The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-01-19
CORDEaHA.
BY WINIFRED N. KIRKLAND

you can. Don't let her see or hear
them. Rest is what she needs. If
she could go away"
"Oh, but she can't Papa is going
away We're getting him ready now.
It's very hard to make mama lie
down, but I'll try. Can't you give
her some medicine?"
He took out his prescription tab
let.
20 dear!" exclaimed Cordelia,
abruptly.
The doctor followed her gaze out
of the window. What is it," he
asked.
only Marjorie, going off to play
with Daisy Cole. 1 thought she'd
stay in and finish the Dishes"
The doctor whipped out of the
front door and bounded nimbly over
the lawn. Marjorie was unprepared.
therefore yielded to attack, and re-
turned to the kitchen. Marjorie was
next to Cordelia in years, but not in
maturity. She was delightfully."- pref
ty, and had a tendency to shed re-
sponsibilities.
I'll just leave this prescription at
the drugstore as l pass by" said the
doctor, as he took his leave. In
wardly he considered that, his morn
ing round over. it would be passible
for him to run into the city for an
hour, and drop in on Mr.. Braithwaite
at his office.
Cordelia closed the front door and
went UP to her mother. She found
her moving about with nervous ra-
pidity, pulling out drawers and shut
ting them again shortly, and laying
out various masculine garments on
the bed. Her cheeks were flushed
and her lips were tight-set. Cordelia
foresaw that it would be a particu-
larly hard matter to make her lie
down.
Bobs-baby appeared to be very
much underfoot. Cordelia lifted him
out OF her workbasket, and stood
holding him in her arms. He re-
sented the interruption, and pounded
her vigorously; but she smiled at him
so persistently. as If not dreaming
he could wish to hurt her, that at
last he desisted and cuddled his head
down on her shoulder
Mama" pleaded Cordelia, don't
you think you could let papas things
go for to-day, and rest instead?"
How can 1? l must get these
things in order. Your father must
have his vacation" There was a
ring in her mothers voice that Cor
della had never heard before.
ITS only Wednesday," she begged,
land he doesn't go till Saturday. If
you would rest to-day, perhaps you'd
feel more like working tomorrow"
There isn't any rest for me, and
1 shall never feel like working!"
She would hav3 controlled herself
somehow in the presence of the other
children, but she could not keep the
words back when it was only Cor
della.
A louder burst of noise from be-
low; the mother put her hands to
her temples. "Oh, my headl If
could only be quiet" Then sudden
ly she sank into a chair, sobbing
wildly.
1t was very dreadful for Cordelia
to see. She dropped Bobs-b baby, and
swiftly cleared her fathers clothes
from the bed. tucking them any
where, everywhere. out of sight. She
took her mothers hand gently but
firmly.
you must lie down, darling" she
said.
She darkened the room quickly
and laid a wet cloth on her mothers
brow, bent and kissed the drawn lips.
There was at times a great strength
and restfulness about Cordelia.
Again there was a sound OF shout
ing and stampede i'm the kitchen be-
low. The mother was quiet now, but
her forehead contracted in agony.
Cordelia caught up the baby and hur-
ried down. There was nothing for IL
but to sweep them all out of the
house for a picnic.
The tale Cordelia told in the kitch-
en- was dire and silencing. She knew
by experience that the sympathies OF
the youngsters, Marjorie. jamie.
Nan, Laura and Bobs, required pow
erful appeal.
When she had finished, Jamie's
lips were trembling, and even the
hibbertgibbet Marjorie's eyes were
wide open with alarm. 1t is not
probable that any of them expected
ever to see their mother I'm the flesh
again.
They creakcd about the Kitchen on
tiptoe, watching Cordelia's prepar-
ations for the picnic with subdued
and fearsome pleasure. True. Bobs-
baby exhibited tendency to disap-
pear and be found scuttling upstairs
on all tours toward his mothers
room; but determined hands plucked
him back by his little petticoats, and
determined sisterly palms were
clapped over his protesting mouth.
Having reduced her flock to such
unaccustomed and frightened docili-
ty, Cordelia's motherly soul relented
TO the extent Of a whole glassful OF
fresh current jelly and FIVE micro
scopic crumbs of the sacred and in
violate fruitcake.
Once safe in Pomforts grove. n
secure three-quarters Of a mile from
her mothers bedroom, she gradually
allowed her spirits and those Of the
other picnicers to rise She led the
games with all her usual wizardry.
They would play they were off
/ camping, just as their father camped
every summer. Had he not described
i IA r.rrr.r HnH.sH