Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-06-04

Come along and maybe can sell you
some more furniture" Then to David,
brightly, 1T was Mrs. Adams, David,
she wanted to know If we needed any
nice fresh eggs" She flashed a smile
at him and his lips answered, but his
eyes were mute. Carol looked back
at him from the doorway, questioning,
but finally followed Mrs. Safer into
the next room.
"Mrs. Safer, you will excuse me now,
won't you" she said. But have a
feeling that David needs me. He
looks so tired. You will come in again
and"
Certainly, my dear, David first by
all means. Run right along. And If
you need any more fresh eggs, Just. let
me know"
Eyes. thank you, yes"
Carol" whispered the kindly wom-
an earnestly, why don't you go home
and stay with your father until David
is better? They will take such good
care Of him at the hospital, and he
will need you when he is we'll, and It
isn't safe, Carol, 1t positively is not
safe. Why won't you do as he tells
you?"
Carol stood up. very straight and
very tall. Mrs. Safer" she said, "you
know am an old-fashioned Methodist.
And I believe that God wanted David
to have me in his illness, when he Is
idle. II he hadn't, the illness would
have come before our marriage. But
think God foresaw 1t coming and
thought maybe I could do David good
when he was laid aside. ! know am
q silly little goose, but David loves
me, and is happy when am with him,
and enjoys me more than anything
else in the world. l am going with
him. l know God expects me to do
my part"
kissing Carols cheek, which already
was paling little with anxiety.
Carol ran back to David and sat on
the floor beside him, pulling his hand
from beneath the cover and kissing
the white, bIue-veined fingers She
crooned and gurgled over him as
mother over little child, but did not
speak until at last he turned to her
and said abruptly:
"Carol, won't you 60 home until l
get we'll? Please dear. for my sake"
Carol kissed the thumb once more
and frowned at him. you want to
flirt with the nurses when you get out
there, and are trying to get me out of
the road. Every one says nurses are
dangerous"
Carol, please"
MRS. Safer has been talking to you.
oh, knew It. She is nice, kind,
Christian woman, and loves us both,
but, David. why doesn't God teach
some people to mind their own bust.
ness? She is good Christian, know.
dear, but I do believe there is still
little work OF grace to be done In her"
David smiled little, sadly.
"Carol, 1t would break my heart II
you got this from me-" j
II won't get It. They will teach US
how to be careful and sanitary. and
take proper precautions, and things
like that. I am going to be very, very
careful. Why, honey, l won't get it.
But, David, I would rather get 1t than
10 away and leave you. couldn't DO
that, should never be happy again
If I left you when you were needing
me-"
David turned his face to the wall.
Maybe, DEAR" he said very gently,
maybe 1t would be better II you did
20 home-better for me. need per.
feet rest you know, and we talk and
laugh so much and have such good
times together. / don't know, possibly
I might get well faster-alone.
For long time Carol gazed at him
in horror. David" she gasped. Don't
say that Dear, I will go home II It
makes you worse to have me- Will
do anything. only want to help YOU.
But will be very nice and quiet, like
q mouse, and never say word, and
not laugh once, II you take me with
you. David, do make you feel sick.
er? Does my chatter weary you i
thought was helping to amuse you.
Carol, can't lie like that even to
send you away from me. Maybe ]
ought to, but can't. Why, sweet
heart, you are the only thing left in
the world. You are the world to me
now. Dear, said 1t for your sake.
not for mine, Carol, never for mine"
Slowly the smiles struggled through
the anguish in her face. and she re-
sumed her kissing Of his fingers.
"Silly old goose" she murmured;
"big old silly goose. Just because he's
a preacher he wants to boss all the
time. Can't boss me. l won't be
bossed. like to boss myself. won't
let my beautiful old David 90 of out
there to flirt with the nurses and In
dian girls and whoever else is out
there. l should say not. I'll stick right
along, and whenever woman turns
our way, I'll shout, Married! He is
mine!'
David laughed at her passionate dis.
cussion to herself.
Besides, have been learning lot
Of things. I've been talking to the
doctor privately when you couldn't
hear"
Indeed"
(To be oontinued)
BILL GOES