Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-03-31

three men and two women in them.
They'll be here in half an hour"
The rangers heart leaped Two
women. Could one Of them be Lee
Virginia? What folly-what sweet.
desperate folly! And the other-she
could not be Lie. for Lie was too
feeble to ride so far. stop them on
the other side OF the bridge" he COM
manded. Don't let them cross the
creek on any pretext."
As he stood in the door the fiutter
Of a handkerchief. the waving OF a
hand. made his pulse glow and his
eyes grow dim. II was Virginia.
Lie did not futter a kerchief or
wave hand. but when SWenson stop
ped the carriage at the bridge she said
mo. you don't! I'm going across. I'm
going TO see Ross. and If he needs help
I'm going TO roll up my sleeves and
take hold
Cavanagh saw her advancing, and as
she came near enough for his voice TO
reach her he called out: Don't come
any closer. Stop, | tell you" His
voice was stern. You must not come
step nearer. Go back across the
dead line and stay there. No one but
the doctor shall enter this door Now,
that's final"
81 want to help! she protested.
81 know you do, but won't have it.
This quarantine is real, and it goes!'
But suppose you yourself get sick?"
We'll cross that bridge when we
get to it. I'm all right so far, and IN
call for help when l need it,"
His tone was imperative, and she
obeyed, grumbling about his youth and
the value of his life to the service.
That's all very nice" he replied.
''but I'm in it, and | don't intend to
expose you or any one else to the con-
tagion."
I've had it once" she asserted.
He looked at her and SMILED in rec
ognition Of her subterfuge
mo matter; you're ailing and might
take it again, so todde back. It's
mighty good of you and Of Lee to
come, but there isn't a thing you can
do, and here's the Doctor" he added
as he recognized the young student
who passed for n physician in the
Fork. He was a beardless youth Of
small experience and no great cour-
age. and as he approached with hesi-
tant feet he asked:
Are you sure it's smallpox ?"
Cavanagh smiled The indications
are all that way That last importa-
tion of Basques brought it probably
from the steerage of the ship. I'm
told they've had several cases over in
the BASIN
Have you been vaccinated|
"Yes. when l was in the army"
'Then you're all right"
81 hope so"
There was a certain comic relief in
this long distance diagnosing of a
case" by boy, and yet the tragic
fact beneath it all was that Wether.
ford was dying, a broken and dshon-
ored husband and father, and that his
identity must be concealed from his
WIZ anu btth SIlCi, W IO "Clt llllLCh
more deeply concerned over the ran
ger than over the desperate condition
| Of his patient. And this must con-
| tinue to be So" CavanG-h decided.
| And as he stood there looking toward
the girls fair figure on the bridge he
came to the final, fixed determination
never to speak one word or make a
sign that might lead to the dying
mans Identification. "Of what use is
itT' he asked himself. "Why should
even Lie be made to suffer- Wether-
fordY poor misspent life is already
over for her, and for Lee he is only a
dim memory"
Redfield came near enough to see
that the rangers face, though tired,
showed no sign of illness and was re-
lieved. Who is this old herder?" he
asked. Hasn't he any relatives in
the countryF"
HE came from Texas, so he said.
You're not coming in?' he broke off
to say to the young physician, whom
Lie had shamed into returning to the
cabin.
81 suppose I'll have to-" he protest
ed weakly.
81 don't see the need of it. The
whole place reeks of the poison, and
you might carry it away with you.
Unless you insist on coming in and
are sure you can prevent further CON
tagion | shall oppose your entrance.
You are in the company of others. !
must consider their welfare"
The young fellow was relieved.
"Well, so long as we know what 1t Is
can prescribe just as well right
here he said and gave directions for
the treatment, which the ranger agreed
to carry out.
II tried to bring a nurse" explained
Redfield, but | couldn't find anybody
but old Lie who would come"
II don't blame them" replied Ross.
ut isn't a nice job, even when you've
got all the conveniences."
His eyes as he spoke were on the
figure of Lee. who still stood on the
bridge, awed and worshipful, barred of
approach by Lie. "She shall not
know" he silently vowed. "Why put
her through useless suffering and
shame? Edward Wetherford's disor
dered life is near its end, To betray
him to his wife and daughter would
be but the reopening of an old wound
He was stirred to the center of his
heart by the coming of Lee Virginia
so sweet and brave and trustful. His
stern mood melted as he watched her
there waiting, with her face turned
toward him, longing to help. "She
would have come alone if necessary
he declared. with fuller revelation OF
7 the self sacrificing depth of her love
land she would come to my side this