Nothing. How far away
and contemplate seemed that other
grievance. How small II was. She
smiled to herself as she sat alone by
the cot late into the night. Everyone
has something to bear.
"Ahl" and shivering. she slid from
her chair, down upon the floor. She
put out her hands, but did not touch,
for fear Of disturbing, the sleeping
child. God" she whispered, If you
know all about these things, II you or
der. or allow all these perpIexing af-
fairs, please leave my burden as 1t
was. III bear It. I'll never grumble
agair. III be kind and pa
tient with Mark. II L. by him
against all the world; '5nly-only
s0ara ay boy Give me * the dear
uue body strong and leaunful. Leave
ms ny boys. and-the- other, leave
hin. too
she crouehed on the foor her force
head touching the carpet She heard
I the street door open ana close q step
WIS On ne suir q iagg.ng. Stumbling
stcp. she arose and went into tho
hail This was nothing She even
laughed softly. She stood on The land
lne and turned the light hien. An
angry exclamation from Mark vas her
thanks. She rais1d her llgor Harn-
.-rly and shook her head. sAen went
inogn a few steps 70 meet and steady
him. a
"Be very quiet, dear" she said.
Hughie got hurt. but he's asleep
and she told him all about It. Then
she allowed him to go with her into
the room where the little boy lay. and
look over the screen that shaded the
cot. She felt him brace himself as he
listened. She saw that he lifted his
head to It's natural poise. and he
ciasped her hand IN his own as It rest
ed on his arm. Great beads Of pers-
piration stood on his face.
She said. "Go to bed now. dear; to-
morrow will be a hard day for Us all"
He left the room. was gone half
hour. then came IN In a long flannel
bath robe and slippers. He was like
a breath OF fresh coolness, Of watery
odors. and entirely sober.
Il can't leave you alone, Ethel; this
Is my place as well as yours. and you
have had many bad nights lately. Take
this reclining chair and let me make
You comfortable"
Ethel was not surprised. This was
only her husbands normal self She
knew she could trust him. and that
night was the most restful one she had
passed fer several weeks
While the morning was yet dusky.
Judge Barstow came He supposed
that matters would so on just the
same. Ethel need not be out of the
house more than An hour. at most.
counting the time Of going to and
from the court. aud Mrs. Barst0w
would stay with Hughie. Ethel in
terrupted him with a look and a lift