The Madison journal., 1913-07-05
CHAPTER XVI.
A FluhtIno Chance.

VI0HhU8 SUsHSo.
The dining-room Of the old red house
was cool. and fragrant from the blos-
soming heliotrope bed below Its 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 q sonorous blessing, ut
tered by Mrs. Stoddard in tones full
Of unction. she and Agatha ate sup
per in a sympathetic silence. 1t was
a meal upon which Sallie Kingsbury
expended her best powers as cook.
with no mean results; but nobody
took much notice of II, 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 plar
to stay on duty until midnight, wher
Mrs. Stoddard was to be called
Agatha had spent an hour with James
helping Mrs. Stoddard or watching th'
patient while the nurse made man!
necessary trips to the kitchen. Th'
sight Of James woeful plight drov'
every thought from her mind. En-
1 gagements and managers lost thei
reality, and became shadow memorie
beside the vividness of his desperat
need. He had 10 knowledge Of heI
or of any efforts to secure his CON
fort. He talked necessarily, some
times in q soft, unintelligible murmul
sometimes in loud and emphatic tones
/ His eyes were brilliant but wandering
! his movements were abrupt or violen
' needless or feeble, as the moment d
r creed. He talked about the ding!
3 nasty fo'cas1e, the absurdity Of hi
not being able to get around, the fin
J. outfit Of the Sea Gull. the chill Of th
a water. He sometimes swore softl
r almost apologet1cally, and he uttere
? most unchristian sentiments towaI
some person whom he described {
4 wearing extremely neat and dandtde
clothes.
I. After the first five minutes Agati
paid no heed to his words, and cou
n bear to stay in the room only wh'
10 she was able to do something
q soothe or comfort him. She was n
"a wholly unfamiliar with illness and Il
) trouble that comes in its train, b
,e the sight Of James, with his unrecc
n mixing eyee and his wits astray.
superb engine gone wild, brought
,r sharp and hitherto unknown pain
ID her throat. She stood over his b.
n holding his hands when he wor
A reach frenziedly into the air AFT
a. some object of his feverish desir
she coaxed him back to his pill'
IA when he fancied he must run to cat
10 something that was escaping him.
took nerve and strength to care
4" him; unceasing vigilance and ingel
ns ity were required in circumventing
m erratic movements.
ia And through 1t all there was sor
Ia thing about bis clean, honest mi
he and person that stirred only affecti
ns ate pity. He was a child. taking
he chfld's liberties. Mrs. Stoddard bro
ed over him already. as a mother O.
Il. her dearest son; Mr.. Hand had turn
an gentle as q woman and gave the sc
he fee of love, not of the eye. His s.
~ in managing almost rivaled Mrs. st
ne dard's. James accepted Hands q
tn istrations as a matter Of course,
Of came more docile under his treatmt
re- and watched for him when he dis
On. peared. Indeed, the whole househ
his was taxed for James: and Agaa
,as deeply distressed as she was, throo
led with gratitude that she could .
AN care for him, II only for an hour.
nat Thus it was that the two won
les eating their supper and looking
ety over Hercules Thayers pleasant