The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-01-21
A N()NANS SACRIFICE.


~ BR next-door netghbors have ar
vi rived, Clay" said old Mrs. Grin
die to her son, the doctor, as he
came in from his round of visits with a
weary look on his pale, handsome face.
ARRIVED, have they, lnother2 1t
VIII be better than having an old emp
ty house for neighbors, you think, eh
Well, hope it may prove So"
The old lady shook her head doubt
ingly. ~
They seem to be only men and boys,
except slip Of a girl, who fitted
about here, there and everywhere, Civ.
ing orders as though she had my gray
head upon her young shoulders" @-
The doctor laughed; but it was a
tired laugh, and the old ears, listening,
were keen to detect the sound of wear.
mess. GEt ~.
"You are tired, my boy" she said.
No, no." he answered. mot more
than usual. BY the way, mother, had
letter from Marjorie to-day. They
talk Of coming here next summer; but
she says 1t is impossible to carry out
my proposition of a marriage in June
that her fathers eyesight Is failing
more and more rapidly, and that she
could not think of leaving him"
How long has your engagement
lasted, ClayT'
-Four years." he said, despondingly.
-Four YearSl And except for Mr..
Markham's health you would have
been married long ago. Why can he
not make his home with your"
Il have proposed that to Marjorie
but she will not hear of it. She has an
absurd idea that l might wake some
fine day fancying him a burden, and
all my eloquence to the contrary has
been so long wasted that l have ceased
20 exercise It."
The summons to dinner at this mo-
ment interrupted them, and after the
daintily served meal, seated before a
blazing fire, in dressing gown and slip
pers, DIR. Clay CrindIe mentally CON
graduated himself that his duties for
the "a hours were ended.
But his congratulat lions were prema-
Sure. a quick, sharp ring at the bell
startled him from his reverie.
A lad stood on the threshold as the
servant opened the door.
my father has been suddenly taken
ILL.," he said. II saw the doctors sign
this afternoon, and sister Eva told me
to ask him to come in at once, please.
We live next door-only moved in to-
day"
"All right; will be there in five min
utes," the doctor called out
Again drawing on the boots he had
been 90 glad to draw off, mentally
matchmaking next-door neighbors in
general and this case in particular. he
started on his unexpected errand,
He had no need to ring the bell, The
boy who had come for him had sta
toned himself at the open door, and
motioned him to the stairs.
At their head stood a girl. In that
moment he thought her but child: bnt
her air of quiet dignity, as she held
out a little, cold hand of welcome. and
simply said, my father you will find
very jill, fear" made him glance again
into her face, to see If indeed his moth
er's words were not true, and on these
slight young shoulders was not set a
gray head.
Silently she led the way into the
room where the sick man lay. He had
taken a heavy cold and had been sud.
denly seized with acute rheumatism,
Instantly DR.. Crindle's professional
eye saw that the case was well-niph
hopeless. He forgot his fatigue. his
annoyance, as he struggled with all his
skill TO battle the grim enemy. but in
vain. As the morning sun came Green
Ing into the room long, low wall vel
coined 1t from that dimly lighted cham.
Der, where a dead man lay.
The doctor lifted in his arms +bs
slight, unconscious form, which had
stood by his side so bravely through
these long hours, and bore 1t from the
place.
A week passed. The grave had re-.
ceived Its own; the house was silent
and gloomy. Eva took little note of
anything save that q kind, motherIy
face was constantly beside her. and
that many times a day some one en-.
tered her room who brought with him
an atmosphere Of strength and rest.
She grew to look for his coming and
20 sink back into the old apathy when
he had gone; but she could not have
told whether he was young or old. Of
described his face or form. Yet 1t wa,
this which made her look upon DR.
Crindle and his mother as old, tried
friends. When the mists scattered a
last. and she knew that she must tax,
up life again, this newly laid burder
resting In all It's WEAKNESS upon 1t, 4
@ag to these friends she looked for ad