The Yale expositor., 1903-08-14

had straggled mp To Johnson's house
when first ne 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 were sent away without be.
Ing allowed TO enter. They turned
away In silence and went down the
road 10 the tavern with It's welcome
IRE. It's cider and comrades.
The women were forced To remain
at home; they gossiped with their
daughters or their kinsfolk around tho
great hearth fires Their needles were
busy their spinning wheels hummed;
/ their lives were narrow. Lat there
was work 60 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.
stralning her ears IN vain 90 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 a
nurse sho asked herself She could
nurse her father.
And what were the doctors doing
/ there? II her father was only eX-
haustcd frcm 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 fer them; she could
care for her father.
When ne was well enough they
/ would send for him at the town. they
/ were only waiting FOR him 20 prove
their suspicious. The case had been
/ adjourned. II was a pretty clear case
OF malice. folks said. but they were
waiting for her father TO prove Il.
The door OF the bedroom opened.
| and the nurse came out. She was an
| elderly woman with 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 20 bring. one
or two OF these she opened and pre-
/ pared beef and broth. She spoke
/ quietly and pleasantly 90 Dolores. but
/ she found her own way about tho
house and seemed To NJ into every
/ thing
a sudden fear took possession OF
| Dolores. II was sharp and appalling.
and she straightencd up under ii "a
though she had received blow. II
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 10 recover az
once. DO not be alarmed"
Dolores repeated her question In the
same low yet perfectly distinct voice;
her eyes looked steadily al the won.
an.
what ais my fathcr?"
The nurse was annoyed. She did
not like 20 be questioned 80 pointed.
ly she had studied 10 keep her own
counsel and use Few words.
Your father had a h0avy fan. Miss
Johnson: only the ledge saved him.
His right leg was broken above the
knee. the doctors have set that now;
IL 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 amputatcd:
that his whole system was 30 shat.
tered IL would be- miracle II ne lived.
and though he should live he would
be a 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 viii be wcll?"
Impossible To tell" the woman re-.
piled grayely Such cases are uncer.
| tain "
But he will get well7"
why not? We will take good care
Of him"
DO you think" Dolores eyes grew
dark az night. do you think they will
send for him before he can go? They
arc waiting for him To go to the town
for him to go to prove"
II know the woman said quietly.
with perfect control over the muscles
OF her face. Il have heard. No. they
will not send for him until he can go.
You must not worry. Miss Johnson"
Dolores turned back 90 the window
with no further remark. and silence
fell over the room save for the WON.
ans soft movements, and hushcd
sound from the bedroom now and
then.