The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-08-27

ease open on the floor, and across the
dingy velvet Of the seat lay the child.
Weldon turned quickly.
ut is malignant diphtheria. Are you
afraidf'
She shook her head, her eyes grow
| ing soft with pity as she watched the
little head tossing from side to side
and heard the choking gasps. For the
first time Agatha understood
"Can ] help your
The smile that lit his dark face was
her reward.
Il would not have asked 1t, but
would be only too thankful IL you
would. Get that alcohol lamp started.
These Instruments must be sterllized."
Agatha obeyed, losing all sense of
strangeness in the surroundings as
Weldon issued his orders and those
short gasps grew more labored. With
the porter's assistance, he placed the
child OH a little table borrowed from
the sleeper. then, looking steadily into
the girls eyes, for the first time, called
her by name-"Agatha, try TO remem-
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 crowd!ng 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-
er flash, THE SPONGE" and the steady
fingers pressed the wound apart. "Now
the tube and place your fingers here"
Agatha obeyed, blind and deaf to all
but Weidon's low toned command. The
slow minutes dragged out a lifetime.
while she stood there and Weldon
sutured and bandaged, the play of the
strong white fingers holding her fas-
cinated.
Look" He pointed to the small
face on which the awful blue gray hue
was giving place to a natural pallor.
HE Is breathing easily now, but the
next question is the nursing. You see
the mother" and he nodded toward
the tawdry bundle of shabby finery
that occupied the center of the sympa-
th!zinS group. lie will die unless
be has the hest Of care. Poor little
wretch! 1t may be cruel kindness to
bring him hack, but one forgets all
that In the heat of battle" lie smiled
down into her eyes. The baby stirred
and moanci. and In the girls heart the
instinct Of all motherhood reused in
answer. "Do YOU think she would let
us take him and care for him?"
''Us"-Wei'lon's heart gave a mighty
ieap-"let rs? She will have to, If ]
say so, but yOu''-
Never mind about me. II want
to-"
When the small patient awoke to his
suffering, there was little time for sen
timent. 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 babe her stay away altogether
until the crisis was passed. He wired
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 so ut
terly upon her care.
Weldon took the seat beside her as
he gave the order, ITO the Palace he
tel" The Lairds we're stopping there.
His hand closed over hers. Agatha.
II was Just such a case as this that
held me that night-worse, the only
child Of a widowed mother. and II
died. could not leave that dying
child 20 send 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 thes mist of unshed tears.
"Now | understand"