The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-04-28
that empty cabin up by the big rock

that empty cabin up by the big rock,
where we walk sometimes?"
eyes"
well, I want you TO send some food
and water there, soon's you can. I've
got the fever. Wait" raising his
voice a little bitterly as she withdrew
hurriedly into the house. There amt
a mite Of danger this far, not for you
nor the children. Il won't go near the
cabin till you get the things in, so
it'll be safe. I'll stay off in the woods
a couple of hours. But please hurry,
for I'm beginnin' to lose sense of
things"
"Halstead!" it was a quiet but per-
emptory voice from an upper window.
Halstead raised his eyes and tried to
fix his mind on what he saw there.
kitty, Kitty" he said, dreamily,
that you? Better go in an shut the
window. Maybe the winds BLOWN
that way"
"Halstead," the voice said slowly
and distinctly, "can you go straight
to the cabin by yourself?"
Course" Indignantly, "straight's an
arrow. But I'll wait two hours"
NO." peremptorily, you must go at
once, straight. / will see about the
food and everything else. I'll have
doctor there almost as soon as you
are. An I'll have a nurse. I'd make
you come in here, but there's your sis
ter and her children, an there's chill
dren in both the next houses. So
maybe it wouldn't be best. No go,
straight, straight to the cabin
Halstead raised his hand to his
forehead undecidedly: But the voice
had been clear and incisive, and just
now it was easier for him to obey
than to think. So he nodded vaguely
and staggered up the sidewalk. Kitty
watched him anxiously until she re-
allied that, In spite of his wavering
steps, he was heading toward the
cabin. Then she hurried downstairs.
Mary met her at the foot
What do you mean, Kitty?" she
began, wildly; you're not going up
there to him, an then come back 10
me an the children? Most every
bodys died of the fever so far"
That's all right, Mary" answered
Kitty soothingly. I'm not comm
back You wouldn't have Halstead
be without a nurse, would you?"
'FBut everybody dies most, an you'll
sure take it," demonstrated Mary
Historically.
Halstead did not die, but it was
more than three months before he
was able to leave his bed and totter
across the cabin floor to a seat in the
doorway. There he sat for a long
time, gasping for breath and gazing
moodily at the distant mountain tops.
Kitty came to him there after she had
arranged his bed and tidied the room.
Doesn't it look good, Halstead?"
she said
He did not answer at once, but
presently turned to her with dreary
emile.
tt don't know as it does, Kitty"
he replied. You heard the doctor
tell me it would likely be six months
before would begin to do any work,
an that my eyes an hearin' wouldn't
ever be quite SO good again. That's
lust the same as IL I was gettin' to
be an old man" He was silent for
some minutes, then added: AN that
amt all, Kitty. It'll take every cent
I've got to pay the doctor. You see,
before you came, 1 never saved any
thing. I didn't feel any need. What
l got l spent to help Mary an the
children. I've only been putin by
the few months you was here, before
was sick. What Is tt?" for she was
now standing by his side, her hand
upon his shoulder, smiling down into
his face.
viii you marry me, Halstead?"
He gazed at her stupidity for mo-
ment then his lips began to CULVER.
Don't Kitty" was all he said.
But 1 mean 1t, Halstead," earn
estly. 81 said I would never marry
man to hamper him, but I'm strong
an well now, an you're weak, an'sthe
doctor says / can get all the work
want nursin'. 1 can be maxim money
while you're getting strong, an" low
ering her voice a little, 81 believe
I've always loved you, Halstead, al
ways. That-that other was only a
crazy spell. Why, Halsteadi" her
voice suddenly catching and then
breaking into sob.
For the tears were streaming down
Halstead's face now. But he held out
his arms.