The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-09-24
le a...Wereo reassurlngly as he set


Though her injuries are not serious
she must not be moved now. probably
not for couple of weeks" said Or. Moi
ford, firmly.
Then you and Arthur go home to-
night and I'll stay with Elsie" said Mrs.
Earle to her husband.
| Then he isn't john" thought th.
young doctor triumphantly.
you won't mind" said Mrs. Earle
addressing him. eff they send out our
| family physician. DR.. Lowe, in the morn
ing to give his opinion. You see Miss;
| Clarke is our guest. and we feel that We
ought to give her every attention.
| Certainly" agreed the doctor. 81
J shall be glad to have you do So"
"And will she need nurse? am quite
efficient in sick room"
$50 is my mother. think nurse will
be quite superfluous in this case. In two
or three days. she will need amusing.
more than care"
| After the men had driven away, Dr.,
Mofford returned to Elsie. She had re-
covered consciousness and all her facul-
! ties. AS she met his steady gaze, feel
| ing OF security came to her.
"Are the others hurt?" she asked.
"No," he replied. lifting her head to-
give her some medicine.
care you sure?"
| "Yes; Mrs. Earle is waiting to come
| in here. Her husband and Mr.. Wynne
went home as soon as they were as
sured of your safety. They feared false
! o~%o 9c@ I, ;Jo,, ,scrl,k
and they wanted to relieve anxiety"
He saw an expression of pleasure in
her eyes at this information.
"Will that medicine you gave me
make me sleep?"
81 hope so. Don't try to keep awake"
II can't sleep until see Mrs. Earle"
she said, resolutely. II must tell her
something"
/ He instantly went to that lady.
Don't oppose anything she says" he
said peremptorily f'She has had bad
shock to her nerves, and she must be-
| humored'
She promised obedience to this CON-
mand, and followed him into the bed
room.
ooh, Grace!" said Elsie, sitting up
right while two round, red spots
burned in her cheeks. 81 must tell you
something"
The doctor laid her back gently on the
pillow, and then started to leave the
room.
"No," said Elsie, OBTAINING him, "stay!
You give me courage to say what am
going to-
He held her hand firmly.
Grace" she resumed, solemply. II
am glad I was hurt instead Of any of
you. Ifanyone had been killed, should
have been murderess."
Nov, Elsie, it was no ones fault"
eyes, 1t was mine," persisted Elsie.
II was wishing something-anything
would happen, just before we went
overt"
elsie! Were you unhappy" asked
her friend.
eyes; wretched, because thought I
ought-had got to marry Arthur: T
won't'do it. know he is your friend and
awfully nice, but don't like him-I
don't know why"
II think know why" said Mrs Earle,
looking thoughtfully into the Doctors
steel-gray eyes with their dark lashes.
'He is milk and water"
She hadn't though so until now,
though.
go to sleep, Elsie, and you needn't
marry anyone. will never match-make
again."
After she had left the room, Elsie still
unconsciously held the Doctors hand
while she went to sleep.
When DR.. Lowe came the next morn
ing he approved all that had been done,
and sustained DR.. Mofford in his opinion
that Elsie must not be moved She made
a quick recovery, and in three or four
days, Mrs. Earle returned to her home,
as one of her children had childish all
ment.
During the next fortnight, DR.. Moi
ford was in constant attendance and the
young girl thought she had never felt so
peaceful and restful m her life as she
did in this big. clean, airy bedroom with
the sweet scent of the hay meadows COM
ing in through the vine-latticed win
, dows. And the doctor, too, was happier
than he had ever been, except that in
| ueF Steep SIG SO OlLeU QurmureQ the
name John" for though it was his own,
he knew it was notof him she was think.
ing or dreaming.
There came beautiful week of con-
valescence which she spent in the fields
and woods with her doctor, and at last
there came day when they realized
that there was no longer any reason
from health standpoint why she should
not return to Mrs. Earle's home.
"Elsie," said the doctor, abruptly, I'M
conscious that he had called her by her
first name, "will you tell me something
something have no right to ask?"
II will tel! you anything" she al
swered, softly.
"Who is John, and what is he to you?"
Her eyes grew tender as they looked
full into his.
did I talk Of him?" she asked, visit
fully.
always"
"He was my only brother" she sad.
after a moments silence. "He died sir
years ago."
elsie, now may I ask something
more?'
II said you might ask me-anythine.
she said, with a bright blush.