Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-04-26

who had allghtei from the train had
preceded him ana were now climbing
into the barge
''Sanitarium. sirE' inquired the shah
by man ar Olmstead came up. IAN
right. sir. CIT right in. Let's have your
checks I'll git your baggage"
The checks were handed over and
while the driver was getting the trunks
OlmStead looked over the other occu-
pants Of the barge There were one
man and three women. The man and
two OF the women We're typical con
sumptiyeS-narrow chested and hollow
checked Now and then they coughed
spasmoiically They were poorly dress
ed and evidently OF the class who
availed themselves Of the states chari-
ty fund 10 bring them here
The other woman was OF an entirely
and young In the dim light from the
station lamps Olmstead could see she
was decidedly pretty She did not
cough. nor was she hollow checked like
the rest Olmstead made two mental
decislons-that she was a pay patient
and that her case was not as yet
very serious one He felt sudden
thrill OF pity that she should be here,
80 evidently was she at odds with the
dreary surroundings.
The driver returned with the trunks
and bags on truck. With the station
a1ansfE - fha,. nf1a1 int
the rear OF the barge and the drive to
the sauiterium was begun. 1t was over
a rough. sandy road. lined with gloomy
pines through which the wind howled
dismally
Olmstead unrolled bis steamer rugs
and offered them TO the women, two OF
whom We're shlyering miserably. The
younger woman greeted this act OF
courtesy with u pretty smile Of ac-
knowledgment that qulckened his
pulses
They might al least have some blan-
kets IN the barge" he said.
1T would seem so" was her quiet,
noncommittal reply. and then there was
silence until the sanitarium was
reached
Olmstead paid in advance. received
a hurried examination from one Of the
physicians and was assigned a room on
the second floor At the supper table
be met the young woman again. She
smiled and nodded as he took his seat
opposite her.
It's not exactly a promising begin
ming" she said. Indicating the table.
y should say not" he replied. Il be-
neve this fare would prove the undoing
OF a rugged person. 10 say nothing Of
it's effects on an invalid"
Shall you stay" she asked.
a week az least" said he And
your
Il shall stay for time. anyway"
she returned
After that meal they were friends
They strolled about the grounds to-
gether They found quiet hooks where
they could discuss freely the inefficien-
cy OF the doctors the slovenllness Of
the nurses and the general lack Of any
thing Ike system about the place
why. It's Just a dollar and cents
scheme" she declared angrily one day.
An they are after is the money Of
these deluded people who come here"
Il suspected as much before | came"
said be
Then why did you Gomez" she asked !
quickly
Il wanted TO try e. at least" said he |
She looked at him curiously.
4 have my own suspicious about
you. she laughed
And what are they pray said he |
But she only shook her head In smil- |
ting refusal 20 commit herself further.
Olmstead had books and magazines
and fruits sent up. These he shared |
with Der, and she accepted them with |
a grave frankness that pleased him
nightly
They read together, they walked to- |
gether. they sang together evenings IN /
the 80 called music room" Day by /
day Olmste.d grew more Interested in
her. and finally the interest changed
into something deeper
He stayed out his first week and his
second AT the beginning Of the third
be realized that consumptive though
she might be. be had found the one wo-
man in the world
one evening inst at twilight they
stroile-i down 10 q little stream that
crossed the grounds The air was clear
aud frosty. Behind a fringe Of pines
the sky tare'l red ana gold.
OF course you know il 10y this time"
said Olmstead quietly
What she asked.
That ] love you.' said he.
She caught her breath Her face