The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1907-08-17

his being a very brilliant member Of
society that evening, Alec was glad to
take bis cousins advice and seek an
early retirement, but the next morn
ing he felt better (although still stiff
in some Of the joints and somewhat
'umpish as well as lumpy), and he be-
gan at once to ask questions. But he
did not get them answered very salts
%factorily, for Mrs. Hartwelrs intrench-
ing herself behind the doctors au-
thority gently Enc firmly told him he
must keep perfectly quiet for the pres
ent. This was veXing, but there
seemed TO be no help for It. Dr.. Car
ter had decrced that he was an in
valid, and an invalid he must be, sub
iect to all the tyrannical rules and reg
ulations that physicians and nurses
seem to think they have the right to
impose upon d~esenseiess patients.
By-and-by, about the middle Of the
forenoon, a yellow village cart was
driven up to the front gate end pres
emily, in came Miss Kitty Wilde.
Il ran over to inquire for the-the
victim" she announced, and then add
ed, with heightening color, Mrs. Hart
well. / fear / have caused you q great
deal Of extra trouble by making a well
man who was able TO take care OF him-
self. into a sick man who must be
cared for by you, aud-and can't do
something to help your
Here Mr. Tilton, who was lying on
a lounge, with closed eyes, uttered a
faint moan. Miss Kitty crossed the
room quickly, and bending over him
anxiously asked how he felt.
Head aches dreadfully," he an
swered, in a doleful voice. Cant you
would it be too much trouble for
you toto sit down here, you know.
and"
"And battle your forehead for you?
Oh, no; l want to do anything and
everything l can. You don't know how
sorry / am that It happened. III go
and get some water
Never mind the water" he inter
rupted, Just pass your hand across
that is right. All that smooths out the
pain wonderfully. l am beginning to
feel better already. It was kind in
you to come"
She murmured something in reply,
and as he noted the anxious air with
which she was regarding him, and felt
the delicate touch Of soft little palm
on his brow, there came into his mind
the foolish thought that, with such a
charming nurse, he would gladly re
) main an invalid for the rest Of his life
: Mrs. Hartwell was surprised to fine
that the young girl really was a hell
not to be despised. Before her arriva
! Alec had been as fretful and hard t
manage as a teething child; now HI
was as quiet and docile as a lamb
, And she was glad to leave him TO
b awhile and go about her own affairs
r for, with her aged mother and infan
child to care for, she had her hand
pretty nearly full. So Miss Kitty spen
v an hour or more at the patients side
k and was not allowed to leave until sh
had promised to come and make a SCI
d ond and longer call in the Afternoon
J. when Mr., Alec intended to CAREFUL
d prepare another headache for her I
~ doctor
In short, it was tacitly arrange
In that she should come and minister
i, him daily, as long as he needed he
,e services. And, to all appearances
was going to need them a good viii
yet. But as it has been well said, a
Id ~pearances are sometimes deceitful.
was so in this case. How a young ma
Of a moral character hitherto unbler
ID ished could be guilty Of 50 much d
ceit, however, is quite Incompetent
bic. The number Of headaches fro
4 which he suffered would have bee
fairly appalling if n could have bee
sure they were all genuine. If NH
Kitty suspected anything OF this, 81
made no sign, but devoted herself
the sufferer CD and submitted to
his whims with untiring patience.
vi -