The mirror., 1914-04-02

HIEHt. WndC Will become OF tnom!
Mary Jane disentangled her legs
and sat erect. She spoke with grand
motherly dignity. Leave them to
to me, father. I'm-I'm not going
to be afraid ever again. I'm just
nervous"
Very well!' said father Webster.
Ill trust them to you. You must
see that the chicken coop is closed
every night and the COW all safe.
You must lock. the house, and see
that the fires are banked in. When
| leave on Saturday, I'll turn the
keys over to you"
Mary James trembling ceased and
the color came back to her face.
On Saturday, Mr.. Webster and
brother Jim left for Indianapolis
On Monday, Mrs. Webster fell down
the cellar steps and sprained her
ankle. Mary Jane shouldered her
burdens like man. To be sure she
shut the chickens in the coop long
before sundown and harried young
Charlie until he finished milking an
hour before time. But she locked
the house carefully and took good
care of her mother and Baby Rose.
One morning, Charlie failed to
appear, and Mary Jane, with much
travail, MIXED the perturbed Jersey.
When the doctor arrived, he bore
the news that tie Reeves family was
quarantined with diptherla, ar d thai
an epidemic of the disease threat
ened the little village. Not long
after the doctor left, Baby Rose de-
veloped hoarse cold that grew
worse during the day. Under her
mothers direction, Mary Jane dosed
the tot with bone-set tea, and
swathed her with mustard plasters,
much to that two-year-old's disgust.
Baby Rose is Stricken
That evening, while Mary Jane
was washing the supper dishes, her
mother gave sudden scream from
the sitting room. Above her screams
rose the gasping of Baby Rose.
White faced. Mary Jane dashed to
the rescue. The baby lay in her
mothers arms, gasping.
Get the ipecac! Get the kettle
of boiling water! It's cronpv' pant
ed Mrs. Webster.
That was strange half hour, a
mad, confused half hour. At it's
end. Baby Rose was breathing easier,
though still spasmodically, still with
hoarse roar that filled the house.
She lay with one hand grasping
Mary Jane's, the other her mothers.
Mary Jane," said Mrs. Webster,
you will have to go after the
doctor!'
Mary Jane covered as she knelt
by the couch. Mother" she whis-
pered. its an awful night, dark
and cold. and I'd have to pass old
Williams house and the cemetery.
I'll sit up all night with baby. Don't
make me 90 out in the dark,
mother!''
Mrs. Webster, sat rigid, her face
white, her eyes terrible. Mary
Jane, God must be Furnishing me for
some sin | don't know of, in giving
me a coward for daughter. Put
yonr things on and go!'
But Mary JAMES nerves had not
yet recovered from brother Jim's
dare. Itwould take tragic necessity
to drive Mary Jane out into the
night. The thought of the lonely,
goblin-haunted road to the village
set her grovelling. L can't, mother!
| can't" she whimpered.
For moment Mrs. Webster sat
in helpless silence. At this moment
Baby Rose opened her eyes and
strangled a little as she tried to
cough. Mary Jane lifted the writh-
ing figure, and the baby looked into
her sisters face and tried to smile.
Child as she was, Mary Jane knew
that however long she lived she was
not to forget that look in little Roses
eyes-such a look of helplessness
and appealing trust. In after years
that look was to goad Mary Jane,
in moments Of weakness, like an
accusing conscience.
Il think she has diptheria!' pant
ed Mrs. Webster.
Mary Jane whitened. She rose
instantly and slipped into her coat
and cap. Then she wrapped the
baby in blanket, slipping hot water
bottles snugly about her. She was
in frantic haste of a sudden, was
Mary Jane.
Out in the Night
What are you dolng?" Mrs. Web
ster's voice was sharp with anxiety.
Mary Jane laid the baby in her
m orv;ouo ''Mo+hor che oo;1 H;f