Mexico Missouri message., 1903-09-03

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The road was deserted; the meT
had 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 were sent away without be
ing allowed to enter. They turned
away in silence and went down the
road to the tavern with its welcome
hre, its cider, and comrades.
The women we're forced to remain
at home; they sossiped with their
dhughters or their Sinsfolk around the
great hearth fires. Their needles were
busy, their spinning wheels humYaed /;
their lives were 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 a woman they said was a
nurse. What need was there of a
nurse she asked herself. She could
nurse her father.
And what were the doctors doing
| there? II 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 a blow. It
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 viii 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 WON
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 II he 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 will be well?"
Impossible to tell" the woman re.
piled grayely. Such cases are uncer-
tain"
But he will get well?"
Why not? We viii take good care
CT MIN.
DO you think" Dolores eyes grew
dark as night, do you think they will
send for him before he can go? They
are waiting for him to so TO the town
for him to go TO prove"
II know" the woman said, quietly,
With perfect coutrol over the muscles
OF her face. Il have heard. No, they
will not send for him until he can go.
You mnst not worry, Miss Johnson
Dolores turned back to the window
with no further remark, and silence
fell over the room save for the WON,
ans soft movements, and hushed
sound from the bedroom now and
then.
CHAPTER X.
The Nurses story.