Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-09-02
Into the Winter

RiOomily away ana sank upon neigh
boring bench. Success had come to
him SO easily that this first setback
found him unprepared. Everything
that the women Of his set priced most
money, social position and a pleas
ing personality his Yet Bea.
trice had refused him.
While he was chewing the bitter
cud Of reflection, one Of the natives
ambied over with an easy familiarity.
The man was an acquaintance Of
few days. but the warm Southern sun
had quickly ripened their intimacy.
What's grievin' you, sahi" he
asked, sitting by the young mans side.
Ordinarily Winton would have re
sented such interference, but today be
welcomed a confdant So be unload.
ed all his trouble on the kindly old
man who looked at him with whole
souled sympathy.
Stranger" his auditor counseiied
when Winton had finished, you're
summering too much. You've been
rubbing up against the plush so long
that you're as smooth as a stone the
waves have licked for a hundred
years. The gal--frora what I've seen
Of her up on the piazza don't want
so much polish II hides the good
inside. so that she begins to wonder
whether 1t really exists. Now, jest
take me-" he went on with admirable
candor. I'm Jest er good-fer-nothln'.
picltin' up er bit here and there fer a
liyin' An there's boyhood chum er
mine. He didn't have any more
brains than me. Wen fas content
to live er baskin' in the son. while he
went into the winter. stuck IN the
drifts, got buffeted by the winds an
freezed by the cold Jest see where
he ls now--in Congress-, while Pm
only er common sort of er mortal"
The old man left winton with an
idea. He began to realize that there
was something entirely foreign to his
life Of pampered ease Perhaps Bea-
trice did want man who could make
his own way through life without the
aid Of his fathers dollars. Uncon-
sciously he squared his shoulders as
he planned a purpose for his life.
That afternoon the news came to
hts hotel that yellow fever had broken
out in q village about so miles to the
north. The train on which Beatrice
and her mother had left that morning
had for some reason been held up and
It's passengers quarantined.
Half an hour later Winton had
packed up his dress suit case and
started on. Twenty miles was the
nearest he could come to the quaran-
tined village by train, so at an exorbi-
tant price he hired carriage. the
driver Of which promised to bring him
within few miles OF the place. He
would have 10 walk the rest Of the
way.
1t was nightfall when he ar
rived at the little hamlet and passed
through the Gordon of infantry b.
vouacked about the plague spot
Signs OF the grim visitation Of death
we're already evident. Large fires
fed by the debris lying promiscuous
ly around, burned in various places
At intermittent points. where the
faint flicker of a light was visible
there seemed to hang a pall-a mute
sign OF the death that lurked within
Winton found Beatrice In the one
small hostelry OF the village. A flush
Of happiness swept over the tear
stained face Of the girl when she sau
him.
Harry! she exclaimed. stretching
her arms out towards him impuisive
ly, "I knew you'd comet"
"Mother's ILL.," the girl continued
sobbIng brokenly. The blow seemed
to have sapped her energy. She turn
cd TO him appealingly for help.
Winton reassured her with Few
hAsty words and then hastened to ths
sick room. Even his unpractlsed { q
could see at a single glance the seri
ous condition OF the patient.
"She must have doctor al once.
he decided, and rushed from the I'M
in search Of one. He found that thu
general store had been converted int
a supply centre. where the meagr'
supplies which had been rushed t
the village were doled out. An i'm
promptu band of doctors aud nursei
were stationed there.
A few minutes later a physicitI
stood at the bedside of the sick WON
an, and leaving hurried instruction
he departed almost Immediately oil
| another case. Winton cleared th'
worn, germ-breeding furniture out o
the room, hung wet sheets over tn
doors and windows. and then went t
share the vigil Of the girl.
All through the long night the tw'
sat motionless, watching the labore'
breathing OF the patient An ominou
silence hung over all, so that the tick
ing OF WInton's watch on the tabi
sounded sharp and clear. The younI
man torn from him the thin veneer o
culture; that he was now on trial a
his own worth before the girl he loved
He did not relax his vigilance for
moment Even when the lids Of tn
girl. weighted down by sheer exhaui
ton, closed In sleep, he continue
his watch as faithfully as ever.
In the early hours OF the mornin
the doctor came again, rousing tn
girl from her fitful slumber. II
stepped quietly 10 the bed and el
amlned the patient.
The danger has passed" he sal
softly.
A pean OF Thanksgiving shone troI
the eyes OF the two levers. insun'
lively their hands ciasDed. and IN
young man felt that he had starte
toward the fulhlment OF that purpos
which he had registered 50 solemn
In his hsart.-MIss PRICILLA n