Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1908-02-18
| have had a shock she

said, when she could speak, "and |
am frightened very frightened.
l cannot stay alone. l want to be near
the children. l must have the chill
dren with me. nave come 10
take them downstairs"
To her suffering, distorted, mental
vision in this moment Katherine look
ed like some spirit, tall and straight
in her long, white nightgown, with her
dark hair falling in two heavy plaits
from her small, smooth head.
The girl was more than a little
frightened herself, but she calmed her
self with an effort.
1t was, of course, impossible for her
even to guess at what had happened;
nor did she wish to, she only wanted
to help, to comfort, if possible, for she
realized that she had to minister to
one who was passing through no ordi-
nary ordeal.
Putting her finger on her lips as a
gesture of silence, she drew Camilla
to her feet.
81 will go down with you," she
whispered, and they passed together
out of the room, but Camilla's mind
dwelt on the children.
Don't separate me from them," she
said; her voice was SO changed, 30
dull, SO hoarse Don't stand between
me and the children" she said, almost
passionately.
'If you will go downstairs" said
Katherine, quietly, and gently, II will
bring the children down. I don't
think they will wake. Make the bed
ready and turn the lights low. l think
We will put them into the blankets,
they will not feel the cold that way"
At first she had been on the point of
suggesting that Camilla should stay in
the nursery and take her bed, but she
quickly felt that 1t would be wise
thing to occupy the other woman
little, for even to her untutored eye
there were unmistakable signs of an
acute and dangerous mental tension
about Camilla at this moment.
If you will go and make everything
ready and come up again, you might
carry baby down. she whispered.
1t made her heart ache sharply to
see the pitiful eagerness with which
Camilla did her bidding.
When the mother came back again
she had divested herself of her silk
underskirt, SO that there should be as
little noise as possible.
Give me Betty" she whispered;
then she pushed Katherine gently on
one side. II can lift her myself" she
said, II have done it before
She almost staggered under the bur-
den of the sleeping child as she took
it out of the bed; but the color came
back to her face, and her eyes lost
hot 1rYt11 1,O1y RI, I,olJ Io1@& -. L
heart.
Katherine tucked a cot blanket Sc
curely about the little feet, and went
down closely behind.
"Now l will bring baby" she whis-
pered.
Both Journeys were accomplished
satisfactorily; neither child woke,
though baby for moment opened her
sleepy eyes as though she would have
questioned what was passing with her.
When they were both laid in Ca
milla's luxurious bed (and by the sound
of their breathing the two listeners
had assured themselves that the rest
was unbroken) the mother went up to
Katherine and kissed her, and then
she put her arms round the girl and
clung to her.
Don't think me mad" she said,
hoarsely; tomorrow I will tell you
ALL"
'You are so cold" said Katherine,
uneyenly; won't you have something?
Let me get you a little brandy?"
''It is you who ought to be cold"
Camilla answered; "how selfish | am
dragging you out of your bed like
this"
They spoke in hushed tones
Il am not a bit cold" Katherine
said.
Indeed, she had found time to slip
on something about her shoulders
though her feet were bare.
She insisted upon putting Mrs. Ian
cling in the chair in front of the FIRE
and then she went down to the dining
room and brought back little brandy
Camilla thanked her with a wan
smile, and urged the girl second time
to go back to her bed But Katherine
would not leave her at once.
She was little alarmed at Mrs
Lancing's look, and she knelt down
chafing first the cold, slender hands
and then the small, cold feet.
| 1t is long time since I carried
Betty" Camilla said, after little
while. Dear heart, she has grown
SO much she is no longer baby, alas
alas!"
The stimulant had already com
menced to put little sign of warmth
and life into her; the misery in he
expression was breaking a little
"She was my first baby, you know,
she said, and her father thought he
the most wonderful thing in the world
He used to walk up and down with he
for hours at a time, and the old nurs,
l had was SO angry with him! :. Sh'
said it was such bad habit But
loved to see him with that little crea
ture in his arms; he was so gentle
with it. :. And then to thing tha
he could forget her, turn away ant
leave her! ;. /. 1t does not seem 81
bad that he should have forgotten
me-" she said She spoke dreamily.
There was long pause KATHERINE
still chafed the small feet
Continued in next issuel,