Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-20


won't eat bite Of anything until Ca
oil is we'll won't sleep, either
The doctor took her hand in hi
and deity pushed the sleeve abov
the elbow.
you can twist my arm If you like
but won't eat, and I won't drink, an
l won't Sleep"
The doctor smiled. Swiftly insert
ing the point Of his needle in her arm
he released her. II won't hurt you
but I am pretty sure you will be sleer
ing in few minutes" He turned t.
Fairy. Get her ready for bed at once
The little one can wait"
An hour later, he came downstair
again. rs she sleeping?" he asked o
You have your work cut out for you
my girl. The little one here will b.
all right, but this twin is in nearly a.
bad shape as the one upstairs"
"Oh! Doctor! Larkie, too!'
"Oh, she is not sick. But she is toe
intense. She Is taking this too hard
Her system is not we'll enough devel
oped to stand such a strain very long
Something would give way-maybe
her brain. She must be watched. She
must eat and sleep. There is school
tomorrow, isn't there?"
But I am sure Lark will not 60
Doctor. She has never been to school
a day In her life without Carol. am
sure she will not COY"
Let her stay at home, then. Don't
get her excited. But make her work
Keep her doing little tasks about the
house and send her on errands. Talk
to her a good deal. Prudence will
have her hands full with the other
twin and you'll have all you can do
with this one. I'm depending on you,
my girl. You mustn't fail me-"
That was the beginning of an arx-
ious week. For two days Carol was
in delirium most of the time, calling
out, crying, screaming affrightedly.
And Lark crouched at the foot Of the
stairs, hand clenched passionately, her
slender form tense and motionless.
1t was four in the afternoon, as the
doctor was coming down from the
sick room, that Fairy called him into
the dining room with a suggestive
glance.
"She won't eat" she said. II have
done everything possible and I had
the nurse try. But she will not eat a
bite. I'm sorry, Doctor, but can't
make her."
What has she been doing?"
She's been at the foot of the stairs
all day. She won't do thing tell
her. She won't mind the nurse. Faith
er told her to keep away, too, but she
does not pay any attention. When
speak to her, she does not answer.
When she hears you coming she runs
away and hides, but she goes right
back again.
Can your father make her eat? If
he commands herr"
II do not know. doubt it. But
we can try. Here's some hot SOUP
I'll call father"
So Lark was brought into the dining
room and her father came down the
stairs. The doctor whispered an ex.
PLANTATION to him in the hall.
Lark" said her father, gently but
very firmly, you must eat, or you
will be sick, too. We need all Of our
time to look after Carol today. Do
you want to keep us away from her to
attend to you?"
mo, father, of course not l wish
you would all go right straight back
to Carrie this minute and leave me
alone. I'm all right. But can't eat
until Carol is WE'LL
Her father drew chair to the table
and said, "Sit down and eat that soup
at once, Larkie."
Lark's face quivered but she turned
away. II can't, father. You don't un-
derstand. I can't eat-1 really cant.
Carries my twin, and-oh, father,
don't you sc . how it ISL"
He stood for moment, frowning at
her thoughtfully. Then he left the
room, signing for the doctor to follow
'Ill send Prudence down." he said.
She'll manage some way
Il must stay here until see her eat
it," said the doctor, IF she won't do
it, she must be kept under morphine
for a few days. But it's better not.
Try Prudence, by all means"
So Prudence, white faced, eyes
black circled, came down from the
room where she had served her sister
for many weary hours. The doctor
was standing in the center Of the
room. Fairy was lowering anxiouslt
near Lark, rigid at the window.
"Larkie," whispered Prudence, and
with bitter cry the young girl leaped
into her sisters arms.
Prudence caressed and soothed her
tenderly. Poor little Larkie," she
murmured. poor little twinnie! But
Carol is resting pretty well now, Lark.
She's coming through all right. She
was conscious several times today.
The first time she just loked up at
me and smiled and whispered, Hard