The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-01-12

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 n doctor. Run along with
YOU"
Cordelia breathed n 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.
Il don't believe it," he replied. .
looking at her with a keenness that
caused Cordelia to transfer her anx-
fety 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 Cordelia, the extreme gravity of
whose demeanor was somewhat coun-
teracted by a tissue-paper cap that
fiuttered 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.
Eyes," 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.
az am mott" she answered hotly.
Your pulse!" 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."
Il can't help it. o, baby, please
get off mamas 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.
I'VE went to mothers at Christ
mas"
''Took the family with you?"
"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, 1 love my children! 1
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
you think you could manage to get
off for a little while soon-if you
tried?"
ITS impossible Mr.. Brathwaite's
vacation comes next week, and -"
"Oh, he takes vacation, does hep"
"Of counsel" Again her eyes
flashed, and again the doctor was
cowed.
And you think you really can't
go 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 mOrningi"
But the doctor was not through
with Cordelia. Before he could slip
put. having left the mother upstairs.
COrdelia had hurried from the rear
regions, with sleeves rolled up and
hands damp washing
Doctor, is mama sick?" she asked.
pushing him into the parlor and clos
ing tho door us mama sick?" she
repeated
She says not"
Cordelia was in no mood for trin-
ing 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. / don't
think that would do her much good "
Shall I make her some arrow
root?" asked Cordelia But the doc
tor was discouraging about the ar
rOwroot. also
What do you want me to do for
her. doctor?" Cordelia folded her
wiry, bare arms and looked at him.
She was a very plain little girl. She
had never had time to grow plump.
her features were japanese rather
than otherwise, ana her hair stood
out I'm a stin black braid. But when
she smiled. and her little tilted nose
wrinkled itself up almost to disap.
ponrancr. and her almond ovoe ohore