The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-07-18
n a strong man. Margaret, while


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 llves1
Happiness will lengthen yours. And
miner" He drew deep breath. "We
will not talk Of mine, dear. For your
own sake I 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 frall figure.
''He wishes me to go sway with
him, dear"
"will you" Ruth questioned in
sudden fear.
The weary eyes looked steadily into
the dominant ones above her and we're
held by the pain and misery she saw
in their depths. Her own were dark
with suffering as she turned away
with sigh.
"No, sweetheart"
with a 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 1t you say, dearf"
"Such a funny word that nanny
told me about" the child answered.
"Skidded. I want to know what II
means. because she says Doctor Max
did II down the hill. She didn't tell
me where"
Suddenly erect Margaret stared at
the child Tell Nanny Rose to come
here, Ruth. and we will find out what
she meant"
"rs righ' hyar Miss Mar'gret. I
JUS dun foller dat chill case I feared
she'd say somefin' she shouldn't. Now
don 20 git skeered. honey. TO- thar
ain nothin' to git skeered about"
"What are you talking about. Mann
my? What has happened to Doctor
Max? Tell me at once"
"Jus' muffin but what dat no count
Niger, Jake, toll IN He say de doc
tor skidded, eff yo' know what dat
mean, an dun brought up at de horse
piddle. Lan's sakel Whar yo' goin',
Miss Margaret. hab yo' done gone
clare crazyr
For Margaret had left the couch
and was making her way slowly.
stumbllngly 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-
tons upon her son. Jake. whose story
had brought about this unheard-Of
thing.
But the strength. keyed for the mo-
ment to unusual exertion could last
but a little time. Conscious that II
was fast leaving her. Margaret prayed
for II 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 were people about who stared
at her. Nanny Rose with hands
upon her bullying hips glared at them
as she sheltered the girl with her
huge figure. Then an inspiration
came to her and her manner changed
to ingratiating blandness.
"Ef one OBJ yo'alls II go up thar
an ask To- de doctor l suttinly'd be
much erbleeged."
"Any one in particular" some one
asked.
"Suttinly not" she replied, with
dignity. "Jus' some dOctorll do"
She waited long. long enough for
the passersby their curiosity unsat-
: isfied, 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 sakei Wot yo' dom
, runnin' down desc hyar stairsi Miss
Mar'gret an me fou't yo' was daid u
,, Hush Nanny" Doctor Max said
/, imperatively. "Hush." STOPPING. he
gathered the girl into his arms Then
Margaret spoke. g..
! 81 am only tired. Just tired n II
! really you. MAXI I was afraid
p. would never reach you and wanted
so to tell you that I give up.
! thought I was right. dear, but moth
ing matters now but Just you" and
before the scandsllzsd gaze of Nam
: my Rose the girl slipped her arms
! about the big doctors neck. Jus as
! ef she had'n bin brung mp spectacle"
tho old woman mOanad fsfhsrf~