Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-02-23
[CONTINUED.l

She tlrned to Lee. I'm hungry.
Where's that grub chart of mine?"
Lee brought the doctors page of
notes and read it through, while her
mother snort"d at intervals: "Hah!
Dry toast, weak tea, no coffee, no al
c0hOl. Huh. | might as well starve!
Eggs-fish-miIk! Why didn't he say
boiled live Holsters and champagne?
/ tell you right now Pm not going to
go into that kind of a game. If ! die
Pm going to die eating what l blame
pleasev
The struggle had begun. With des-
perate courage Lee fought, standing
SQuarcly in the rut of her mothers
daily habit. you must not hive up
here any longer" she insisted. You
must get out and walk and ride. l
can take care OF the house, at least
till we can sell it,
1t was like breaking the pride of an
athlete, but little by little she forced
upon her mother a realization of her
true condition. and at last Lie con-
scented to offer the business for sale.
Lee longed for the presence of Ross
Cavanagh ut this moment, when all
her little world seemed tumbling into
ruin. and almost in answer to her word
less prayer came Il messenger from the
little telephone Office, Some Il wants
to talk to YOU"
She answered this call hurriedly,
-. . d.. 4l,t - ,,,,,,t 10 NIp,
Redfield. The booth was in the little
sitting room of Il private cottage, and
the mistress of the place, a ShreWd
little Woman with inquisitive eyes,
said, Sounds to me like Ross Cava-
nagh's voice"
Lee was thankful for the booths pri-
Vacy, for her cheeks famed up at his
remark, and when she took up the re-
ceiver her heart was beating SO loud
it seemed as if the person at the other
end of the wire must heal it. WHO
is ii, please" she asked, with breath
less intensity.
\ mans voice came back over the
wire so clear, 50 distinct, 50 intimate,
it seemed as if he We're speaking into
her ear. 1T is |, Ross Cavanagh. |
wan to ask how your mother is"
she is terribly disheartened by what
the doctor has said, but she is in no
immediate danger"
He perceived her agitation and was
instantly sympathetic. Can | be of
use? DO you need me? If you do III
come down"
Where are you?'
Il am at the sawmill, the nearest
telephone station"
How far away are your"
about thirty miles"
OH She expressed in this little
sound her disappointment. and as it
uembled over the wire he spoke quick
ly: please tell me. Do you want me
to come down? Never mind the dis
lance. l Il ride it in a few hours"
She was tempted. but bravely said:
mo; I'd like TO see you, of course, but
the doctor said mother was in no dan
ger. You must not come on our ac-
count"
He felt the wonder of the moments
WV NhS HISS SlSSpS
and said so. You can't imagine how
strangely sweet and civilized your voice
sounds to me here in this savage place.
Ut makes me hope that some day you
and Mrs. Redfeld will come up and
visit me in person."
Il should like TO come"
Perhaps it would DO your mother
good to camp for awhile. Can't you
persuade her to do so?"
I'm trying to do that mean. to
stop workout she says, What can
we do to earn a living?'"
IF nothing happens I hope to spend
an hour or two at the Fork next Sun
day. l hope to find your mother bet
ter"
Their words were of this unemotion-
al sort. but in their voices something