The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-06-21
~ HE doctor stood by the bedside;
there was not a trace of SYM
/ pathy expressed in his scanned

vet there were people who declared
it was not lacking in his heart.
"Well. what are you going to DO
about it," he inquired, briefly.
Mr.. Sprague drew a long breath.
doctor, you can't mean that it will
be months"
Exactly what I do mean. 1t Will
be months before you can bear your
weight upon that foot. It's not sprain.
The ligaments are torn
A boy stood beside the window, his
back toward the bed. The sick man
glanced at him involuntarily while the
physician was speaking. Now his
voice contained a 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 big job
for one of your size, eh, Doc?" he elac-
ulated, grimly. He always referred to
Robert as "Doc," because Of the pro-
fession which the boy had in view.
Mrs. Sprague spoke quickly: Bur
dens never seem so heavy to the will
ing and capable, Doctor Jarvis"
The physician nodded, picked up his
medicine-chest, and walked out of the
room abruptly. Robert followed and
went into the barn, sat on the feed
box, and tried hard not to think.
Robert came a voice from the
stable door, an unsteady voice.
"Yes, mother" he made a quick
pass at 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. I'm sorry,
Robert" she began, finally, land so is
your father. but"
Robert swallowed hard. He knew
what she meant. 1t was the subject
he had been struggling to keep out OF
his thoughts. Finally he said huskily,
"Well, mother, if can't, why. l can't,
that's ALL"
1--WE have been talking it over, your
father and l." She paused to gain
control of q faltering tongue. 1T
seems to US best for Clara to go. can
get along without her help, and if she
graduates this year, she can teach
next. But you, Robert-we shall have
to depend on you for everything this
winter"
The boy swallowed again, but made
no reply.
"Your father says that Mr.. Brown
will give you ten dollars a month for a
couple of trips day to the sawmlll.
OF course you are strong enough to do
heavier work in the woods than driv-
ing the team, but that ten dollors Will
mean much to US, Robert, just now"
Robert slipped down from the feed
box, saying with a brusqueness which
did not deceive his mother, "1'Ve got
to let the COWS out now.
She watched him as he opened the
stanchions, this son Of whom she was
SO proud. He led his class in the
graded school in the village. They had
his future already planned. He was
to graduate in May, and the following
September enter the college prepara'
tory sshsel at Keybrook, where a
scholarship once in four years awaited
the leader of the senior class in Swan.
sea. This was the fourth year, and II
he were not prepared for Keybrook
this wear he would lose the scholar
ship. The loss would be severe to the
Spraeues in their straitened financial
circumstances.
Long after his mother had returned
to the house Robert stood in the stable
door, looking down the valley beyond
the Swansea schoolhouse. The broth
er and sister had rented two rooms al
Mrs. Browns, where they had boarded
the previous year. Now one Of the
rooms must be given up. A lump rose
in Roberts throat. Doctor Jarvis
blunt words to his father had turned
the world upside down.
"Clara," he began at the supper
table, in a tone which he intended tc
be careless, (which Of those rooms
do you want to keep? had Letter e
downtown tomorrow and tell Mrs
Brown. or we may have to pay rent
for BOTH"
Clara bent her head over her plate
Her soft brown eyes filled with tears
but she knew better than to let Rober
see them. She read the signs OF re
preston in his face.
"Ask Mrs. Brown to keep the cheap
er one for me- she returned, quietly.
The following afternoon he drove tt
town to interview Mrs. Brown. O1
the way he met DR.. Jarvis.
"Hello, Docw called the physician
drawing rein. GAS head of the house
what are you going to do:'
"Drive team for Mr.. Brown" re
turned Robert, half-resenting tn
question. The doctor seemed to con
slider himself a privileged character a
to questioning.
"What do you get for it:'
"Ten dollars month"
"Rent the roomv cried Mrs. Brown
few moments later. why, Robert
I could rent both those rooms a doze'
times over. Every vacant room In tn