The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1908-03-13
ry, she must have someun1ng


dressed, pleasant-eyed man, past mid
die age, with a fringe of gray whisk-
ers.s He was a sort of journeyman
doctor, and he had drifted hither one
day two summers ago from the Lake
Andes country in this self-same trav-
el-worn conveyance with it's same
bony sorrel: He had found good
picking, he had often jovially remark.
ed since, chewing serenely away on
brand of vile plug the while. He
had elected to remain. He was part
and parcel of the cattle country now.
He was an established condition. Peo-
pie had learned to accept him as he
was and be grateful. Haste was a
mental and physical impossibility to
him. He took his own time. ALI must
perforce acquiesce.
"You have worked yourself into a
high fever, Miss Williston, that's what
you've DONE" he said, with profession
al mournfulness. ,
II know it," she smiled wanly. Il
couldn't help it. I'm sorry"
Gordon drew up chair and sat
down by her, saying with grave kind
ness, "You are fretting We must not
let you. l am going to stay with you
all night and shoe the COLLINS away"
"You are kind said Mary, grateful.
ly.. MAY 1 tell you when they come?
II some one speaks to me they go
away"
Indeed you may,a dear child" he
exclaimed, heartily. He had been half
Joking when he spoke Of keeping
things away. He now perceived that
these things were more serious than
he knew.
The doctor administered medicine to
reduce the fever, dressed the wounded
arm, with Gordon's ready assistance,
and then called in Mother White to
prepare the bed for his patient. but
he paused nonplussed before the
weight of entreaty in Mary's eyes and
voice.
please DON'T she cried out, in &C.
tual terror. ooh, Mr. Gordon, don't
let him! I see such awful things when
I lie down. Please! Please! And
Mr.. Langford said might sit up till
he came. Mr.. Gordon, you will not
let him put me to bed, will your
Il think it would be better to let her
have her way, Lockhart," said Gordon
in low voice.
maybe it would, Dick" said the
doctor, with surprising meekness.
''Ill stay all night and I'll take good
care of her, Lockhart. There's Moth
er White reckoning to supper. You'll
eat before you go? No, l won't take
any supper now, thank you, mother, I
will stay with Mary
And he did stay with her all through
the long watches of that long night.
He@ never closed his eyes in sleep.
Sometimes Mary would drop off into
uneasy slumber-always of short du-
ration. When she awakened suddenly
in wide-eyed fright, he soothed her
with all tenderness Sometimes when
ne thought she was sleeping, she
would clutch his arm desperately and
cry out that there was some one be-
hind the big cottonwood Again it
would be to ask him in a terrified
whisper if he did not hear hoof-beats.
galloping, galloping, galloping, and
begged him to listen. He could al
ways quiet her, and she tried hard to
keep from wandering; but after
short, broken rest, she would cry out
again in endless repetition of the ter
rors of that awful night >
Mrs. White and several of her small
progeny breathed loudly from an ad-
joining room. A lamp burned dimly
on the table, It grew late-12 o'clock
and AFTER At last she rested She
passed from light, broken slumber to
| deep sleep without crying out and
| thus awakening herself Gordon was
| tired and sad. Now that the flush of
fever was gone, he saw how white and
miserable she really looked The cir
cles under her eyes were so dark
they were like bruises. The mantle
OF MS misfortune was spreading to
bring others besides himself into it's
somber folds.
The men were coming back. But
they were coming quietly, in grim ST.
lence. He dared not awaken Marv
for the news he knew they must carry.
He stepped noiselessly to the door to
warn them to yet greater stiffness
and met Langford on the threshold:
The two surveyed each other grave
1y with clasped hands.
"You tell her, Dick. II can't" said
Langford. His big shoulders drooped
as under heavy burden. =.
Must ~" asked Gordon.
| Dick IL can't" said Langford,
brokenly. Don't you see?-if I had
been just minute sooner-and I
| promised" ,E
Yes, I see, Paul." said Gordon,
quietly. IT will tell her. ~ =.
You need not said sweet clear
voice from across the room. II know.
heard. I think I knew all the time.