Middletown transcript., 1904-08-27

i - Pup ~ Ais cai0 AlotaSC dpoluSctICdlty
.'I'll get the BOTTLE and he soon re-
turned with pink ink bottle.
aWhy, this is empty, too!D said his
father. is there any other ink about
the house?n A search proved that there
was not.
/ .'Pshaw r lie exclaimed at last. 81
wanted to get this letter in tile box to-
night for the early collection 7 The boy
turned away. Was that all? His lips
| quivered, and he opened the book lease,
and seemed to be searching for book,
but lie could not see even the largest
title. Mr. Gilmore looked after him,
he was about to say something, but
Horace seemed to be busy, and it was
| never said.
Soon after the>boy left the room and
went to. bed, but before he slept he heard
the clock strike its smallest number for
the first time in his short life. How odd
it sounded. Then he fell asleep.
Horace was very pale the next morn
ing he complained of a headache, and
scarcely touched his breakfast. Several
days passed. and he did not seem much
better.
II think you had better have the doc.
tor call to see Horace" said Mrs. Gilmore
to her husband one morning. "He
seemed to be getting better for while,
but now he looks worse than ever"
"I'll send DR.. Kenzie up this morning, !"
he replied, little uneasily. There was
no physician in the city excepting DR..
Kenzie, Mr.. Gilmore thought. and so
thought many others. To be sure, his
bills were apt to be startling, but what
was that when it was rich mans only
boy Besides, DIR. Kenzie was an old
college classmate of Mr.. Gilmore.s, and
great personal friend.
DR.. Kenzie came, and came and came
again, but the boy seemed no better.
He was puzzled, and began to mistrust
that that dread foe, consumption. had
marked the slight form as an intended
victim. He had little to say to the anx-
ious inquiries Of the parents, and he did
not know of the vigils at the window.
Spring had gone, and June, in her rich
beauty, beekoned those who were so
fortunate as to afford it to life beneath
her leafy bowers. The doctor dropped in
unexpectedly one evening when he knew
lie might probably find Mr.. Gilmore at
home.
II don't. want to see Horace tonight"
lie explained, when both parents had
met him in the parlor, each secretly
anxious to know why he had come at
such time from his downtown home.
He came to the point promptly.
II am going for my regular months
outing in the Adirondacks next week."
he said, "and I want to take your boy
along with me. | have tried every
remedy that can think Of, and il
change. and out-of-door life, with its
fresh air and exercise, will not bring him
out. | don't know what WILL"
''Why, Doctor Y exclaimed Mrs. Gil
more, Il could not think Of letting Hor-
ace go away off there, in the woods,
among wild beasts and things I could |
not feel easy moment while he was
gone" The smile left the DOCTORS face,
and look took its place SO grave that it |
startled the mother, as he said slowly:
"Well, you can either let your boy 60 |
to the Adirondacks with me-or you may
let him 60 to Greenwood alone, while
you follow in the first hack
Greenwood p she gasped. ooh Doc
tor, you do not really mean thatr'
t'That is just about what it looks like
now," he replied, seriously. Mrs. Gill
more had opened her lips, with a half
smile, to speak again, when she lifted her
glance to her husband. The ashy look
upon his face took away her voice.
tWhen did you say you were going,
Doctor?'' he asked, in strained accents.
"a week from Monday"
''He will be ready" And there was
in his tone that made Mrs,
Gilmore shudder
The journey was great treat to the
'hut-up city boy, from its beginning on
5he electric car to its last stage in the long
wagon ride that took them far into the
solitude Of the hills and forest. He was
delighted with the doctors one-room
,abin, on the shore Of an exquisite bit OF
ree-enclosed water, and the doctor, who
mad chosen to come alone for several
years, found it more than pleasant to
nave his company.
He soon noticed, however, a represeed
manner about the boy that puzzled him.
He would start, often, to say something,
and let it die away on his lips before the
first word had well gotten OUT But he
was winsome little fellow, aud there
was something about his face that, to the
doctor, was very attactiye, even beauti-
Jul. In fact, confirmed old bachelor |
though he was, his heart warmed toward
5he boy wonderfully.
It was the second evening after their
arrival. and the two we're seated upon
arge rock at the very edge of the tiny
AXE, when the boy, who had been sitting
oDg in deep thought, suddenly spoke.
"Do you live all alone ?" he asked.
eyes, except for the servants in the
house, was the reply
"Do you ever feel lonely?"
Sometimes. Do you n
s'Yes, often" and there was a great
sadness in the tone.
"YouI'' said the doctor in surprise,
why, there's your father and motherr'
Eyes, but papa is SO busy and tired,
md lie has no other time to read the
newspaper-and it's so long. you know
He did not mention the absorbing baby.
"But your mother?"
"Oh, mamma has SO much to do. She
selongs to three clubs, and she has to
|