The Wrangell sentinel., 1918-08-08


oil.
you've just got to, Erminie." the
doctor had declared. You're nervous
and anaemic and everything you
ought not to be. and I'm not going TO
stand by and let you die
i IF l do. its my own affair."
Not while I'm Your doctor.A
I'll die anyway. If | had to take
] those awful doses I'd be dead in two
i days. So TN going to, die comfort
ably"
! NO, you're not going to, die at all.
to do as l say"
And what if l don'tW
He spread his hands and shrugged
slightly.
! You wash Your hands of me, l, sup
/ pose" she had replied.
"What else can l do"
"Well, there are other doctors In
! town. Tom Wardwell. You don't have
to waste your time on me. Good NORM
ing"
Nov, Er1ninie, l didn't say that"
! But she would not reply nor look at,
him again. so he picked up his hat and
left.
Erminie began to pick up suspicious
ly after that. She put On pounds Of;
| flesh, her eyes frightened, the bloom
came back TO her cheeks and her lips
no longer looked like parchment. But
what she kept locked in her closet no
one could have told hut the local
apothecary, and why she suddenly be-
| came such II good customer of the
Farm and Dairy Produce company no
| one knew save Sarah. the maid.
But when she had tonSiltis she sent
for old Doctor Bradner. That was the
only time she had been really i'll In
the two years since the trouble. But
that was enough.
Doctor Warlwell lifted his hat
when brought face to face with his
cOmbative neighbOr, and Miss Erninie
bowed stiflly. But never word passed
between them.
She was away all Of the second
summer and returned in September.
The days We're hot and oppressive and
she sat out on the porch II great deal
Of the time, knitting on gray or khaki
colOred yarns, meant for the snappy
months ahead when the boys across
the water would need them. She had
about completed her second set-a
sleeveless sweater, Il knitted helmet,
a scarf and pair of Wristlets
The afternoon paper; was flung up
on the porch. landing at her feet. She
stopped eagerly and picked it up,
anXiOusly scanning the names of those
to go. And then. in section by itself
she read: Noted Local Physician
Commissioned To Leave for France
in Four Weeks. DIR. Thomas Wurdwel
Called to the Colors' There wasn't
much more, merely confirmation of
the heading.
The paper fen at lferrfeet unheeded
Her eyes stared before her into space;
her knitting slipped Off her knee. She
knew now-she'd known all along
that she was mean and contemplate
and had cInldishfy given way to petty
spite, hoping all the time that he
would make the overture for peace.
She realized, too, that what she had
done had hurt him beyond repair, and
yet she had expected him to be the
one to bridge tire gull.
Just then a paper blew over out of
the doctors yartl--a brown wrapping
paper which had come on a postal
package. 1t bore his name. address
and cancelled stamps rs it lay spread
below her. Then Miss Erminie sud-
denly had an inspiration. The last
wooden set was just finished and she
determined that Doctor WardweIl
should wear the things without an
idea of the donor.
She flew indoors with the paper,
deftly. wrapped the pieces and tied
them securely, with the name and adj
dress ia full view. Then she ran over
He'd think the postman had brought
1t, when he iettrned from his calls.
But not se.. Jtlst as she turned. the
door opened ard Il, strong arm drew
her ifrte tire hall.
"ErIninie ~ The doctors voice
shook. what are. you dOiHgy"
''I-'Siy just iFoaght;a little peace
offerifg.: And 1 want you to know I'm
sorry for, eyerythins9' The tears. were
coming
look here, dear girI, we've both
feeis foolish. but that's over now.
Ws~e wasted good years. and I've
,av.st You all the TIME. I'm going
away, DEAR and I'm coming back. of
cDrses, But Pdlbe happier if thought
YOU We're waiting fosrme. Tell me, do
you think you could love me, Err
miner"