Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-06-28

Oc J6oN
be still until / copy these directions in
this little red leather blank book for
you, and every day want you to keep
an exact record of the conditions of
which / make note. No. don't talk
while I make out these diet lists! |
wish you would 60 across the hall and
see II you don't think we ought to get
Billy a thinner set Of night drawers.
1t seems to me he must be too warm
in the ones he is wearing"
When he speaks to me in that tone
of voice always do it And l needed
Billy badly at that very moment !
took him out OF his little cot by DR..
Johns big bed and sat down with him
in my arms over by the window
through which the early moon came
streaming. Billy is so little, little not
to have a mother to rock him all the
times he needs II, that / take every
opportunity to give it to him find
when he's unconscious and can't help
himself. She died before she ever
even saw him, and I've always tried to
do what could TO make it up to him.
Poor Mr.. Carter said when Billy cut
his teeth that a neighbours baby can be
worse than twins Of your own. He
didn't Ike children, and the baby's
crying disturbed him. so many night,
/ walked Billy out in the garden until
daylight, while Mr.. Carter and DR..
John both slept. Always his little,
warm. witty body has comforted me
for the emptiness Of not having a baby
of nv own. And he's very congenial.
too. for he's slim and flowery, pink and
dimply, and as mannish as his father,
in funny little flashes.
"Git a stick to punch IT. Molly" he
was murmurIng in his sleep. Then
heard the doctor call me and had to
kiss him. put him back in his bed and
60 across the hall.
DR.. John was standing by the table
with this horrid small book in his hand
and his mouth was set In q straight
line and his eyes were deep back un-
der their brows. hate him that way,
too. and would like TO get up SO close
| to him that he couldn't hit me or have
! a door locked between US. It's strange
| how the thought of taking beating
! from a man can make woman's heart
| jump. Mine jumped so it was hard TO
! look as meek as felt best under the
circumstances, but looked it out from
under my lashes cautiously.
There you are, Mrs. Molly" he said
briskly as he handed me this book.
Get weighed and measured and sized
up generally in the morning and follow
all the directions; also make every rec
ord / have noted so that I can have
| the proper data TO help you as you go
! along-or rather down. And if you will
be faithful about it to me, or. rather
Al. think we can be sure of buttoning
that blue muslin dress without even
the aid of the buttonhook." His voice
had the III you can" note in it that
always sets me off.
Had we better get the kiddie some
thinner night rigging?" he FASTENED to
ask as | was just ABOUT to explode.
He knows the signs.
Thank you, DR.. Moore! hate the
very ground you walk on. and I'll at
tend TO those night clothes myself to-
morrow" | answered. and ! sailed out
of that office and down the path to-
ward my own house beyond his hedge
But ! carried this book tight in my
hand, and | made up my mind that
would do il all II 1t killed me. ! would
show him could be faithful-to whom
would decide later on. But | hadn't
read far into this book when ! com
nitted myself to myself like that!
don't know just how long 1 sat or
the front steps all by myself bathed in
perfect food Of moonlight and loneli
ness. 1t was not bit of comfort &c
hear Aunt Adelne snoring away in bel
room down the dark hall. 1t takes the
greatest coBgeniality TO make q per
sons snoring pleasure to anybody, anC
Aunt Adellne and are not that way.
When poor Mr.. Carter died the mex
day she said: Nov, Mary, you are en-
tirely too young TO live all your Ions
years OF widowhood alone, and as an
in the same condition, will rent NY
cottage and move right up the stree
into your house to protect and console
you" And she did-the moving and
the protecting.
Mr.. Henderson has been dead forty
two years. He only lived three months
after be married Aunt Adeline and he
Grape veil is over a yard long yet. Mel
are the dust under her feet. but sh
likes for DR.. John to come over ant
sit on the porch with US because sh
can consult with him about what MI
Henderson really died of and talk witt
him about the sad state OF poor Mr
; Carriers liver for year before be died
l Just so on rocking Billy and singinI
: hymns TO him IN such a way that
, can't hear the conversation. Dir. Car
ter's liver got on my nerves alive, an,
dead IL does worse But II hurts whel
the doctor has to take the little. sleep
hoy out Of my arms to carry him home
: though ! ike It when he says unde
bis breath, Thank you. Molly"
And as ! sat and thought how nea
: be and had been to each other in a
; our troubles ] excused myself for TUT
ming TO him with that letter and I az
knowledged to myself that / had n
right to get mad when he teased me
: for he had been kind and intereste
about helping me get thin by the tim
Alfred came back to see me. ! couldn