Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-03-11

trouble. She sat down by Carl and the
child knew her.
Little man, she said, using term
she had often given him, 'a:e you glad
to see Barbara? l am SO sorry you are
not well. So sorry"
"You come to stay?" asked Carl,
speaking with great difficulty.
"Ill stay with you awhile" Barbara
answered, glancing at Mrs. Ward, who
was at the foot of the bed.
II mean all the time, all the time,"
Carl repeated, slowly.
IF your mother wants me to-" re-
piled Barbara, who in the passage
from home tc, the Wards had really
made up her mind to stay if she was
asked.
20, I do want you to stay, Bar
bara!" cried Mrs. Ward, suddenly.
Then Barbara saw that she was worn
out with care of Carl for two nights,
and the Homework in addition.
"Mr. Ward has not been able to
get nurse yet, and-and-we have
not begun to-look around fora girl
-Carps sudden illness
"I'll come back and help if you
want me to-" said Barbara, quietly.
All this time she had been holding
Carl's hand. He chung to her with
feverish strength.
'And We'll have good times in the
kitchen. And will you make me an
other gingerbread man like Mr.. Nor
ton, same's the one we made before?
You know, Barbara?''
eyes, yes, little man, I will do any,
thing for you. Well have good times
together again"
"And you'll stay always, won't you,
Barbara, always?"
I'm going to stay, dear. Don't talk
any more now" Barbara said gently.
And Carl seemed satisfied, dropping
into a condition of stupor which the
doctor who called an hour later re-
garded with grave attention.
While the doctor was attending to
Carl and Mrs. Ward was 'anxiously
standing by him, Barbara slipped
down into the dining-room, and found
matters in confusion as she had ex-
pected. The breakfast dishes were
still on the table, the kitchen fire
had gone out, and all the rooms
downstairs were in disorder. She
quickly set to work to restore order;
and, when the doctor had gone and
Mrs. Ward had come down, Barbara
had cleaned up the dishes and the
dining-room, and had begun to set
the kitchen to rights.
Mrs. Ward stepped out into the
kitchen; and, as Barbara was NOV
ing into the dining-room for some
thing, she suddenly threw her arms
about her, and cried: "You don't
know what it means to me to have
you back again.. We have had three
miserable days.. Carl is very sick
child. lam all worn out!" She then
sat down and cried nervously.
Barbara felt embarrassed at first
in the role of comforter. But she was
quick to see how dependent Mrs.
Ward had become. It was, after all,
as woman to woman that they were
related now in their common anxiety
for Carl. And Barbara tried to cheer
the mother by every word of eneour-
agement she could think of while she
busted herself with the necessary de-
tails of the kitchen work. ..- !
In the afternoon she went over to
her mothers and told her what her
decision was. Mrs. Clark sadly con-
scented, and did not make 50 strong
IN objection rs Barbara had feared.
So the little trunk Was carried again:
to the old room, and Barbara reaa-s
lied that her career had received -,
new beginning i1as se1,lls sense, illes;
hardly knew how, ons- tlaing silezsssaEs.
very strongly. however. And that was
sthat under the stress Of need at the
Wards she Vas doing exactly the
right thing e going back g her ite