The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-02-18

th the nlth uly Attec ne arrived n
the hospital she received letter:
Dear Madam--Mr. Grimm has re
ceived word that his nephew, Johr
Stanton, IN confined to your hospita
with typhoid fever, He requests thai
YOU spare no expense to make him
comfortable and TO bring about his ul
innate recovery, kindly render q
weekly statement to Nr, Grimm and
notify him II we can ship anything
that win make John more comfortable
or that VIII expedite his recovery"
The signature was the name Of Mr.,
! Grimm's secretary,
Miss Kent laid down the letter and
frowned at an engraving Of Esculapius
which hung over her dslk. She could
see the man of business In bis richly
appointed Office turning from his tele.
phone long enough to give the secre-
tary some curt directions. She could
also see-and the memory Of that sight
brought a queer choking sensation In
her throat-Jack Stanton's eager face
each day when the mail was being dis
tributed.
ANY line from the governorf'
Marion Kent gave the mail to an.
other nurse to distribute. and then she
sat down to her desk. II took her a
long time 10 frame the letter she had
decided TO write she wrote II In lead
pencil, eraslng and lnterllnlng, and then
copied 1t, She set the stump upon the
envelope with triumphant uplifting of
her head. Something told her that this
letter would make Henry Grimm, bach.
elor. think.
II did. When he had read II the first
time he showed back his chair from his
rich mahogany desk and stared through
the window where the joyous spring
sunlight was dancing on the roofs Of
skyscrapers. II seemed as II a sudden
new light had flooded the eyrie In
which Henry Grimm had been content
at the game Of making money and
more money, He read the letter again.
Then be laid It down and leaned back
In his chair. 1t was a womanly letter.
but It carried a certain force OF char.
acter In every gentle phrase. And aft.
er reading It the third time Henry
Grimm wrote TO his nephew. He did
not even dictate the letter to his sec. |
retary, but wrote It long hand. Oddly
enough, at the same hour the very next |
he found himself at the same
iesk. The answers TO these letters
came In her handwriting, but they bub-
Dled over with boyish expressions Of .
he patient TO whom the mail hour was
low the happiest Of the day.
Then the tenor Of the letters changed.
There were only daily reports from
Miss Kent setting forth the trifing va.
.fations Of temperature and resplra.
ions. Young Stanton was wandering
n the land Of dellrium.
II was only natural that Miss Kent
'hould write Il few words Of comfort
o the now anxious man and equally
natural that he should watch for those
laily crumbs Of comfort, but his secre-
airy was amazed when the man Of af-
airs suddenly announced that he was
oing south. Miss Kent had written
hat they expected the crisis In forty
light hours.
Mr.. Grimm leaned back In the chair
the parlor car and closed his eyes.
Or course he will get well. He's been
eeping up this gait ever since his first
egree Of measles. II Is foolish Of me
chase down there" Then he added
ute inconsequently, "I'll wager she's
,rty-fve and wears corkscrew curis."
Young Stanton had been carried out
q the convalescents' porch. He was
'aitlng for his uncle, who had gone
own to White Sulphur Springs for a
'eek's stay. Il say, governor" he said
hen Mr.. Grimm had finished his ac-
ount OF his trip. don't you think we
'uld fix 1t 50 that Miss Kent could
ave little vacation? She looks aw-
lily tired. think we could fix It on
le score that need her to take care
me on the trip"
Henry Grimm looked up at the
ountains. They were calm and stead
st, like Marion Kent He rose sud
.nly.
Yes. ] will ask her now. / think I
ed her myself"