Democratic messenger., 1903-09-12

D
he W; $ .ltaty far N IS ioi.I.:5..
'.Yo j i'st ietca the doctor. Bessie"
She sa ii. .kiag he l;,.c ore in her
arms I'm afraid il may ce bron-
chilis AZ s.,cthiug like that-it seems
70 oa +. re throat don't understand
! chiidre, : .n.?ents Mrs FERGUSON
would k nov perhaps, but she is out.
Hurry. i lca.e. FOR feel Very nervous
and as or PASS the kitchen tell Kate
10 come . IN.
It's kute's evening out. ma am.
"Ch. OF 90: rse | forgot. Well.
must stay alore then. only be as quick
as you pos sibly can. Bessie. See baoy
nearly chol es somel mes-she has new
er been Ike it before
Il woAt be Ten minutes. ma'am.
the girl answered as she slipped softly
away. leaving Helen alone with "e'
child.
May come in? rs there anything
the matter. Helen" asked a voice at
the door
She turned round and gladly bado
her mother-:n-.aw enter
Yes. something is tic matter. she
was saying in 4 voice which somehow
cid not sound ike ~. own. Baby Is
III. I've sent Bessie for the doctor,
and it's Rates evening out am Glad
you are here ] was feeling so nervous
all alone.
is she ye.y bad. Go you think" Mrs
Fersuasoi stopped and pee:ed anxious
ly at the tiny face
I'm afraid SO An. thank God. Here
is the doctor
Doctor Dacra vas 4 mitdle-ased man
OF great experience and he saw at
glance what the trouble VAS
"Diphtheria," Ee said b-iefy. You
will need a trained nurse. Mrs. Fergus
SON."
"Ah. don't know" said Heicn. I'm
not really used 10 children much, and
don't knew anything about diphtheria
excep: that It is dangerous. Do you
! think that she will de-"
1T is I'M, cssible TO say al this stage
can send nurse ii you wish. II
would save you great deal of are and
| anxiety. Cheer Up. my dear Ia ". We
will 60 or: lest Tor the little one. ana
hope she will aooE pull through.
No need fer nurse. I'll takr
charge Of her ii yol viii le, me. Helen
nmeed her father through the same
complaint; and aied his lie. viii you
trust her 10 me-
IT is hard work. madam" said tho
doctor dub:ous.y. but Helen without
VOID. laid her baby in its grandnoth-
er's arms.
Al through the weary days and
ri-.,is that followed the TWO women
fought with the king of terrcrs for the
little life which both loved so well.
Helen was quite inexperienced. bu:
Mrs. Ferguson had seen a great deal
of sickness. and seemed TO know in
srinctiyely what 10 do in an emergency.
The doctor gave his orders. feeling
comfortably certain that they would
be carried out.
Your mother is magnificent
nurse" he said to Helen one day as she
followed him down stairs TO hear the
latest opinion. IF anybody could save
the child she would do it,
rs it quite hopeless. Goctor?" asked
the young mother, looking wis:fully up
al the kind. grave face which during
the last week she had grown 10 know
so well. Isn't there anything more tC
be done?"
1T is not hopeless but there IL still
danger" he answered. TIE crisis will
be passed tonight, so there is not much
more waiting for you 10 DO You havr
been very brave. and Mrs. Ferguson.
senior. is woman in a thousand. She
must be nearly worn out. but she vii!
not give up. You are fortunate to have
/ had her with you during this very try
ing time
Yes" said Helen. hrm5ly. she is
very good indeed. and | can never he
grateful enough; bu; know baby will
die | have behaved badly. Doctor
Dacre. and this IS my punishment. | am
sorry now. but il is tCo late God is
angry with ne. ard is going 10 punish
Before He forgives rlc. Il Is all quite
just. only | think NY hear; vii. break.
She looked such pathetic sorrow
full figure leaning against the hall table
her eyes hot and tearlecs. her mouth
Quivering with regret and grief. that
the doctor paused for a moment and
laid kind hand upo2 her shoulder.
"God is gccd." he said tenderly. Il
think he will let you keep your child
Be brave and patient Ior a little long
er. and then yea can make amends.
perhaps for the sins oi the past. ! viii
return in two hou-s time and watch
with you. In the meantime keep uo
your courage. and do nu; he afraid"
When. a little later in the evening.
the doctor crept softly upstairs and in
to the room wnere his tiny patient lay
sleeping. he found the two women
standing beside the cot. watching pa
tiently fer the expected change. Would
il he fer the warm Hush of returning
health or the strange gray shade OF
Ceath? who could say? Doctor
Dac-e's rityias glance took in tho
whole picture.
no. yet" he SD c':ie;ly. IS; down
AMI wa.f fer . lie"
He.cl took The cta:r he oc.e:el her
bat Mrs. FERGUSON would not rcsigr
her place 10: a moment. The light
from shaded lamp i,ll sharp aero +.
her anxious. weary face. framed in il: