Tensas gazette., 1913-07-25
CHAPTER XVI.
A Fiuhtino Chance.

A Fighting Chance.
The dining-room of the old red house
was cool, and fragrant from the blos-
soming heliotrope bed below It's win
dow. The twilight, which is long in
eastern Maine, shed a soft glow over
the old mahogany and silver, and an
equally soft and becoming radiance
over the two women seated at the
table. After a sonorous blessing, ut.
tered by Mrs. Stoddard in tones full
Of unction, she and Agatha ate sup
per In a sympathetic silence. 1t was
meal upon which Sallie Kingsbury
expended her best powers as cook,
with no mean results; but nobody
took much notice Of 1t, after all. Mrs.
Stoddard poured her tea into her
saucer, drinking and eating absent
mindedly. Her face lighted with
something very like a smile whenever
she caught Agatha's eyes, but to her
talk was not necessary. Sallie how
cred around the door, even though
Lizzie had condescended to put on a
white apron and serve. But Agatha
sent the city maid away, bidding her
wait on the people in the sick-room
instead.
Mr.. Hand had been left with the
patient and had acquiesced in the plan
to stay on duty until midnight, when
Mrs. Stoddard was to be called.
Agatha had spent an hour with James,
helping Mrs. Stoddard or watching the
patient while the nurse made many
necessary trips to the kitchen. The
sight of James woeful plight drove
every thought from her mind. En-
gagements and managers lost their
reality, and became shadow memories
beside the vividness of his desperate
need. He had no knowledge of her,
or of any efforts to secure his COM
fort He talked necessarily, some
times In a soft, unintelligible murmur,
sometimes in loud and emphatic tones.
His eyes were brilliant but wandering,
his movements were abrupt or violent
needless or feeble, as the moment de-
creed. He talked about the dingy,
AocNy Az Nno re- NhO dObuIull1 OI Ills
not being able to get around, the fine
outfit Of the Sea Gull, the chill Of the
water. He sometimes swore softly,
almost apologetfcally, and he uttered
most unchristian sentiments toward
some person whom he described as
wearing extremely neat and dand1fled
clothes.
After the first flve minutes Agatha
paid no heed to his words, and could
hear to stay In the room only when
she was able to do something to
soothe or comfort him. She was not
wholly unfamiliar with illness and the
trouble that comes in its train, but
the sight Of James, with his unrecog-
nizing eyes and his wits astray, a
superb engine gone wild, brought a
sharp and hitherto unknown pain to
her throat. She stood over his bed,
holding his hands when he would
reach frenziedly into the air after
some object OF his feverish desire;
she coaxed him back to his pillow
when he fancied he must run to catch
something that was escaping him. 1t
took nerve and strength to care for
him; unceasing vigilance and ingenu-
ity were required in circumventing his
erratic movements.
And through 1t all there was some
thing about his clean, honest mind
and person that stirred only affection
ate pity. He was a child, taking a
child's liberties. Mrs. Stoddard brood
ed over him already, as a mother over
her dearest son; Mr.. Hand had turned
gentle as a woman and gave the serv-
ice of love, not Of the eye. His skill
in managing almost rivaled Mrs. Stod-
dard's. James accepted Hands min
istrations as a matter of course, be-
came more docile under his treatment,
and watched for him when he disap-
peared. Indeed, the whole household
was taxed for james; and Agatha,
deeply distressed as she was, throbbed
with gratitude that she could help
care for him, II only for an hour.
Thus it was that the two women,
eating their supper and looking out
over Hercules Thayer's pleasant gar