Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-01-03
so evidently was she at odds with the

so evidently was she at odds with the
dreary surroundings.
The driver returned with the trunks
and bags on a truck. With the station
agents assistance they were piled into
the rear of the barge and the drive to
the sanitarium was begun. It was over
rough, sandy road, lined with gloomy
dismally.
Olmstead unrolled his steamer rugs
and offered them to the women, two Of
whom were shivering miserably. The
younger woman greeted this act Of
| courtesy with pretty smile Of &C.
acknowledgement that quickened his
pulses.
"They might at least have some blan-
kets in the barge" he said.
ut would seem So" was her quiet,
noncommittal reply, and then there was
silence until the sanitarium was
reached.
Olmstead paid in advance, received
hurried examination from one Of the
physicians and was assigned a room on
! the second floor. At the supper table
he met the young woman again. She
smiled and nodded as he took his seat
opposite her.
''Its not exactly promising begin
hing" she said, indicating the table.
II should say not" he replied. Il be-
lieve this fare would prove the undoing
Of a rugged person, to say nothing Of
it's effects on an invalid
"Shall you stay? she asked.
"A week at least" said he. "And
you?"
II 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 inef6cien-
cy Of the doctors, the slovenliness of
the nurses and the general lack Of any
{ thing like system about the place.
"Why, it's just a dollar and cents
scheme" she declared angrily one day.
| Gall they are after is the money of
these deluded people who come here.''
II suspected as much before came"
said he.
"rhen why did you Gomez" she asked
| quickly.
II wanted to try it, at least" said he.
She looked at him curiously.
II have my own suspicious about
you," she laughed.
"And what are they, pray?" said he.
But she only shook her head in smil-
ing refusal to commit herself further.
Olmstead had books and magazines
and fruits sent up. These he shared
with her, and she accepted them with
grave frankness that pleased him
nightly.
They read together; they walked to-
gether; they sang together evenings in
the so called Emusic ROOM" Day by
day Olmstead 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
he realized that, consumptive though
she might be, he had found the one wo-
man in the world.
One evening just at twilight they
strolled down to little stream that
crossed the grounds. The air was clear
and frosty. Behind fringe of pines
the sky fared red and gold.
"Of course you know'it by this time"
said Olmstead quietly.
"What?" she asked.
'That 1 love YOU" said he.
She caught her breath. Her face
grew very rosy. She turned to him
slowly.
'"Our condition. she began.
LET me tell you something" he said.
Il am not a. tuberculosis patient. Ger
tain unsavory hints regarding the gross
mismanagement of this place have
been whispered abroad. /. L was sent
here by the Daily Star tosinvestigate."
She looked across the stream to the.
pines and the flaming sky behind them: