Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-02-18
CHAPTER XIV.
THE PITCHER AT THE WELL

THE PITCHER AT THE WELL.
The surgeon of that day was better
skilled in letting blood than in stanch-
ing it. 1t was well for Luke AsgiIl.
therefore, that non lived nearer than
Tralee. 1t was still more fortunate for
him that there was one in the house
to whom the treatment of such a wound
as his was an everyday matter, and
who was guided in his practice less
by the rules of the faculty than by
those of omnon sense.
Even under his care AsgilI's life hung
for many hours in the balance. There
was a time when mis- breath, in the old
phrase would not raise a feather. The
servants were ready to raise the
keen" the cook sought the salt for the
death plate. Colonel John, mindful of
many a man found living on the field
hours after he should, by all rules. have
died did not despair; and little by lit
tie the colonel's skill and patience pre-
vailed. The breathing grew stronger,
and, though the end must remain un-
certain, death. for the moment, was
rcpefic6.
Now, he who, when other are dis
traught and wiring their hands, knows
both what to do and how 10 do il. can
not fail to impress the imagination.
Unsupported by Flavia, Colonel John
might have done less; yet she who
fetched and carried for him, and shrank
from no sight OF blood or wound, was
also the one who succumbed the most
completely to his a~scendancy. Flavia's
feelings toward her cousin had been
altering hour by hour, and this ex-
p~erienee OF him FASTENED her tacit sur
render.
Having seen how high he could rise in
adversely, she 10 saw also how natur-
ally he took the lead of others, how
completely he dominated the crowd.
While she no longer marvelled I'm the
skill with which he had thwarted plans
which she began TO appraise at their
value, she found herself relying pom
him to an extent which startled and
frightened her.
Was ii only that morning that she
had trembled for her brothers. life
4 Was 1t only that morning she had had
+ opened her eyes and NOV him craven,
unworthy OF his name and race? Was
1t only that morning hat she had sent
into peril the man who lay dying before
her? For IL that were SO why did she
now fec SO different? Why did she
now feel inexplicabiy relieved. incon-
ceiyabiy at ease. almost happy? Why,
with the man whom she a thrust into
4 peril lying in extTemis before her, did
she find her mind straying to another :?
TO ono whose hands touched hers In the
work OF tendance, who, low-toned, or
dered her hither and thither, and was
obeyed?
sat In the darkened room. watching.
And In the twilight she blushed. Once,
at a crisis, Colonel John had taken her
roughly by the wrist and forced her to
hold the bandage so, while he twisted
1t. She looked at the wrist now, fancy
ing she could see the imprint OF his
fingers on It. she blushed more deeply.
pra&U0tiN fharn NY n <haxx a
listening to- the fiuttering breath. a low
scratching at the door. At q sign from
! Colonel Sullivan, who sat on the inner
side OF the bed. she stole TO 1t and found
Morty O'Beirne on the threshold. He
beckoned 70 her. and closing tho door
she followed him downstairs. TO where
~ the living roorn. shs found tie Other