Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1903-10-23

away, leaving Helen alone with her
child.
May I come IN? Is there anything
the matter, Helenf" asked a voice at
the door.
She turned round and gladly bade
her mother-in-law enter.
Yes, something is the matter" she
was saying In a voice which somehow
did not sound like her own. Baby is
i'll. I've sent Bessie for the doctor,
and It's Hates evening out. am glad
you are here. | was feeling SO nervous
all alone"
rs she very bad, do you Think" Mrs.
Ferguson stopped and peered anxious
ly at the tiny face.
SIN afraid SO. All, thank God! Here
is the DOCTOR"
Doctor Dacre was a middle-aged man
of great experience, and he saw at a
glance what the trouble was.
"Diphtheria," he said briefly. "You
will need a trained nurse, Mrs. Fergus
son."
"Ah, | don't know said Helen. I'm
not really used to children much, and
l don't know anything about diphtheria
except that it is dangerous. Do you
think that she will die?"
1T is impossible to say at this stage.
l can send a nurse If you wish. 1t
would save you a great deal of care and
anxiety. Cheer up, my dear lady. We
will do our best for the little one, and
l hope she will soon pull through"
mo need for a nurse. I'll take
charge of her if you will let me, Helen.
l nursed her father through the same
complaint, and saved his life. viii you
trust her to me?"
1T is hard work, madam" said the
doctor, obviously, but Helen, without a
word, laid her baby in its grandmoth-
er's arms.
All through the weary days and
nights that followed the two women
fought with the king of terrors for the
little life which both loved so well.
Helen was quite inexperienced. but
Mrs. Ferguson had seen a great deal
OF sickness, and seemed to know in
stinctively what to do in an emergency.
The doctor gave his orders, feeling
comfortably certain that they would
be carried out.
Your mother Is q magnificent
nurse" he said to Helen n day as she
followed him down stairs to hear the
latest opinion. IF anybody could save
the child she would do it,"
as 1t quite hopeless, doctor?" asked
the young mother, looking wistfully up
at the kind, grave face which during
the last week she had grown to know
SO well. isn't there anything more to
be done?"
1T is not hopeless, but there is still
danger" he answered. THE crisis will
be passed tonight, so there Is not much
more waiting for you to do. You have
been very brave, and Mrs. Ferguson,
senior, is a woman in q thousand. She
must be nearly worn out, but she will
not give up. You are fortunate to have
had her with you during this very try
ing time"
YES" said Helen, humbly. "She is
very good indeed, and | can never be
grateful enough; but l know baby will
die. I have behaved badly, Doctor
Dacre, and this is my punishment. | am
sorry now, but it is too late. God is
angry with me, and is going to punish
before He forgives me. 1t is all quite
just, only l think my heart will break"
She looked such a pathetic, sorrow
full figure leaning against the hall table,
her eyes hot and fearless, her mouth
quivering with regret and grief, that
the doctor paused for a moment and
laid a kind hand upon her shoulder.
God is good" he said tenderly. 81
think he will let you keep your child.
Be brave and patient for a little long
er, and then you car make amends,
perhaps for the sins of the past. | will
return In two hours time and watch
with you. In the meantime keep UP
your courage, and do not be afraid"
When, a little later in the evening,
the doctor crept softly upstairs and in
to tho room where his tiny patient lay
sleeping, he found the two women
standing beside the cot, watching pa
tiently for the expected change. Would
it be for the warm flush of returning
health or the strange gray shade OF
death? Who could say? Doctor
Daere's plying glance took in the
whole picture.
Not yet" he said quietly. "Sit down
and wait for a while"
Helen took the chair he offered her.
but Mrs. Ferguson would not resign
her place for a moment The light
from a shaded lamp fell sharply across
her anxious, weary face, framed in its
silver hair.
For an hour, which felt almost like
a week in length, there was silence be-
tween the three watchers, then the doc
tor rose and laid his hand on Helen's
arm.
Thank God!s he said earnestly.
1.-The crisis is over"
"She will livei"
Eyes, she will live. Your mother
AAO Vi AOW "a l. oAoAA AoVC 0AOSAVA
patient on my hands. Goodnight. l
shall call the first thing in the morn
ing He stole softly away, and Helen
turned towards the cot where the baby
lay sleeping easily and naturally at
last.
Mother" she said quietly. 81 have
not deserved that you should be SO
good to me, but / am sorry. If we have
not got on together 1t was my fault,
and mine only. You have been kind
always, and / was Jealous. / think. be-
cause John loved you so well; but now.
for baby's sake, will you forgive me?"
my dear, I have nothing to forgive"
the elder m answered, kissing
Helen's ~quivering lips.-Waverley
Magazine.
London's Daring Man.
A stray man trying to find his way