The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-08-03


mercy; you are stronger than ],
have no choice but to do what you
bid me. And in addition to the nat
ural weakness of my sex l am the
more helpless from this foot. What
do you intend to do with me? How
do you mean to treat me?"
1t was a bold, a splendid question.
and 1t evoked the answer 1t merited.
"As God is my judge" said the man
quietly, "just as you ought to be
treated, as | would want another to
treat my mother, or my sister, or my
wife"-she noticed how curiously his
lips suddenly frightened at that word
'if had one. never harmed wom-
an in my life," he continued more
earnestly, "only one, that is" he cor
rected himself, and once again she
marked that peculiar contraction of
the lips And could not help that"
he added.
II trust you," said the girl at last,
after gazing at him long and hard as
If to search out the secrets of his very
soul you have saved my life and
LuluSS USdIGI ILL US sale WILL yOO.
I have to trust you"
81 hope" came the quick comment,
that it Is not only for that. I don't
want to be trusted upon compulsion."
"You must have fought terribly for
my life In the food" was the answer.
II can remember what it was now,
and you carried me over the rocks
and the mountains without faltering.
Only man could do what you have
done. I trust you anyway"
THANK you." said the man briefly
as he bent over the injured foot again.
The boot laced up the front, the
short skirt left all plainly visible.
With deft fingers he undid the sodden
knot and unlaced It, then stood hest
tatingly for a moment.
II don't like to cut your only pair
Of Shoes" he said as he made
slight motion to draw 1t of. and then
observing the spasm of pain, stopped.
Needs must" he continued, taking
out his knife and Sitting the
leather
He did 1t very carefully SO as not
to ruin the boot beyond repair, and
finally succeeded in getting 1t off
| without giving her too much pain.
And she was not SO tired or SO miser-
| able as to be unaware of his gentle
ness. His manner, matter Of fact,
business like, II he had been doctor
one would have called 1t professional,
distinctly pleased her in this trying
and unusual position. Her stocking
| was stained with blood. The man rose
to his feet, took from rude home
made chair a light Mexican blanket
and laid 1t considerably across the
girl.
| Now II you can manage to get off
your stocking yourself, will see what
can be DONE" he said, turning away.
1t was the work of a few seconds
for her to comply with his request.
Hanging the wet stocking carefully
over chair back, he drew back the
blanket a little and carefully inspect
ed the poor little foot. He saw at
once that 1t was not an ordinary
sprained ankle, but it seemed to him
that her foot had been caught be-
tween two tossing logs, and had been
badly bruised. It was very painful
but would not take so long to heal as
a sprain. The little foot, normally so
white, was now black and blue and
the skin had been roughly torn and
broken. He brought a basin of cold
| water and a towel and washed off the
blood, the girl fighting down the pain
and successfully sitting any cutlery.
Now" he said, you must put on
this gown and get into bed. By the
time you are ready for 1t I will have
some broth for you and then we will
bandage that foot. I shall not come
In here for some time, you will be
quite alone and safe"
He turned and left the room, shut
ting the door after him DIS he went
out. For a second time that day Enid
Maitland addressed herself and this
time neryously and In great haste.
She was almost too excited and ap-
prehensive to recall the painful cir
cumstances attendant upon her first
disrobing. She said she trusted the
man absolutely; yet she would not
have been human II she had not
looked most anxiously toward that
| closed door. He made plenty OF noise
| in the other room, busting about as
II to reassure her.
She could not rest the weight of
her body on her left foot, and getting
rid OF her wet clothes was a some
what slow process In spite of her
hurry, made more so by her extreme
nervousness. The gown he gave her
was far too big for her, but soft and
warm and exquisitely clean 1t drap.
ed her slight figure completely. Leav.
ing her sodden garments where they
had fallen, for she was not equal tc
anything else, she wrapped herself in
the folds of the big gown and man
aged to get into bed. For all its rude
appearance 1t was q very comfortable
sleeping place; there were springs and
a good mattress The unbleached