Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-11-10
CHAPTER XXIY.

speak; her hands and forehead were hot
and feverish; she would take nothing in
the shape of a breakfast; she only turn
ed away her head languidly Yolande
was far too frightened to stay to consult
her mothers nervous fancies or dislikes;
a doctor was sent for instantly-the
same doctor, in fact, who had been called
In before. And when this portly, rubi-
'cund, placid person arrived his mere pres
ence In the room seemed to introduce a
measure of calm into the atmosphere;
and that was well. He was neither ex-
cited nor alarmed. He made the usual
examination, asked a few questions, and
gave some general and sufficiently sensi-
BILE directions as to how the patient
should be tended. And then he said he
would write out a prescription-fo this
practitioner, in common with most of his
kind, had retained that simple and Sc
rene faith in the efficacy of drugs which
has survived centuries of conflicting the
ores, contradictions in fact, and scien-
tihc doubt, and which is perhaps NOR
beneficial than otherwise to the human
race, so long as the quantities prescribed
are 50 small as to do no positive harm.
1t was aconte, this time, that he chose
to experiment with.
However, when he followed Yolande
Into the other room, in order to get writ
ing materials, and when he sat down and
began to talk to her, it was clear that
he understood the nature of the case
well enough; and he plainly intimated to
her that, when a severe chill like this
had caught the system and promised to
produce a high state of fever, the result
depended mainly on the power of the
constitution to repel the attack and fight
its way back to health.
Now l suppose | may speak frankly
to you, Miss Winterbourne? said he.
"Oh, yes why not?' said Yolande,
who was far too anxious to care about
formalites.
You must remember, then, that
though you have only seen me once be-
fore, l have seen you twice. The first
time you were insensible. Now" said
he, fixing his eyes on her, "on that occa-
sion | was told a little, but l guessed
more. 1t was to frighten your mother
out of the habit that you took your first
dose of that patent medicine. May l as
sumo thatT'
"Well, yes" said Yolande, with down
cast eyes-though, indeed, there was
nothing to be ashamed of.
Now, l want you to tell me honestly
whether you believe that warning had
effect"
Indeed, l am sure of it." said Yo-
lande looking up, and speaking with de-
cision.
"You think that since then she has not
had recourse to any of those opiatesT
II am positively certain of it." Yo-
lande said to him.
Il suppose being deprived of them
cost the poor lady a struggle?"
"Yes, once or twice-but that was
some time ago. Latterly she was grow
ing ever so much more bright and cheer
full, but still she was weak, and l was
hesitating about risking the long journey
to the south of France. Yes, it is |
that am to blame. Why did l not go
sooner? Why did 1 not go sooner?" she
repeated, with tears coming into her
eyes.
Indeed, you cannot blame yourself,
Miss Winterbourne," the doctor said. II
have no doubt you acted for the best
The imprudence you tell me of might
have happened anywhere If you keep
the room warm and equable, your mother
will do as well here as in the south of
France-until it is safe for you to re-
move her"
"But how soon, doctor? how soon? Oh,
when l get a chance again l will not
wait"
But you must wait-and you must be
patient and careful. 1t will not do to
hurry matters. Your mother is not
strong. The fight may be a long one.
Now, Miss Winterbourne, you will send
and get this prescription made up and
/ will call again in the afternoon"
Yolande went back to her mothers
room, and sent away Jane; she herself
would be nurse. On tptoe she went
about doing what she thought would
add to her mothers comfort noiselessly
tending the fire that had been lit, ar
ranging shutter so that less light
should come in, and 80 forth. But the
confidence inspired by the presence of
the doctor was gone now; terrible anx-
iety had succeeded; and when at last
she sat down in the silent room, and felt
that she could do nothing more, sense
of helplessness, Of loneliness, entirely
overcame her, and she was ready to de-
spair. Why had she not gone away
sooner, before this terrible thing hap
pened? Why had she delayed? They
might now have been walking happily
together along some sunny promenade In
the south-instead of this-this hushed
and darkened room, and the poor invalid.
whom she had tended so carefully, and
who seemed to be emerging into new
life altogether, thus thrown back and
rendered once more helpless Why had
she gone out on that fatal morning?
Why had she left her mother alone? IL
she had been in the room there would
have been no venturing into the snow,
whatever dreams and fancies were call
Ing. If she had but taken courage and
set out for the south week sooner-a
day sooner-thIs would not haxa han.