Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-05-24

agreed that if his life were to be saved
the arm MIST come off at the shoulder
a gloom fell on the community.
In lifetime of years there can come
TO the greater part OF US but a few
days, a few hours, sometimes no more
than a single moment, to show Of what
stuff we are really made. Such g crisis
came that day to Nan. Already she
had been wheeled more than once into
De SPANS room, to sit where she
could help WOO him back to life. The
chief surgeon, in the morning, told
Nan Of the decision. In her hospital
bed she rose bolt upright. Not" she
declared s0lemnly. ''You shan't take
his arm off -
The surgeon met her rebellion tact
fully. But he told Nan, at last, that
De Spain must lose either his arm Or
his life. no" she repeated without
hesitation and without blanching. you
shan't take Off his arm. He shan't lose
his life"
The blood surged into her cheeks
better blood and redder than the doe
tors had been able to bring there-such
blood rs De Spain alone could call into
them. Nan, with her nurses help.
dressed, Joined De Spain, and talked
long and earnestly The doctors. too.
laid the situation before him. When
they asked him for his decision, he
nodded toward Nan "She will tell
you, gentlemen, what Wen do"
And Nan did tell them what the two
Who had most at stake in the decision
would do. Amy man could have done
as much as that. But Nan did more.
She set herself out to save the arm
and patient both, and, lest the doctors
should change their tactics and move
together on the arm surreDtitiOusly,
Nan stayed night and day with De
Spain, until he was able to make such
active use of either arm as to convince
her that he and not the surgeons would
soon need the most watching.
AfterWard when Nan, in some doubt,
asked the chaplain whether she was
married or single, he obigingly offered
to ratify and confirm the desert cere-
mOny.
This affair was the occasion for an
extraordinary roundup at Sleepy Cat.
Two lOng-hOstile elements-the stage
and railroad men and the CaIabasas-
Morgan gap contingent Of mountain
men, for once at least, fraternized.
Warrants were pige0nholed, suspicion
suspended, sidearms neglected in their
scabbards. The fighting men Of both
camps, IN the presence of a ceremony
that united De Spain and Nan Morgan,
could not but feel a generous citation.
Each party considered that it was con
tributing to the festivity in the bride
and groom and the very best each
could boast, and no false note dis
turbed the harmony of the notable
day.
Gale Morgan, having given up the
fight, had Left the country. Satterlee
Morgan danced till all the platforms in
town gave way. John Lefever attend
ed the groom, and Duke Morgan stern
ly but without c0mpunctiOn. gave the
bride. From Medicine Bend, Farrell
Kennedy brought q notable company
of De SPANS early associates for the
event. 1t included Whispering Smith
whose visit to Sleepy Cat Oh this &C.
casi0n was the first in years; George
McCloud, who had come all the way
from Omaha to join his early comrades
in arms; Wickwire, who had lost none
of his taciturn bluntness-and so many
train dispatchers that the service on
the division was crippled for the entire
day.
A great company of self-appointed |
retainers gathered together from over |
all the country, rode behind the gayIy |
decorated bridal coach in procession /
from the church to Jeffries' house. /
where the feasts had been prepared /
During the reception a modest man, |
from an obscure corner among
the guests, was made to take his place |
Eext Lefever on the receiving line Il /
was Bob Scott, and he looked most IN !
until he found a chance