The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-05-22
COME ON, ELv1RA. TELL ME-"

went spiritlessly. The heat would have
robbed even q pleasant environment of
its cheer.
The doctors carriage squeaked on.
Now and then he was hailed from a
field or yard. To every call he gave
the same response-straw hat held
straight and u~nwaveringly above his
head, his broad face beaming. though
half a thought should have told him
that features at that distance were
indistinguishable. Nowhere was he
hailed for his services: his morning
rounds were a matter of form. A new
baby Give miles OUT and old Mis- Tai
bot We're his only patients.
Just now he was about half a mile
fro mTalbot's. Every minute it grew
plainer-a Lilliputian house with a
midget stirring busily around the back
and side. The doctor knew. as every
one in the village must have known,
that the midget was Elvira Talbot,
patient and shy daughter Of a queru-
louS bic mother. The doctor, always
soft" felt a sudden stir of pity for
Viry-she was So painfully shy, SO
beautifully patient; destined. it almost
seemed by nature, for old maiden
hood.
Elvira. glancing up from feeding the
hens, saw the Doctors carriage from
afar off. She poured out the last of
the grain reckleSsly INT ran into the
house. Inside she somothed her hair
futilely, dipped her hands into the
zinc basin and dried them on her
apron as she vent through the house
and appeared ~decorously at the front
door as Dolly halted before the picket
gate.
"How's your ma, Elvira?" the doc
tor called to her.
MAS about the same. thank you,"
she answered gently. Would you like
to see her?"
II dunno" said the doctor. Then
he smiled down suddenly at her. 81
ont more here" he said. Your mas
got so much the matter With her, ac-
cording to her count. I guess I'll stay
right here awhile and talk to YOU"
Elvira nodded Complementary.
Mas pretty sick. though" she added.
The doctor nodded too, soberly.
Just nothing but old age" he said
gently. But she seems to be worry
ing about something everlastingly.
DO you know what it is?" He turn
ed suddenly to Elvira. Her face had
suddenly gone crimson and she looked
at him. doggedly defiant.
She hain't got a thing to worry
over, fairs as l can see" she said all
most sharply. "Pa left us plenty to
live on and she's as comfortable as she
can be, ! know that" The doctor
continued to look at her soberly.
Something's worrying her" he re-
peated, land YOU know what it is.
You'd better tell me. Elvira."
Elvira glanced up in shame-faced
depreciation. ITS just foo%lishness,"
she said finally. "It amt anything YOU
could help. or I'd tell you in a minute.
it amt"
81 guess Id better judge that" the
doctor said. Elvira flushed more deep
ly than ever at his tone of reproof.
you know Just foolishness' looks
pretty big sometimes to sick folks.
Come on Elvira, tell me. You know
it'll be as safe with me as with your
self. You never heard of anything
leaking out through me, did you
now?"
Elvira shook her head miserably.
Her hands We're rolled tightly in her
apron. There were tears in her eyes.
Finally she spoke, her voice cold and
hard. We'll if you must know" flash
ing defiance on him from misty eyes,
its me that's worrying her. She
can't bear to think that I'll be alone
when she's gone. I shan't mind it a
bit: Of course III miss her awfully, but
7 shan't mind being alone. But
worse thai that, she's worrying be-
cause-because l amt married, and
amt eve had a chance to be. She
seems to feel like it was a. disgrace.
And she nags. nags. nags till I'm ready
to fly. Then I'm 10 ashamed I can
hardly hold up my head. That's it.
You can see yourself that's there's
nothing to it,"
The doctor carefully ficked a fly off
Dolly's back He nodded gently two or
three times. TOO bad!" he said. and