The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-11-19
CORDELHA.
BY wIsIrRED NJ. KIRKLAND.

He placed his hands on her shotil-
ders and holding her at arms length,
looked at her until her blue yes fell
before his gaze. Then he turned
her about.
IF you can't do any better than
that In the way of a sore throat" he
said, you'd better not open your
mouth at a doctor. Run along with
you"
Cordelia breathed a sigh of relief.
Mans sensations, as described by her
self. had been so extraordinary that
Cordelia had felt that they must have
medical investigation. To be sure,
Nan was inventive for eight years
old, but somehow Cordelia could
never help being alarmed at Mans
symptoms. Cordelia was by nature
anxious, as is not unnatural in the
eldest of six.
The doctor turned to Mans mother.
"And how are you, Mrs. Brath-
waiter" he asked.
"Oh. I'm all right" she answered.
II don't believe IT," he replied,
looking at her with keenness that
caused Cordelia to transfer her anx-
iety from Nan to her mother.
Mothers have to be all right" re-
marked Mrs. Brathwaite, as with a
dexterous rear swoop of her arm
she extricated Bobs-baby from under
her rockers.
The doctor gazed meditatively at
Bobs-baby. From below came a
sound of young voices, shrilly COM
mingled.
six of them" said the doctor,
"the eldest of whom is
Fourteen" said Cordelia. I'm
small for my age" she added. She
was so tired of hearing other people
make this remark that she had taken
to making it herself.
The doctor turned from Bobs-baby
to Cordella, the extreme gravity of
whose demeanor was somewhat coun-
teracted by a tissue-paper cap that
huttered over one ear and a pair of
worsted reins that dangled from her
shoulders.
Playing horse?" he asked.
Laura likes to drive me while I'm
making the beds" explained Cor
della, preoccupied with her mothers
health.
Are the beds finished?" suggested
the doctor.
Yes" replied Cordelia, shortly,
turning red as she left the room. She
was not used to being dismissed on
any occasion of Importance.
You are sick" said the doctor to
Mrs. Brathwaite.
81 am not!" she answered hotly.
Your pulsei" She resisted a
childish impulse to sit on her hands.
NOW your tongue, If you please. "
Then, "You are sick; If you don't
take care you'll be sicker."
81 can't help it. o, baby, please
get off mama's foot. Mama can't ride
you now"
"Come here, young mani" roared
the doctor
How long since you've been off
anywhere for a changer" he went
on with his Interrogation.
1--WE went to mothers at Christ
mas"
Took the family with your"
"Of course"
"How long since you've been away
from-from that racket down
there?"
Never"
"Do you mean to say that for
fourteen years you've never had one
day free from your children?"
Doctor. love my children! !
wouldn't leave"
The doctor looked as If he desired
to be explosive, but thinking better
Of it, gulped and said: II beg your
pardon. But he persisted, don't
gou think you could manage to get
off for little while soon-if you
tried?"
IT'S impossible. Mr.. Brathwaite's e
vacation comes next week, and -"
"Oh, he takes vacation, does he?"
"Of course!" Again her eyes
flashed, and again the doctor was
cowed.
"And you think you really can't
30 away?"
Il cannot possibly go away" she
answered, with tense lips. The doc.
tor was growing tiresome.
You'd BETTER" he said, rising;
but If you won't, good morning!"
But the doctor was not through
with Cordelia Before he could sir
out. having left the mother upstairs
Cordelia had hurried from the real
regions, with sleeves rolled up and
hands damp washing.
Doctor, is mama sick?" she asked
pushing him into the parlor and clos
ing the door. rs mama sick?" she
repeated.
"She says not"
Cordelia was in no mood for trif
iHse "But is she?" she demanded
Il want to know what you think"
Yes, think she is," he admitted
Ought she to go to bed?"
Under the circumstances, dom
think that would do her much good.
Shall make her some arrow
root?" asked Cordelia. But the doe
Tor was discouraging about the ar
rowroot, also.
What do you want me to do fo
her, doctor?" Cordelia folded he
wiry, bare arms and looked at him
she was a very plain little girl. Sh
mad never had time to grow plump
ner features were Japanese rathe
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