Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-01-07

candle-Iight behind me. trying to see
In the darkness. Billy said afterward
he had moved quickly, to shut the
door, but waved him back just as the
shot rang out.
The explosion blinded, deafened,
seemed even , scorch NE, while the
mirror on the wall came crashing
down. Stunned, dazzled. Mortified.
felt a dull rage at this attempted
murder.
A second reyolver-shot stirred my
hair, and I'm afraid then that / lost
my temper / am not fish-fag that
should stoop to fighting a creature
such as Polly. but would have died
rather than let her see one trace of
fear.
Billy rushed past the firing to reach
the door and close it, but ordered him
to desist, then grasped the candle and
beld II out to show a better light.
Lower your lights," shouted into
dark, you fred too high"
A revolver crashed on the doorstep.
and low down within three feet of the
ground. saw a dreadful face convuls-
ed with rage. changing to fear. The
woman was sinking to her knees, she
buried her face in grimy, blood
smeared hands. and rocked to and fro
in awful abandonment of grief.
The danger was over now, the mem
ace of evil in the night had vanished
felt an immense relief, with hands
wet. mouth parehed, knees shaking,
and great need Of tears. | knew the
strain had been beyond endurance. but
now II was gone, although a velvet
| darkness closing round me, black night
swinging round me, sickness must
not faint. when | had to fight, to keep
command, TO set an example worthy
of Jesse's wife. And there | was sit
ting in my chair, with drops of sweat
forming and pouring on my forehead.
Silly. cropping on the floor at my feet.
had found and lighted the candle. and
was holding the flame in the palms of
his hands till it steadied and blazed
up clear. Buck up. missus." he was
saying. "Cheer-oh. Don't let 'em know
you swoomed Grab on to the cross,
and make 1t proud of you. That's
right. Laugh. mani Laugh! Wishd
I'd half yer grit"
had come to myself and only Billy
knew. who was loyal. AS the candle
blazed up | saw the Chinaman glib
berlng like some toothless mask of
yellow india-rubber, but that nurse
still kept up her silly screaming. I'M
+, I'll | ordered her to shut her mouth,
| which she did in sheer surprise.
There lay Polly prone across the
doorway on her face, racked with con-
| vulsiye sobs, until feeling, suppose.
the flashing rain on her back, she rose
on hands and knees like some forlorn
wild animal crawling to shelter. while
/ behind her stretched trail of wet
| and blood. stared until In shame she
sat up. still for all the world like
an animal lost to human feeling, and
to woman's dignity. until as she looked
! at mo wan shamed smile seemed to
apologize. She sat back then against
the log wall. limp relaxed with weak
ness
Nurse" ! called. still with my gaze
on Polly. this woman is wounded.
/ You are nurse. You claimed to be
nurse"
But Miss Panton INDUCED in hys-
terlcs. so turned to Billy Run irto
| the house, get the hip bath. warm
water, blankets. bandages.'
AYE, aye. num-. he touched his
forelock. and swinging the Chinaman
| TO his feet; Come along, SAM" he
| grunted, and hustled him off on duty
| Polly looked up, trusting me with
ier tawny bloodshot eyes. Her voice
was a dreary hoarseness, demanding
liquor But with an open wound. to
quicken the hearts action might be
fatal. and Polly knew well it was no
use pleading Instead of that she
pointed at the nurse. ard said. Send
that away"
! turned upon Nurse Panton who sat
forsaken and ostentatious in her cor
ner Go" said, and make beef
tea"
sniff.
took her by the shoulders. and
| marched her out of the room. while
| Polly grinned approval l came back
and asked whore she was wounded.
She pointed to the left hip. but dared
not remove any clothing which might
have caught and sealed the flow of
| blood. A sole diet OF alcohol and
months OF neglect had made her condi-
ton such that l shrank from touching
| hex
so you're Kate" she lay against
the bottom log of the wall, head back.
eyes nearly shut. looking along her
nose at me. "Carroty Kate"
Her own tawny hair. draggled. and