Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-04-04
CHAPTER XVI
A Fighting Chance.

A Fighting Chance.
The diningroom of the old red house
was cool. and fragrant from the bios
soming heliotrope bed below its win
dow. The twilight, which is long In
eastern Maine. shed soft glow over
the old mahogany and silver, and an
equally soft and becoming radiance
over the two women seated at the
table. After sonorous blessing. ut
tered by Mrs. Stoddard in tones full
OF JUNCTION. she and Agatha ate sup
per in 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 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 incessantly, 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
nasty fo'cas'le. the absurdity of his
not being able to get around, the fine
outfit of the Sea Gull, the chill of the
water. He sometimes swore softly
almost apologetically. and he uttered
|
some person whom he described as
wearing extremely neat and dandified
clothes.
After the first five minutes Agatha
paid no heed to his words, and coulG
bear to stay in the room only wher
she was able to do something &c
soothe or comfort him. She was moi
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. {
superb engine gone wild, brought &
sharp and hitherto unknown pain tS
her throat She Stood over his bed
holding his hands when he woult
reach frenziedly into the air aftel
some object of his feverish desire
she coaxed him back to his pillow
when he fancied he must run to catcl
something that was escaping him. /
took nerve and strength to care fo
him: unceasing vigilance and ingenu
ity were required in circumventing hi
erratic movements.
And through 1t all there was some
thing about his clean, honest min,
and person that stirred only affection
ate pity. He was child, taking
child's liberties. Mrs. Stpddard brood
ed over him already, as q mother owe
her dearest son; Mr.. Hand had turne.
gentle as woman and gave the sery
ice of love, not of the eye His skill
in managing almost rivaled Mrs. Stod
dard's. James accepted Hands min
istrations as matter OF course, be
came more docile under his treatment
and watched for him when he disat
peared. Indeed. the whole househol
was taxed for James; and Agatha
deeply distressed as she was, throbbe,
with gratitude that she could he'll
care for him, If only for an hour.
Thus it was that the two women
eating their supper and looking ou
over Hercules Thayer's pleasant gar
den. were silent. Mrs. Stoddard wa
thinking about the duties of the night
Agatha was swallowed up in the mis-
cries of the last hour. Mrs. Stoddar,
was the first to rise. She was tippini
off on her fingers a number of item
which Agatha did not catch, sayinI
"Hml" and "Yesi" to herself. Despit
her deep anxiety. Mrs. Stoddard wa
In her element. She had nothing les