The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-08-07

less nl5lI Wn1!e The ceftalnty Ok nor
folly beat In upon her, clearer with
each succeeding hour.
Morning found them far out on the
deal level of the prnirfes, with the
snow coming down with undated en-
ergy. The engine fought its way
through the drifts, but at last the big
wheels stood still. Agatha woke up
to the fact that something was wrong
when the men began to file out Of the
car. Then a man came down the
aisle and stopped at her seat.
"Dick! Dick Weldon She was on
her feet, both hands outstretched and
all grievances forgotten in the glad
revulsion of feeling. If he had noticed
the joy in face and voice, he made no
sign as he dropped into the vacant
seat
1--WE are snowbound and may have
to spend the rest of the day here until
the pillow comes to our relief
The matter of fact tone put confusion
to fight and gave Agatha time to find
herself while he ran on with an easy
flow Of commonplaces.
"You were on all nightg' she ven
tured.
Weldon's eyes met hers fairly. Eyes.
I would have made my presence
known, but feared you would resent
the intrusion; you have kept me SO
thoroughly out in the cold of late"
"I-that u.s. and the words failed her.
Weldon pulled magazine from his
pocket and handed it to her, the shad-
ow Of smile lurking in his eyes.
'Have you seen that article on Japan?
1t may interest you" Then he van
ished behind his paper.
Agatha picked up the magazine. the
gray blur between her eyes and the
page threatening to overflow.
"Why need he fiaunt his Indifference
so brazenly?" she thought mo one
asked him to come But she stole a
look at the dark, intent face, and their
eyes met The paper fell to the floor
between them. mo use, dear lady, |
confess. followed because / could
not stay behind"
what! Left all those wonderfully
interesting patients just to follow me!
This belated interest is simply amaz-
ing" But the heightened color and
the laughter deep in her eyes belied
her words. Under cover Of the maya
zine Weldon's hand sought and found
hers. They had the car practically to
themselves, and the brown head
dropped perilously near to Weldon's
shoulder as he bent over the girl and
the door was flung open and porter
dashed through, yelling as he went:
us there a doctor on board? There's
child bout to die back there in the
way car. and it's mothers scared stiff. y
Weldon hesitated; then the call to
duty overcame. With an appealing
glance at the girl, "You will hear me
afterward?" he was gone.
Agatha turned to the blind whiteness
without, her lips trembling.
1T will always be so-a secondary
consideration" She knew the words
he would have said-felt the lost
sweetness of the desecrated moment
Hours seemed to pass in the next ten
minutes. The porter returned for Wei
don's suit case; then the passengers
drifted back into the warm car. There
is nothing exciting in contemplating 6
snowdrift. and they could continue the
discussion in comfort. Agatha longed
to escape the chatter
| She went through the intervening
sleepers to the way car, where. at the
end in little space, she found Wei.
don. His coat was off, The instrument
case open on the floor, and across the
dingy velvet of the seat lay the child.
Weldon turned quickly.
''It is malignant diphtheria. Are you
afraid?'
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 l help your
The smile that lit his dark face was
her reward
II would not have asked it, but l
would be only too thankful If you
would. Get that alcohol lamp started.
These instruments must be sterilized. .
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 on little table borrowed from
the sleeper, then, looking steadily into
the girls ewes for tha first fine 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 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-