Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1906-07-05

~ HE doctor stood by the bedside
there was not a trace Of sym.
pathy expressed in his seame(
face or in his brusque manner
set there were people who declared
II was not lacking in his heart
swell, what are you going to dt
about it%' he inquired, briefly.
Mr.. Sprague drew long breath
sDoctor, you can't mean that it will
be months
Exactly what do mean. It will
be mouths before you can bear you,
weight upon that foot. It's not sprain
The ligaments are torn.''
boy stood beside the window. his
back toward the bed. The sick man
glanced at him involuntarily while the
physician was speaking. Now LII.
voice contained sad attempt at cheer.
fulnesS as he said, Robert, do you
hear that: 1t means you're the head OF
the house now"
Dr.. Jarvis turned pair of keen
eyes on the boy. Rather a big job
fore of your size. eh, Doc?" he ejac-
uaied, grimly. He always referred to
Robert as Doc" because of the pro-
fession which the boy had in view.
Mrs. Sprague spoke quickly: Bur
deIs never seem so heavy to the will
Ing and capable. Doctor Jarvis"
Tile physician nodded, picked up his
medicne-chest, eand walked out of the
room abruptly. Robert folio wed and
went into the barn, sat on the feed.
box aud tried hard not to think.
Robert" came voice from the
stable door, an unsteady voice.
Yes, mother" He made a quick
pass al his eyes. and did not turn his
head
Mrs. Sprague sat down beside him
and laid her hand on his arm. For a
moment neither spoke. "Tm sorry,
Robert" she began, finally, land so is
your father. but"
Robert swallowed hard. He knew
wat She meant. 1t was the subject
ae nad been struggling to keep out of
nS is thoughts. Finally he said huskily,
"e'' mother. if l can't. why, 1 can't,
that's ALL"
we have been talking it over, your
,a.4ef .a and i" She paused to gain
s0uf0l of a faltering tongue. 1T
sss''s s. 10 US best for Clara to go. I can
ss' a'Oas without her help, and if she
saa s,auuates this year, she can teach
eA,' But you, Robert-we shall have
~ uepend on you for everything this
winter"
'ne boy swallowed again, but made
norepy.
vii, iouF W father says that Mr.. Brown
WI give you ten dollars a month for q
Of p,s a, u ,i4ps day to the sawmill.
bo.n;. :u'se You are strong enough to do
inc ,'' !. work i'll the woods than driv-
ms,s 10 "'e team, but that ten dollors will
'I pal u'uch to us, Robert, just now"
INV 'oert slipped down from the feed.
did n saying with brusqueness which
to ~ ~, y deceive his mother, ''I've got
se ~ the cows out now"
st,na,. uus watched him as he opened the
So u'ons, na, this son of>whom she was
yr,doo n,ouu. He led his class in the
bic ,u fn. sehool in the village. They had
to rros ra.ute already planned. He was
sentn,u s,auuate i'll May, and the following
tory ,uuef ""5 enter the college prepara-
scho,an nool at KeyErook, where
the Ja,1n 1".p once in four years awaited
Sea 'rueF ,r,. OF the senior class in Swan
he vann "'S was the fourth year, and if
this vae NOT prepared for Keybrook
Shin ',"r "" lie would use the scholar
SDrao,,ln I've loss would be severe to the
ercun, n's -. III their straitened financial
10 tba utter his mother had. returned
door, lno,: nouse Robert stood in the stable
The Yoklns down the valley beyond
~ and alsea a; schoolhouse. The broth.
Mrs D.. SISTER had rented two rooms at
tie n.a' nn,o~n's. where they had boarded
rooms nrou nous year. Now one of the
IL Rohausl usl De given up. A lump rose
blunt uetts ,r throat. Doctor Jarvis
lie wor,n ro'os to his father had turned
"c,v'la "c,..a upside down.
hble in ' ne began at the supper
be cora,o tone which he intended to
% You w" which of those rooms
Town. .tov a"t 10 keep? I had better 70
STOwo ~ ~. tomorrow and tell Mrs.
'% bofb" we may have to pay rent