Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-09-10
CHAPTER VII.
A Niqht-W atch.


scrupulousIy conscientious, and in
spite Of her fathers remonstrance and
assurance that old Betty WestIake
could look after the fellow well enough,
she remained in the sick room
after the rest had gone TO bed.
That Jasper was feVered was IN
doubtabe;; he was hot and restless,
tossing his head from side to side on
the pillow, and it was not safe to leave
him, lest he should disarrange his
bandage, lest, in an access Of fever, le
should leap from his bed and do him
self an injury.
After everyone had retired the
house became very still. Barbara
poked and made up the fire. 1t must
not become TOO large, as the nights
were not cold, and it must not be al
lowed to 90 out.
Jasper did not speak, but he opened
his eyes occasionally, and looked at
his nurse with a strange light in his
eyes that alarmed her. What il h.
were to become frantic? He was only
half conscious, he did not seem to
49,. ,,,ha. ahl ,,,ae He line +u,itchod
and moved, but no voice came. Then
he cIaened both hands over his brow.
and moaned, and plucked at the ban
dages. You must not do that said
Barbara Jordan, rising from her chair
and Going beside him He glared at
he. from, his burning ewes without in
teUigcDce. Then she laid her cool
hand on his brow, and ne
let his arms fall and lay still, and
the twitcEng of his mouth ceased.
The pressure Of her hand eased,
so0tbed him. Directly she withdrew
her hand he Iegan to murmur AMI
move and cry out, % Martin. Martini
Then he INIT forth his hand and
opened it wide, and closed it again, ia
wild, restless, unmeaning manner
Next he waved it excitedIy, as if in
vehement conversation or ernest pro
test. Barbara spoke to him, but be
did not hear her. She urged him to
lie quiet and not excite himself, but
her words, if they entered his ear, con-
veved the message to the brain. he
spatchcd at his bandage.
.z,o,, .IoII mot do that, che said and
c,,,,bf his hand and held if down
-rhnn ,t orca he was o1iaf
lIo continued trrning his head on the
niIIow but no did MT stir his arm
Wb,, she attemntcd tn withdraw her
hand no u,ouId moi suffer her. Once,
,cbar almost NV main force she
,,f,cr.ad hon. hand awav ne became ex-
c.tad and triad IN rise in his bed
In terror to pacffy him. she gave him
her hand again. She moved her chair
close to the he'd. where she could sit
facing him. and let him hold her left
hand with his left. He was quiet at
once It seemed to her that her cool,
calmly flowing blood DoUred its heal
inc influence through her hand I'D his
arm 10 his tossing. troubled head.
phus she was Obliged to sit all night,
hand in hand with the man she was
constrained ito pity, but whom, for
his guilt. she loathed.
He became cooler, his pulse beat
less fercely. his hand was less burn
ing and dry. She saw him pass from
yexing dreams into placid sleep. She
was unable to knit, to do any work all
night. She could do nothing other
than sit hour after hour. with ner
ewes on his face. trying to unravel the
riddle, to reconcile that noble counter
ance with an evil life. And when she
could not solve it, she closed her eyes
and PRAYED, and her prayer was con-
cprned. like her thoughts, with the
man who Inv IN favnr and main. and
who c1aenod her hand 50 resoIuteIv, To
,,.,n,- dow, hi, o,os onanad and
- ,,,a, 49,, r,,oro ,-oo,rc,, an, fire.
- tban, rrbon Che went to the ,l+-
10 oosar,ont and ononed # The
t-..[ ,-a,aa+ ai, of oorI,, rnorninsr
49,, - ana With tho ~, ooroo +ba
I.-aI-,,,ir,, +r,.,,ebas tho s,i,.,I
80 Va O. 49,, 81 Ono fodfr,o So,
80, ',,:at,a - Nv. +bo+
WIS So .,i5l 80 -,,,1oS
was I"9 liiS ''7iUG i'S '.rD1NI 3,-.,.
one "Tn' t u'lN " , ~ DG''>'''N Oh =
SAD sen'iy' LOU d go. go, - ,,-o
lll"llN YOU ne ans" GU La :
gwen you huch 'louOte ,,-.,-
She went pach 70 CiIe oeuS'ue anu
SAD gently ." are 0e''et
Ihahk you he "nS"eIeu' nav (
gwen you nluSh IIouoIe'