The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-06-20

the street she went, never pausing I'M
til she reached her destination. 4
neat maid opened the door, and in an
swer to her question as to whether
Doctor Morton was in, the doctor him.
self stepped out of his office.
why, Martha Endicott. how do you
do" he exclaimed, and laughingly
asked her If she had come to see him
because she was sick. Martha, pic
ture Of health. joined In the laugh.
and began to tell him her real reason
for coming.
Dora is just killing herself for her
family, Doctor Morton, and what's
more, she is most willing martyr, as
she believes it is her duty. Now, |
want you. as an old friend Of the fam
lily, to help me save her from herself,
and Martha explained her plan to him
Come this afternoon and pronounce
her very i'll. Give the sickness some
mysterious name, and leave some
harmless medicines for her; brighten
her into taking care Of herself and
prescribe absolute quiet and rest, and
| will attend to the family"
Just the thing, Martha" the doctor
answered.
Martha got back without being
missed, and later, going into Dora's
| room and finding her awake, she put
her hand on her sisters forehead and
exclaimed that her head was hot, and
that she was going to call the doctor.
| Nonsense. Martha" Dora said.
Later in the afternoon Doctor Nor
ton called, and his grave looks and
mysterious words frightened Dora into
submission. but | don't feel sick.
doctor" she declared Il am only
tired"
THAT is just how your kind Of sick
ness affects people, the doctor told
her. You could go on and on until
the end without noticing 1t. but now
that you have taken this in time. be-
lieve a few weeks rest will soon put
you on your feet again. Now | want
you to promise me to do as tell you
Martha got supper ready that night.
and as John and the children came
home. met all their questions regard
ing the mother with finger on her
lips and whispers accompanied by very
grave looks.
Her brother-in-law grew very anx-
ious as he looked at his wife In bed
and saw the row of medicine bottles
on the little table beside her. He sat
holding her hand long after Martha
left them.
Mollie surprised her aunt by taking
hold at once and helping to get the
dishes done and the house tidied.
while the two boys chopped and
brought in an enormous pile of wood
for their aunt's use.
Doctor Morton called every day, and
at the end Of week decided that
Dora could get up and walk about heI
room John Stanton was happy to see
his wife up once more, listened eager
Nv to the doctors instructions anC
readily promised to follow them; Mol
/. lie and the boys were taken into thell
aunt's confidence, and willingly agreed
to all she suggested
After another week Of resting Dora
was pronounced cured but the doctor
y warned her to be careful not to over
' work. as that would put her health II
danger, and Dora, feeling as II borl
! anew after her weeks of rest, was to-
anxious to keep her precious healtl
to disobey him
? In spite of the fact that he had dc
I clared his patient entirely cured, Doc
tor morton continued to call, and Aun
. Martha's rosy cheeks grew even rosie
:. with his visits,
One day he found her alone In tn
II garden, and taking both of her hand
d In his he told her the old, old story
k Martha, you were just made to mar
n age people, and nepd to be managed
g Won't you manage me, dear!" n
> coaxed
10 Martha has proven good manage
u Downright. 1914. by the Mcclure NeWspi
n, per Syndicate)