The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-05-30

lonely up there. and Joel longed to 80
down to the CHEEKY warmth Of the
room below, but he hesitated.
Peter Langdon needed him sorely.
Some n must relieve the injured man
Of the agonizing pain Of his broken
limb. Joel thrust prejudice aside and
returned to the lower room and ap-
preached the bedroom door. n
"You won't be blamed because your
lights not burning.''A he announced
ch%eerfully. Now. Mr.. Langdon. if
you'll let me, / think I can d. that leg
Of yours SO you'll be comfortable till i
doctor gets out here in the morning.
You know I've been quite handy about
helping set broken limbs. and
Get along with your ordered Peter
fercely. Il don't want you to come
near me"
''Then I'll go ashore and fetch q doc
tor tonight" and Joel picked up his
hat and shrugged into his oilskins. in
an instant he had opened and closed
the outer door and was gone into the.
stormy night.
Dora Langdon sank down beside the
bed and hid her face in the blankets.
'Oh. father" she cried. "why did you
let him go? Perhaps he will be drown
ed!' 81
what IL he is::'' demanded the man
aercely. Would you care??'
There was a little silence while the
girls shoulders heaved with emotion.
"Of course I'd care she said in a
mufied tone.
A look of pain wrinkled Peters harsh
features. ''Then-then you must like
him a lot" he said hoarsely.
II do, father" she sobbed.
II thought-maybe you'd be satisfied
with just me-" he said In a low tone.
II lost your mother when you was
born. and l set store by you. Dora,
thinking maybe you'd care enough
about me to stay with me. but I've got
to give you up to him. ! hate the
young jackanapes:"
"Oh. father, dear. don't think I shall
love you any less" cried Dora. throw
ing her arms around his neck. Don't
you understand how anybody can care
for more than n person at a time?
When you loved my mother. couldn't
you love your own mother too?'
Peter Langdon swallowed q lump In
his throat and muttered under his
breath. Dora could not hear what he
said, but she felt that his mood was
softening.s Don't worry about, Joel,
father" she pleaded. "You know he
said the other day that he would new
er marry me without your consent, 50
you see you can keep me a prisoner
here In your tower all my life IL you
WISH s
would YOU. be happy and %contented
to stay with me alone?" asked her IA
ther.
Il might not be entirely happy. IA
ther. but l would try to be contented."
she said steadily.
There was silence between the two
after that which lasted well into the
night. The waves roared m the rocks
at the base OF the tower. and the wind
screamed wildly as 1t chased the ly-
ing rain. Father and daughter were
thinking of the. brave young form with
face set toward Hadden harbor. The
older mans fierce Jealousy had driven
Joel forth into the widest storW of the
season. Would he reach the shore
alive!
If he did not. how could Peter Lang
don make up the loss to his daughter?
He asked himself this question over
and over as the long hours passed.
Dora arose after awhile. and with
white. set face she attended to little
household duties that she, might not
be distracted by the a%cuteness Of her
anxiety. Now and then she admins
tered a cordial to the suffering man
on the bed. but after awhile he lay very
quiet with closed eyes. and she thought
he was asleep. i
The sitting Q clock was Ginning
IS when there came q beating at the
outer door. Dora dew to open Il with
trembling fingers, and two storm swept
men entered the ROOM. The girl ran
to and fro. helping the doctor and Joel3
Webster to shed their oilskins and
bringing them steaming bowls Of gin
ger tea.
Sensible little girl" approved DIR.
Brown as he set the bowl on the table.
'.Now foriyonr father. Dora.
Joel sat In the background. white and
worn with the strain Of his nights
work. At least he could keep out OF
Peter Langdon's way until that man
of wrath had been made comfortable.
Perhaps then there might be . spare
bed. joel nodded gently on to sleep
sitting; bolt upright aonShis chair.
II want Joel to help" said Peter
Langdon a d mild voice as the doctor
made his careful examination and 4
was q very happy Dora who gently
shook Joel into Wakefulness and Wills
peredsher fathers request
Asi the three busted themselves over
the broken leg Peter Langdon. quite
unmindfuis of pain, uttered Hzsthoughtss
aloud. A ;soonsas the sea sg0essdown.
doctor, 4 wish you'd bring the minister
over. We're going to have weddingssl