Middletown transcript., 1906-08-11

standing of her that had grown
to be part of him, that when
asked Angela to 60
downstairs and prepared plaster
just so, that it was to get her out
of The room, where her nervous
crying rendered her useless and
hindered others. and that in
keeping the father busy near the
crib, she was acting in accord
anca with a rare tact and sym
pathy that the stricken man
thanked her for with his suffer
ing. dog like eyes.
Allthrough the night the battle
lasted. Edgar stayed in the
nursery, helping when he corl !,
and when he could do nothing.
looking on while u slim slip OF a
woman administered remedies
and directions, parried inquiries,
skillfully, so as to excite neither
despair nor too great hope, and all
the while watched watched with
determined, inscrutable face,
Edgar was reminded of Luke
FtiIdes's painting called The Doc
tor, only in place of the rugged
man physician was this woman
gentle, firm, self-reliant a per-
son of power.
Nurse-doctor- general-Car-
oline was all these that night.
She possessed but one pair of
hands, but she seemed TO have
twenty brains all working at
once, swiftly and surely.
When the noiseless commoIion
was at an end aud there was
nothing left to do but wait and
watch, Edgar knew that Caro-
lines hardest hour had come.
She had done what she could /;
the issue rested with the Giver
and Taker of Life. In some
mysterious way he realized all
this and shared each phase of
the feeling he knew welled up in
her soul, though no trace Of it
broke the trust-compelling calm
of her outward demeanor.
At last, shortly before dawn,
the baby slept.
Tom Stanhope rushed into an
other room and flung himself up
on a bed, great, fearless sobs
shaking his frame. Beside him
c ouched his wife, pleading,
soothing.
Don't cry SO, dear, she begged.
Our baby will live Caroline said
SO.
At this time had Caroline as
serted that the sun would never
rise again, there was no one in
that household but would have
believed her.
Presently the doctor knocked
at the door. Will you come and
sit beside Ethel, Angela ? she
said. I'm going now, I'll come
back at nine.
Edgar waited on the veranda
cfor Caroline to come down stairs.
1t had barely begun to be light
and the world was wrapped in
fog.
Through the dull ache of anx-
iety that persistently remained
with him, though there was no
longer any reason for it, there
ran a thrill of pleasureable ex-
pectation.
He was to take Caroline home.
He would not let her talk; she
would be too tired ; but he
would have her with him. They
would be together in the rose
and golden wonder of the dawn.
But when Caroline descended
the stairs. thel'sfather followed,
she protesting be deaf to her ar
guments.
Please don't come, Mr.. Stan
hope, she pleaded. Try to get
some rest you look so tired. Mr..
Winton will take me home, I'm
sure.
I'll be glad, Edgar was begin
ming, when his brother-in-laW in,
terrupted him.
I'm going myself, be said dog
gedly to Caroline. I've got to do
something for you.
The girl turned to Edgar. You
must rest too, she said kindly.
III no Eall you at nine, replied
he, and watched her go down the
path with Stanhope.
After his bath and breakfast
Edgar spent the time still to
elapse before nine o'clock pacing
one of the graveled walks with a
cigar.
He was vaguely troubled and
hurt. Little Ethel was out Of
danger. but he could not be
happy yet, as the father and