The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-08-17


irony that the man who had ruined
his wife's life should have come back
to ruin his sons career.
II ever wishes fought, Anna's wish
was fighting the determination OF the
tradesmen, of the sick man himself
1t was will against will, pitted in
deadly struggle dozen to one, II
will counts for anything In the affairs
Of men. And the boys future, against
the husbands life, with no possibility
OF any compromise!
Anna had reckoned that II her hus-
band lived the three months there
would be just two hundred dollars re-
naming, with which to face the world
anew. II he lived the total debt would
be hideous.
1t was at the beginning Of the third
month that the physician came to the
house with youngish, keen-eyed man,
in an automobile.
Mrs. Foulkes, this Is Doctor Ste
vens," he said. "He is the greatest
authority in the world on such cases
as your husbands. was speaking of
it to him last week, and he wishes to
make an examination"
Half an hour after the doctors came
out Of the sick mans room to the
woman, who had risen hastily from
her knees. She had been praying that
Curtin might live. The prayer was to
be heard.
Doctor Stevens thinks that there Is
a chance to cure your husband" said
the physician. 1T will necessitate an
operation" He hemmed little. "Of
course Doctor Stevens fees are high,
much higher than those Of an ordi-
nary practitioner" he continued.
Never mind the cost" said Anna
Foulkes. Give me back my husband" !"
Excuse me, doctor" said the ply
sician. and the great man withdrew a
little way across the room. 1T Is nee
essary to be businesslike, Mrs.
Foulkes," her doctor continued. He
will operate for two hundred dollars" ."
Two hundred dollars, If Curtin died
that would be the last Of the 1nsur-
ance money. But If he lived-what
years Of toll! And the idea Of Grant
wich would have become ludicrously
absurd. Anna did not waver.
well, it must be done, Of course, "
she said. when can Doctor Stevens
operator"
Now" answered the physician. In
fact, the sooner the better. To be
frank with you, Mrs. Foulkes, brought
him here for that purpose"
II he had been franker he would
have added that Doctor Stevens would
have been glad to have operated for
nothing. 1t was an unusual case, and
much was to be learned from 1t. AS
O matter Of fact, he would have paid
two hundred dollars for the expert.
ence. But of course Anna could not
know anything about that.
Get tho table scrubbed" continued
the physician. and take down the
curtains. have telephoned to the
hospital for q nurse"
An hour later the fumes of ether
began to permeate the cottage The
white-robed doctor and nurse were
working busily inside the parlor. Out
side Anna prayed
She thought of her life with Curtin
Of those miserable years, his drunken
ness, his dishonesty, the total wreck o.
their happiness that they had made
1t was partly her fault; Curtin hat
been an average sort Of man. Bu
she had high ideals and In fixing he
gaze on them she had forgotten to b.
tolerant of human failings
AS she kneeled there it seemed t
her as though her single will were
fighting lost battle against the will
Of all these men, the united wills o
tradesmen, of the undertaken, of tn
physician and surgeon, even. AS II
vision she saw the terrific battle
And there was one thing that al
depended on.
That was Charlie. His will. adde,
to either side, would change the stu
alton. If he were against her, thel
there was no hope.
A shadow fell across the floor. Sh
looked up, to see the white face @
the boy. An agonizing love rushe
into her heart. How like little ma
he was! And he had always know
about his father, and never told her
Charlie, dear, want you to under
stand" she said. IF your father dies
his insurance money will take you I
Grantwich and give you an education
1t will pay the bills of the tradesme
and the doctors, too, and the funera
expenses But II he lives-why, m
dear boy, there will be no more schoo
for you. 1t will be just one long an
dreadful battle for the rest of ou
lives. You and | will have to work a
hard as we can work What do yo
want to happen, Charlie?"
The boys lips quiyered. Il wan
my father" he answered.
in spite of all YOU must give W
dear?"
Yes, mother" he answered
Then, in that instant, Anna Foulke