The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-09-28

case open on the floor. and across me
dingy velvet OF the seat lay the ehfld.
Weldon turned quickly.
at = malignant diphtherla. Are you
aeraidr
She shook her head, her eyes arOQy-
Ing soft with pity as she watched TIM
little head tossing from side to alAe
and heard the choking gaspa. EoT he
nrst time Agatha understood.
''Can / help your"
The smile that lit his dark face vRma
har reward.
Il would not have asked IL INIT I
would be only too thankful n you
would. Get that alcohol lamp started.
These instruments must be stsEilaSedS'
Agatha obeyed, losing an senae Of
strangeness In the surroundangw as
Weldon issued his orders and those
short gasps grew more laboFed. with
the porter's assistance, he placed the
child on a little table borrowed from
the sleeper, then. looking steadily into
the girls eyes, for the first time, called
her by name-"Agatha, try 10 remeun-
Der that this is absolutely necessary,
that the child is unconscious and does
not feel the pain. Be ready to give
me the instruments as call for them,
and don't let thought Of his suffering
trouble you" Then to the women who
were crowding around. 'Take the
mother TO the other end Of the car
and keep away from here"
The baby throat was barred, and the
knife flashed In Weldon's hand-anoth-
e fash, 1.-THE SPONGE" and the steady
fingers pressed the wound apart. New
the tube and place your fingers hsss:"
Agatha obeyed, blind and deaf to al
but Weldon's low toned command. TAe
slew minutes dragged out a lifetime,
while she stood there and Weldon
sutuFed and bandaged. the play Of me
strong white fingers holding heR fas-
dnated.
"LookP He pointed to tie small
face on which the awfGa blue gray hue
Yves giving place to Q natural pallor.
HE is breathing easily now, but the
next question is the nursing. You see
the motherT and he nodded toward
the tawdry bundle of shabby hnery
that occupied the center Of the sympa-
thizing group. HE will die unless
be has the best Of care. Poor little
wrstchl It may be a cruel kindness to
bring him back, but one foRgets all
that In the heat Of battle" He smiled
down into her eyes. The baby stirred
and moaned, and in the girls heart the
instinct Of all motherhood reused In
answer. do you think she would let
rs take him and care for himY
"Ug'-Weldon's heart gave a mighty
lsap-'7et US? She win have to, II
say 50, but you
Never mind about me. II want
TO-"
When the small patient awoke to his
suffering, there was little time for sen
ttment. During the long day, while
they lay snowbound, Weldon and Aga
tina battled for the chIld's life. Then
the train sped on its way, while the
mother whiled away the interval with
Intellectual trips from car to car until
Weldon bade her stay away altogether
Until AAS NAAoAD was H&4E0GA- GAg WAAG1
ahead for an ambulance, and they
went direct to the hospital. The worst
was over, and they could safely leave
him to the nurses, but Agatha's eyes
were wet as they passed out into the
sunshine. She had grown to love the
small thing that had depended 30 ut
tsT4y upon her care.
Weldon took the seat beside her as
he gave the order, ITO the Palace ho-
tel" The Lairds we're stopping there
BIS hand closed over hers. Agatha,
It was just such a case as this that
held me that night-worse, the only
child Of a widowed mother, and 1t
died. l could not leave that dying
child to send a message, and when
would have explained later you would
not hear me. You have felt that !
placed my profession before you. You
could not know then, but now
The brown eyes met his, bright
through the mist Of unshsd tears,
''Now understand"