The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-10-16

T
brain threw off the night enchan
ment, Florence reused to find Mr.
Dennison at the tent door, calling j
an anxious tone.
What is it, Carrier" Florene
asked rs your husband ill??"
"Oh, Florence, I'm so alarmed abot
him?" answered Mrs. Dennison. N
J has symptoms of one +of..h lis old al
tacks. We had hoped that they wer
quite conquered, he had been so muc
7 better here. I'd give him one of hi
powders, but there are only two LEFT
I and he ought to take them frequent
TO prevent the trouble. Can you rid
to DR.. Winters"
There, there, you dear, worrie
woman!" Florence soothingly replied
"Of cours I'll go. Isn't he asleel
now? l thought so. You go and d
as wisely. I'll soon be on the way"
A few moments at the tent door t
gather in the strength of the hills AM
the calm of the morning, and Florenc'
turned to the new duty. Breakfast ant
the directions from Mrs. Dennison de
layed briefly, and she was soon riding
through the pine forest, where the
night GOODNESS yet fingered. She
looked for the maybe to give him
greeting, and as her ready hearing
caught the murmuring wood sound, she
called all her powers of resolution to
her aid to invest. herself with an in
vincible arm Of courage. No more
%terrors for her! She would be brave
as Britomart; and, holding her whip
like a lance at charge, she rode boldly
to the Caldwell gate, as if it were the
only port of a Castle Dangerous. A
moment or two for studying the fasten-
ing, till She could open and close the
gate with ease, then out down the
mountain road.
1t was early when she saw below
her the struggling streets of Oakview,
almost regretting that it was so near.
Arriving at the drug store, a little
difficulty arose. DR.. Winter was away,
and the boy in charge knew nothing
of Mr.. Dennison's powders. Riding to
the doctors home she learned from
Mrs. Winter that the doctor was oper-
ating upon a patient at Powell's, seven
miles to the north, and did not ex-
pect to return before one o'clock.
1t was we'll past two when the doc
tor drove up, flung the reins to the
boy who stood waiting and, turning to
help a man in the gaTb of a farmland
from the buggy, calling, as he did so,
for hot water and a~ntiSeptics.
STEADY, there. my man." he said.
Here, lean on me. Marcia" Ito his
wife), give him your arm on the
other SIDE But Florence was nearer
and afforded her strong young shoulder /
to the wounded mans support.
".Scythe wound in the forearm"
briefly stated the doctor. II saw the !
accident, but was able only to tie a ,
tourniquet, and must set a few stitches.
Mrs. Lindsay, can you stand the sight |
of blood?"
The man was seated on the shaded
porch, and both women mechanically !
followed the doctors directions, moved
to deftness by his will.
All, muttered the doctor, as the /,
blood spouted with the loosening of |
the tourniquet. "Radial artery; ulnar,
too. suspect. Stand still, Mrs. Lind
say for the bright streams shot out
and dyed n side of her linen riding
habit.
DIR. Winter worked rapidly. and
Florence held her machine-like pose
until a splint and sling kept the arm
Then the doctor became
the genial host and turned cordially to
Mrs. Lindsay.
I'm glad you came to-day. Marcia
and l are in need of a little of YOUR
society,""
Florence shook her head and told
him her errand.
Fred Dennison! Poor fellow. I
hoped much from that chloralmide for
him. That and the mountain life will
put him on his feet. BY joye! The
stuff is coming out on the late train
and it will take me an hour afferward
TO get it. You'll have to stay and take
II up in the morning." He hurried to
his Office for a possible grain or two
OF the precious drug.
Florence felt that here was a test
for her new panop1y. If she con-
quered this time she would ex,lt in
future fearlessness. It would only be
early dark by the time she reached
camp, where her refuge waited. She
turned to Mrs. Winter, who stood
ready to sponge the red stain from her
skirt.
I'D lend you one" said the lady,
but I've not learned to use the cross
saddle and there's no time to wash this
properly if you must co." looking at
the shadow On the mountains above
the town.
With q steady hand Florence held the
arm motionless at the required angle
and told herself that want of courage
was simply unusedness and inexperi-
ence. II she knew more she would not
be afraid.
The shadows were pointing long
fingers down the %darkening canyons
as she rode up the mountain path,
leaving the last struggling farm well
behind.
The first CULVER of fear stole upon
her when q great gray nu,l uin0od ;tc