Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-23

deaon, falling back weakly on the bed
anu drawing the faded pink border of
tne blanket around his shoulders. 1
| amt ekl to 1t; I'm all of a sweat now
an shakn' like a leaf Jest from tryin'
to git over to that OIL rockin' chair"
| Maybe If Uncle Ezra had modern
treatment he would have rallied better" 4"
ventured Miss Callum, testing "a fresh
iron. Doctor Pratt is too old-fogylsh to
suit me, Doctor Graham says"
Mrs Tuttles spoon fell against the side
of the pan with clatter
why, Harriet Callum," she exclaimed,
II sh'd think you'd be ashamed to run
down Doctor Pratt. believe you think
tho sun couldn't rise II Jack Graham had
any objection. He amt been out of coll
lege more'n two years an don't Civ
nothin' but sugar pellets an water for
medicine, anyhow. The idea OF COM
parin him to Doctor Pratt"
He has made cures where Doctor Pratt
couldn't" returned Miss Callum COM
posedly "also, please recollect that
nave studied uotronomy-I can smell your
porridge burning, Auntie."
Ihe defender Of Doctor Pratt stirred
hastily. jerking disconnected sentences
over her shoulder.
Taint the Doctors fault your Uncle
Ezra won't try to walk-its his own
stubbornnesH He's made up his mind
he's goin' to die an it'll take moral
earthquake to bulge HIM. His father
was the contra'i list critter the Lord ever
made.
An imperative knock prevented her
niece's reply and Mrs, Tuttle lnvoluntarlly
started forward; but the door opened of
itself admitting a stout. red-faced, elderly
lady, dressed in lowered heliotrope silk
OF gorgeous pattern.
In one hand she carried huge bird
cage draped in white, in the other an old
fashioned Valise. She halted on the
threshold, putting stertoriously.
Aunt Abigail Callumv cried Mrs. Tut
tie in voice of dsmay.
The visitor nodded her head
u don't wonder you're sprsed at Reein'
me, Mandy Tuttle," she wheezed hoarsely,
after my Vowin' an declarin' I'd never
set foot in this house agin; an I'm sure
when said It 1 never thought I'd live TO
see the day doctor that was young
enough to be my gran'son would show me
my duty; but he did, an I'm here to help
nuss Ezra"
The old lady deposited the bird cage on
the ironingboard.
Lord A-mightyr' groaned the deacon.
lively alarm depicted on his wasted
features, 81 b'lieve she's COMM"
Mrs. Callum loomed in the doorway the
parrot cage In one hand and bowl OF
porrldge in the other Placing the cage
against the wall she advanced toward the
bed,
you amt lookln' ez bad ez I calIsted
TO find you, nephew" she commented
wheezily Don't say nuthln', it's weak
ming for sick folks TO talk I'm going
TO help Harriet and Mandy nuss you
You drink this porrdge now fore 1t gifts
coldi then Mandy'n I'll git you over to
the ToeSin' ehalr-Harriet says the doctor
wants you to set up-an we'll make the
he'd nice an fresh"
Deacon Ezra glared impotently at the
extended bowl.
Don't be uppish." his great-aunt con,
tinued reprovingly, ~ l kin swoller thai
bog you robbed me OF, you kin drink
this. Ezra"
II amt going to sit up" the deacon
shouted feebly after her retreatinB back,
an don't want none OF your nussln,
nuther" He noppsd over dstermlnedly,
face to the wall
A prolonged. hendish ehuekle from be-
hind the footboaFd brought the deacon
back TO his surroundings with a isrk
"Wh-what's thatg he whispered IN
room" "''
The ohuekle was repeated, ending with
burst OF shrill, unholy laughter
you're drunk you're drunk, gimme a
oraekerl" he shrisked tauntingly.
Evaporation nerysd the sick mans |
arm az he hung II forth, but the cane
missed the green head by a good foot
IN throw that parrot down stairs on |
TOP OF Abigail Callum II die a-doin' of
H. painted the deacon. hltching painful. |
y 70 the edge OF the bed and then 20 his
Iron grlt, inherited from Puritan an.
eestry alone forced his tFembly legs |
across the hoor, but he reached the eage /
ana 10 his surprise a faint sense Of |
eNhilaration followed the EFFORT.
Mebbe ain goin' 10 die, after ALI"
ne thought with gTowlng wonder. ''Tm /
veal, weah's q rat, but don't feel so ali gone |
David eyed the tall. gaunt, blanket
araped hgure bending over him. with /
frank distrust
y win fear no evil" he repeated. draw.
Ing deep breath ana releasing hls hold
on Dayid's habitation, "an' reckon you
needn't nutheFi s'DoEe what the Bible
says about the spaFFers Il true about YOU.
too' II you do swear Il looks terrible
good out doors, though them oats need
grading the wust way. I'm goin' 70 set
down by the window an look out a spellH
A week later the resurscted deacon.
sitting In dressinggown and slippers on
me snn-bathed porch, shook hands with
Dr. John Graham and cut short his words
Qf eongFatulaton with the abrupt asser-
ton so twas you set Aunt Habby On
Tbs doeloF east au eloqusnt Iook q re-