The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-06-11

~ Il. BILL WILLIAMS arrived
" in New York on Saturday
morning. He had forethought
enough to make the attempt
and influence enough to succeed in it
to have the limited stopped at One
Hundred and Twenty-ffth street where
he took fast auto cab. for which he
had telegraphed. and was rushed d.
rectly to st. Luke's hospital on Ca
thedral heights. He paid the charge
expressing his firm conviction that the
price was half the value Of the ma
chine and seven times the value of the
thief who drove it-and hurried into
the hospital, where he gave his name
and begged to be taken to his afflicted
son at once.
BE was Informed by the house sur
geon that the patient was doing fairly
we'll, though his temperature was still
above normal. The physician thought.
however. that the fathers presence
might rouse the patients tagging spir-
Its. but suggested that the first inter-
view be short. A trim, fresh checked
nurse was summoned, and without fur
Their ado she led the way to the eleva-
tor. which took them to the fourth
floor. At the door Of his sons room
the old rancher paused.
MY DEAR" he said, "are you the
young lady who has nursed my poor
boy through this spell Of sickness?'
Eyes. sir" answered the brisk young
person in tone somewhat more cheer
full than the gravity of the occasion
seemed to warrant
"God bless your the anxious father
murmured in a voice ehoked by his
emotion. 'tDid-he-ask for me-of-
ten?" -.
The experienced young person hest
tated, hanging for an instant between
ncompromising truth and the wish
to spare this kind old gentleman IN
necessary pain. Womanlike, she de-
c1ded upon charity rather than verac-
ity.
"Oh. yes" she answered nervously,
though you know. Of course, he-he
has been just-well. little delirious, I
fear. You must be careful not to excite
him, to control your feelings. SIR
The Texans great heart was touch
ed. His boy had been shouting out his
name. even while pain and fever held
him in their raging grip The father,
who could have faced battery of ar
tillery in action without blanching.
was greatly overcome by what he read
in the nurses halting words. He lean
ed for support against the wall and
furtively brushed his eyes. then look
ed up. striving to smile. and asked:
was he conscious when my tele-
gram arrived? Did he know? Was be
glad to hear that l was coming?"
very" answered the adroit young
woman, blushing to the roots of her
chestnut hair. that peeped from under
a saucy little cap. She had made the
first plunge and had no hesitation in
going the limit.
The fathers heart went out at once
to this dainty angel Of mercy and eff
cheney who had ministered to grief
and suffering. He fumbled in his pock-
ct and produced large, double figured
note, which he pressed into her hand.
For you. my dear" he smiled, "a
ribbon or something. There. there; it's
nothing" .......-.s.,
''But, Mr.. Williams.' she protested
in charming confusion, this is not at
all necessary. l am paid. you know,
'by-really, I couldn't think off,
Honey" he interrupted. while he
gave her plump shoulder a fatherly
pat Its justza little secret between
you and me. Now run along. 1 want
to see Dicde alone"
Again the curse hesitated and. like
her prototype in the proverb, was lost
1t was best to be present. at the inter-
view, yet how could she :refuseoso sim
pie request from this moist eyed.
generous old dear?
VERY WELL" she nodded; II win
stand outside. You promise to be yev
quiet?"
II PROMISE" answered Bill Williams
huskily. Then he opened the door.
closed it after him and tiptoed softly
across the room.
The father found himself in q r,ane
walled little room that was scrupu-
lousy clean and neat. The shades we're
drawn, yet by the dim religious light
he espied a bandaged form apparently
asleep upon q narrow brass bed. The
face Of the patient was In shadow.
yet the Texan felt instincttyely that