Free press., 1908-01-04
The LOVING CUP
BY Ida Alexander

weeks, yet he had never before been
alone since his illness began The
trained nurse had always been at
hand. firm. capable noiseless.
He die not exactly like her. He
had sent her for a walk, noting with
quick. professional eye, the girls pale
cheeks. He knew the case had been
a trying one. At any moment she
might come back: there was no
chance of her forgetting one dose of
the 2auseous medicine. He turned to
look at the clock. No. there were yet
80 minutes, and it was not likely she
would return before that time.
He gave himself lp to thought, and
the thoughts were not pleasant. How
easily he had dropped out Of the lives
of his people, HOW little it would
have mattered II he had left them for
ever, He had been such careful
shepherd that he had begun to look
on the sheep as his own. Well, they
had all forgotten him.
The doctor moved restlessly. Why,
even his present illness had been caus-
ed by working for others. Five hours
he had fought for the life of little
half-drowned baby. When the fight
was won and the thanks Of the mother
still echoed in his ears, he had met
Mrs Davis hurrying in search Of him.
1t was not such a long walk TO the
little cottage where wee Pfnky Davis
lay struggling for his breath, but the
night had been cold, bitterly cold.
And then-well, even TO himself he
had never quite acknowledged that
the chill which ushered III pneumonia
had been caused by making Mrs
Davis put on his heavy overcOat
Whatever the cause the effect was
only too apparent. It had taken but
three weeks to undo the work of 80
years.
Something very like tear was try
ing to find its way from the little doc
tores trembling eyelid, but he forced it
badk. and the voice which answered
the, nurses gentle tap was steady.
She. came in flushed and animated.
I've had the best walk" she said,
And Eve brought you a basket of
slaffodils--the darlings, May l bring
them in?''
Thank you if you will be SO good"
answered the doctor. Why do you
ask permission?
We'll, at first you made NE take
some flowers away. | suppose | ought
not to have bothered you with them,
but nearly every one is so pleased to
have them. Don't you like flowers? p
why, yes" said the doctor, Il am
very fonK1 of flowers. =
But somehow he could not bring
himself to explain TO this matterof-
fact young woman that he had sent
them away because none Of his people
had cared enough for him to bring
him any. Medicine first, then daffo-
dis said the nurse, smilin2ly.
When she came back with her
hasket of the flowers the big doctor
sat by the bedside.
Another" present fof the popular
patient?" he asked. ''Why, that re-
minds me [ have a package and a let
ter. I'll get them. I've left them
downstairs with my coat
The little old doctor broke the seal
with an apoR pgy He could hardly wait
to read the atter. Miss Lydia Doll1-
yer had trace it inther stiff penman-
ship, of faa hion long gone by. He
read:
Dear Frienl l.-This loving cup is
sent to- YOU by all Of us who love you.
Every 'one gave something, from Pinky
Davis, who gave his candy penny, to
Malas hi Boone, who gave $50. Now
that the danger is past, I'll tell you
how we came TO get it. We thought
yorl were going TO die. | put my apron
oV er my head and i cried-cried as I
y .aven't cried Stree well, no matter.
Every one was doing the same. By
ones and twos they kept coming over
until it was like q party for numbers,
and o funeral for faces. Then l told
them about flowers. In that way we
could show you what we have never
showed you, knowing all the time in
my heart that then it would be too
late But when the news came that
you were going TO >live-then / can't
tell you. But 1 think we cried as much
as at first So God bless you. L sup
pose you knew there We're many who
honored you. But believe in telling
before it is too late
There was something about the lit
tie octor's face as he finished the
letter which made the nurse retreat
with her basket OF daffodils. But the
big new doctor out the string of the
| package, and passed it unopened tC
the hands which released the letter.
Come. comet he said at last, gruf
| fly, through the catch in his throat
This will not: do-will not do. Wha
are these prec ious neighbors of yours
about? Trying to make you worse p
No" said the other, gently, 'the,
wouldn't try that-and they couldn'
this way. [ sllall be better for it
You'll see.' And the doctor, who hat
seen mudh, guess 'ed that it would in
| deed be SO.
He carried the picture with him
I -. r--.-----s - 41,nA utac haca1aCo fhiI