Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1919-02-05
A Hateful FALL
BY EVELYN cuSHMAN.
Observation-Disclosures
Copyright. 1915. by McCiur. Newspaper
Syndicate)

Alice had picked her way around.
and through mud and water, with the
rain raining up and down and from
every side, as it can do nowhere out
side of New England. A strong wind
twisted her skirts, pulled at her coat,
and would have carried away her hat,
had she not clutched it frantically.
This must be the last of the hun
dred and twenty-six different kinds of
weather Mark Twain says. we have
here in twenty-four hours" Alice said
aloud, as she took the short cut to her
gate.
AS she turned aside her eyes met
those of the young man In the ma
chine, who was trying to start the
stalled engine. She was directly back
of the car when the driver released
the brake, and the auto slid back.
Alice jumped, was betrayed by wet
leaf, and fell face forward.
When at last Alice attempted to get
up the strong young man took her in
his strong arms and someone gathered
up her scattered bundles.
what has happened?" exclaimed
her terrified mother as she met them
at the door, and led the way TO the
living room.
II fell, mother" gasped Alice. as
the stranger laid her tenderly on the
couch, "but I'm sure I'm not hurt-just
scared"
'Pm Doctor Lansing" The young
man turned to the mother. Your
daughter fell back of my machine. !
don't know yet whether It hit her or
or not
mo, you didn't touch me-" Alice
breathed. when the machine backed
| jumped and lost my footing"
II think she's not hurt. but I shall
feel better if you have your physician
look her over"
1--WE haven't any regular physician"
replied the older woman. We've
lived here but few months"
I'm all right" Alice started to rise.
Better keep quiet for a time" He
put a OBTAINING hand upon her as he
turned again to her mother.
"If Miss" He hesitated.
alice Davis" came from the couch.
''If Miss Davis doesn't feel entirely
right in a few hours and-and-if you
haven't your own doctor, Fl-In be
very glad to do anything can, if the
patient can trust me after this acct
dent" He looked toward Alice.
why shouldn't I? You were not to
blame"
Alice was glad to keep quiet the rest
of the day and went to bed thinking
that she had suffered no serious eff
fects. The next morning, when she
put her right foot to the floor, with a
scream of pain she fell.
what Is the matter?" called her
mother. you'll scare me to DEATH
the way you tumble around"
MY foot won't CO." She laughed
as she hobbled to a chair. and grasped
the unreliable member in both hands.
'You didn't say nothing about your
foot yesterday" Mrs. Davis was ten
tatively investigating the slender pink
and white foot.
"Ouch! You've found the place, but
don't do that any more"
Mrs. Davis left her room. and Alice
heard her at the telephone. She
smiled as she hoped on one foot
back TO bed.
$50 you didn't escape after ALL"
Doctor Lansing said as he explored
, the fated foot.
II don't think it's anything much,
doctor" Alice objected. although she
; WINGED as he touched sensitive spot.
'Nothing serious. but it needs at
tention. The ligaments are torn
pretty badly. I'll bandage it, and
you'll have to keep off it for time"
Doctor Lansing did not neglect his
patient He came the next day, and
the next, and other days when he
could find an excuse When Alice was
able to limp about with the help of
cane he assured her that she needed
now to get out of doors.
you know how the back of my ma
chine looks" he said with an amused
laugh. Tomorrow will you let me
show you the inside of It?"
She was delighted!
They went far out into the country,
where the sun was shining and the
birds singing, as though to make up
| for the dreadful winter.
| What did they talk about?
| If il should be set down In cold type
| you probably would say. what non
! senSe!' but 1t wasn't 10 them. How
| could il be with that shine in Alice's
eyes that thrill in the doctors voice?
! At high point in the country road
| he brought the machine slowly TO rest.
I'm afraid that little foot of yours
| is past need of me professionally"
| He looked at it regretfully.
! You'll have to run down someone
| else with your machine" she said tor
mentingly.. sis thar the way you get
| new patients-going around and knock