The Holly chieftain., 1903-09-04

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hand was ready to reach out for her
assistance whenever it was needed
and his face was almost sweet with
new touch upon it.
Dolores stood listlessly at one of
the Kitchen windows; she was looking
out at the storm, but she did not see
it; her ears We're strained to catch the
sound of voices in her fathers room.
Earnest voices they were and full of
meaning she could not catch.
The road was deserted the men
lad struggled up to Johnson's house
when first he was brought home. but
as soon as the messenger sent by
Green brought the doctors from the
town they ordered perfect quiet, and
the men We're sent away without be-
ing allowed to enter. They turned
away in silence and went down the
road to the tavern with its welcome
fire, its cider, and comrades.
The women We're forced to remain
at home; they gossiped with their
daughters or their kinsfolk around the
great hearth fires. Their needles were
busy, their spinning wheels hummed;
their lives We're narrow, but there
was work to be done as well as food
for gossip. Only Dolores was idle.
She stood at window staring with un-
seeing eyes at the storm outside
straining her ears in vain to catch the
hum OF voices in her fathers room.
Young Green was there. and two doc
tors, and woman they said was
nurse. What need was there of
nurse she asked herself. She could
nurse her father
And what We're the doctors doing
there? If her father was only ex-
hausted from exposure and lack Of
food why should he need two doctors?
Men had been lost on the mountain
before; they never needed nurses
when they were brought home; their
own women cared for them; she could
care for her father.
When he was well enough they
would send for him at the town; they
were only waiting for him to prove
their suspicious. The case had been
adjourned; it was a pretty clear case
of malice, folks said, but they were
waiting for her father to prove it.
The door of the bedroom opened,
and the nurse came out She was an
elderly woman with a grave face She
brought several parcels from the
town. Young Green sent her note
by the man who went to fetch the doc
tors, and she knew what to bring. One
or two of these she opened and pre-
pared beef and broth She spoke
quietly and pleasantly to Dolores. but
she found her own way about the
house and seemed to fit into every
thing.
A sudden fear took possession of
Dolores. 1t was sharp and appalling.
and she Strengthened up under it as
though she had received blow. 1t
was no exhaustion from want of food
and shelter that allied her father; some
thing more than that brought this
woman and the doctors, caused this
hush of voice and footsteps, shut her
from her fathers presence. She spoke,
and her voice was low The woman
turned quietly toward the girl.
You spoke, Miss Johnson"
What ails my father?"
He will be better by and by. We
could not expect him to recover at
once Do not be alarmed"
Dolores repeated her question in the
same low yet perfectly distinct voice;
her eyes looked steadily at the wom-
an.
What ails my father?"
The nurse was annoyed. She did
not like to be questioned so pointed
ly; she had studied to keep her own
counsel and use few words.
Your father had heavy fall. Miss
Johnson; only the ledge saved him
His right leg was broken above the
knee: the doctors have set that now;
it will be better soon"
Like young Green. she would not
tell the full truth. How could she
tell the girl the extent of the injuries
and the possible end? That one of his
legs would have to be amputated;
that his whole system was SO shat.
tered it Would be miracle If he lived
and though he should live he would
be cripple always? She dared not
say this; she dared not look at the
girl at first.
Presently Dolores spoke again, and
her voice was perfectly even and
slow.
How long before he will be well?"