The Twin City star., 1918-05-18
am strong man. Margeret. while

He gripped the frame of the win
dow until the veins stood out in great
cords upon his hand. He had forced
himself to speak quietly and his voice
gave no hint of the agony of fear that
possessed him.
| "Are you going to let your will
stand between us, spoil our lives?
Happiness will lengthen yours. And
mine?" He drew a deep breath. 1--WE
will not talk Of mine, dear. For your
own sake implore you to listen to
me-"
"Auntie, what does Doctor Max
want you to do?" The forgotten child
slipped between them and threw an
arm across the frail figure.
"He wishes me to go away with
him, dear"
"Win you?" Ruth questioned in
sudden fear.
The weary eyes looked steadily into
the dominant ones above her and were
held by the pain and misery she saw
in their depths. Her own were dark
with suffering as she turned away
with sigh. i.Z
mo, sweetheart"
With q laugh of relief the child re-
sumed her play and the man left the
room.
Some hours later as the last rays
Of the setting sun glinted across the
flower-scented room, Ruth danced into
it holding her doll closely saying over
and over one word until the rythm
reached the dulled consciousness Of
the woman lying on the couch and
aroused her. ~
"What is it you say, dear?"
"Such a funny word that nanny
told me about" the child answered.
"Skidded. I want to know what it
means, because she says Doctor Max
did it down the hill. She didn't tell
me where"
Suddenly erect Margeret stared at
the child. '"Tell Nanny Rose to come
here, Ruth, and we will find out whas
she meant" 49,.
"rs righ' hyar, Miss Mar'gret. I
JUS dun foller dat chil' case feared
she'd say somefin' she shouldn't. Now
dom yo' git skeered, honey, fo' thar
ain nothin' to git skeered about"
"What are you talking about, Nam
my? What has happened to Doctor
Max? Tell me at once"
"Jus' muffin but what dat no count
niger, Jake, tor me. He say de doc
tor skidded, eff yo' know what dat
mean, an dun brought up at de horse
piddle. Lan's sake! Whar yo' goin',
Miss Margaret, hab yo' done gone
clare crazy?"
For Margeret had left the couch
| and was making her way slowly,
stumblingly toward the veranda
through the open window.
Followed by her old nurse and the
wondering child, with one intent, to
reach the hospital around the corner
from her home, she went falteringly
on, catching now and then to mann.
my's shoulder, again Strengthening
herself and walking alone while the
old colored woman muttered impreca.
tions upon her son, Jake, whose story
had brought about this unheard-ot
thing.
But the strength, keyed for the mo-
ment to unusual exertiOn could last
but q little time. Conscious that it
was fast leaving her, Margeret prayed
for it to last until she reached the
building; prayed that she would be
/ in time to tell him that she was awake
at last. Nothing mattered but that
he should know what life would mean
to her without him, and she hurried
hurried until at length she sank ex.
hausted upon the steps leading up to
st. Luke's.
There we're people about who stared
at her. Nanny Rose with hands
upon her bulging hips glared at them
as she sheltered the girl with bel
huge figure. Then an inspiration
; came to her and her manner changed
to ingratiating blandness.
"Ef one oh yo'alls IL 60 up thar
an ask TO- de doctor I suttinly'd be
much erbleeged."
"Any one in Particular" some one
asked.
"Suttinly not" she replied, with
dignity. "Jus' some doctor'n do."
She waited long, long enough fol
the passersby, their curiosity unsat
; isfled, to go their different ways
Hearing steps behind her she turned
and for the second time within the
hour gasped out her amazement at the
unexpected.
"Fo' Gawds sake! Wot yo' doin
Mar'gret an me fou't yo' was daid =
"Hush Nanny" Doctor Max said
imperatively. "Hush." STOPPING, he
gathered the girl into his arms. Then
Margeret spoke.
81 am only tired. Just tired. Is II
really you, Max? I was afraid
would never reach you and wanted
so to tell you that give up.
thought was right, dear, but moth.