The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-06-25
A CHANGE OF REMEDY.
BAXTER THOMPSON.

|
"Td like to use it now, if it wasn't
so painful. 1 don't understand 'ow it
is it doesn't get on quicker. s'pose
I'm weak, that's what it is he an
swered resignedly, looking anxiously
out Of the corners of his eyes ut his
wife, who was doing rough and ready
toilet in front of the parlor mirror.
"You can't be very weak answered
his wife looking at him. Look at the
nourishment you've 'ad; besides, every
body says you're lookin' so we'll. 'Ow
do you feel now?'
Mr.. Willet inwardly wished every
body would pay less attention to- his
personal appearance. He had been
quietly enjoying the last few days, end
would like to continue in the same con-
dition G little longer.
eve felt a bit faint while you've
been out" he said, feeily. I'D ave
ed a little tonic only I couldn't
move out of my chair; p'raps IFS rot
too late now
Mrs. Willet murmured something
her husband did not catch, and Looked
anxious.
".And 'ow's the foot:" she inquired.
NIr. N-illet looked. down upon it, and
rs it vas swathed with many thick
ressos of DaEdages, and there being
nothing else to say about it, he re-
marked that it felt hot.
:I've been treatin' you wrong, I'm
afraid" replied his wife. "Yor'ye been
fed up too we'll in your low state. I'll
take your tenperature.'
Bringing out 4 small glass tube, Mr..
N'illet was commanded to place it un-
der his tongue and not to speak until
It was removed. 1t being an impossi-
bility to do otherwise than obey, Mr..
Wil,ot remained silent for the longest
four minutes he could remember. Mrs.
Willet then removed the instrument
of torture, took it to the light, and
examined it long and closely; finally
she shut it up in its case and returned
it to her pocket.
'I'll go and get your bed ready" she
remarked seriously. "You want to be
kept quiet; you'll be better up there"
Il don't want to 80 to bed" said
Mr.. Willet, anxiously. 'I'm very COM
Portable down here"
you'll go where it's best for you,"
answered his, wife sharply. YOU'D
better be gettin' yourself ready now;
I shan't be more than few moments
upstairs" ..... O..
In a very unwilling state Of mind
Mr.. WilIet was undressed, and placed
safely in bed at the unusual and, to
him, unpleasant hour of six o'clock,
and a summer evening into the bar
gain. Being left to himself he found it
a dreary time, and i'll the morning he
screwed up his courage to inquire after
the other invalids. .. ..
"They've all been treated wrong"
said Mrs. Willet. Like you, they
amt so we'll, so they're restin' quietly"
"In bed?" queried Mr.. Willet, anx-
iously. ...;s-...s
".same as you," responded his wife,
you'll ave some friends in tonight
that'll cheer VOL a bit"
"I'll come down and see 'em," said
Sam, weakly. .......
's1ou'll do nothing Of the kind; you
lie where you are and get well. l
don't want all my nursing to g for
nothing '..-
Mr.. Willet's remarks on nursing for
,tunately were not heard-they were
not complimentary. Mrs. Willet
smoothed his pillows, arranged the
clothes and said she'd bring him some
Cruel Later on. ...
Il don't want any," said the patient
shortly. -'....
"Ah, you're losing your appetite, are
you? It's 4 good thing you've got some
one to look after you and see as you
ave your food regular" ....
Mr.. Willet said nothing-argument
was useless: he lay and looked at the
limited view Of the world that was
permitted from the small window Of
his bedroom. The SUI was shining
brilliantly; he could hear coming faint
ly from tie fields familiar sounds,
proving that the work was going for
ward where he ought to be assisting.
What fool he was! Why had he not
gone back to work when he was able,
instead Of laying himself open to this
self-imposed confinement? Even the
knowledge that his fellow-suferers
were in a like position failed to bring
him consolation. ...-
Evening had barely set in on one OF
the most dismal days he could remem-
Der when voices below signalled the
advent of anxious inquirers. Mrs. Will
let usherad them upstairs, but Mr.. Will
let did not seem Hospitality inclined,
and the look that greeted the good
Samaritans that entered could hardly
have been interpreted into one Of vel
come.
"Sorry to hear you amt so we'll
Sam" said one Of them; 1--WE all
thought you was a-pickin' up wonder
full"
"It's surprisin' 'ow these things
turn" said another. II 'ad a brother
who sprained is ankle once, an e was
in bed three weeks"
Mr.. Willet glared at the last speaker,
and had he been anywhere else but In
bed his look might have .instilled the
recipient with 4 fear Of worse to fol-
low.
"Make yourselves comfortable" in
terpoaed Mrs. Willet. ''There's little
cordial down stairs I've been givin'
to Sam; e don't take it now, an it's
a pity to waste it. I'll bring it up"
The conversation was very one-sided,
Sam being treated to graphic descrip-
tions of some interesting evenings at
the Pig and Whistle from which he
had been debarred, the details Of which |
We're bitter-sweet to the hearer.
"Sam's not very lively tonight" said
one, with commiserating glance at
the ruddy face. showing like an angry
sunset against q white cloud of bed