The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-08-27
..cn,endid," cried the girl.


Allan was a busy man. while 'no
dreadful old buildings gave up 'neA
horde Of dodgers. There were nohlo1
To be found. there were nunsi'
mouths to be fed.
And then one morning m9n III .
h1ue uniform came to the Ed"aiuS
home. -.
I'm a sanitary officer, MISS no
said to Laura, land I bring you
message from Mr. Merling. he mas
been taking care of sick boy HISS
and we find it's smallpox, and they w
both been sent to the hospital Tor con-
taeious cases." He saw that Laura
face suddenly blanched. "Eve.ytnlns
will be done for him, miss, tnat can
be done. He sent you his kindest re-
cards and asked you to visit the once
occasionally, If convenient, miss. II
you wish it, miss, will let you know
how he Is faring from time to Time
He paused on the steps. HE is n'le
young man, miss, and has done
splendid work. and we all hope II wiz
go light with him."
He saw that Laura was crying ana
said no more.
The weeks that followed were anx-
ious ones for others beside the girl.
The story of Allan's labors, OF the gooo
he had accomplished. of the sacr1nces
he had made, was told throughout the
busy city.
So the weeks went by and then
letter came to Laura. Allan was no
longer in the hospital. He was at
sanitarium where they were trying to
build him up so he could go aWay-tc
Colorado or Arizona, the doctor wasn't
sure which.
Il am coming to see you before
60, although it will hurt my pride,
he wrote. I'm not SCARED up so
much, but bony, painfully and unpleas-
ant to look upon. But I want to see
you, want to tell you what you have
done for me. I had lot Of time to
think 1t over there in the hospital
If it hadn't been for you I would have
gone on in the old profligate way
You saw something in me that nobody
else knew I possessed. l didn't know
1t myself. They tell me I've done
few worthy things, but 1t Is to you the
credit Is due. In all things 1 have
only been your agent"
Three days later he followed the let
ter. Laura heard the carriage and ran
to meet him, and drew him into the
library and put him in the big easy
chair.
He was just a little overcome by
these attentions, but tried to conceal
1t.
This is fine" he said Everybody
is so good to me. Such funny things
happen. That carriage driver out
there asked me if he might shake
hands with me. And do you see this
little bunch of flowers. A woman was
waiting at the door of the sanitarium.
She gave me that. She's the mother
of that sick boy, you remember-the
one l helped. You are looking very
well, Miss Laura-only little pale"
She didn't answer him. She couldn't
quite control her voice. He was so
woefully thin and pale, but the old
smile was still there
They are having such a time" he
said, finding the right sort of nurse
to 60 with me. I'm quite fussy, you
know, and need such a lot of care.
Why, what's WrOng?"
She was looking down at him, and
her eyes were filled with tears.
Don't" he whispered. II shall be
sorry 1 came. Can't you see how I'm
trying to brace up? Don't you realize
how it hurts me to go away from
your
She suddenly stopped and put her
loving arms around him and kissed
his SCARED face
"Oh, my DEAR she mufmured, you
will take me with you and let me care
for you-always." R. Rose In the
Cleveland Plain Dealer.