Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-12-02
CHAPTER XIX.

CHAPTER XIX.
Let her" was correct; but the time
came-and 1t came in the spring of
the next year-wheu it was no longer
question of Georges letting his
her, and to bring her quickly If she
was to see her father again; and Am
berson had been right: her danger of
never seeing him again lay not in the
Majors feebleneSs of heart but in her
own. AS it was George telegraphed
his uncle to have a wheeled chair at
the station, for the journey had been
disastrous, and to this hybrid vehicle,
placed close to the car platform, her
son carried her in his arms when she
arrived. She was unable to speak,
but patted her brothers and Fanny's
hands and looked Every sweet" Fanny
found the desperate courage to tell
her. She was lifted from the chair
into a carriage, and seemed a little
stronger as they drove home; for once
she took her hand from Georges and
waved 1t feebly toward the carriage
window.
Changed" she whispered. $50
changed"
'You mean the town." Anderson
said. "You mean the old place is
changed, don't you, dear?"
She smiled and moved her lips:
'Yes."
It'll change to happier place, old
DEAR he said, NOW that you're back
in it, and going to get well again"
But she only looked at him visit
fully, her eyes little fatigued.
When the carriage stopped her son
carried her into the house and up the
stairs to her own room, where nurse
was ssxlting; and he came out a mo-
ment later, as the doctor went in. At
the end of the hall a stricken group
was clustered: Anderson and Fanny
and the Major George, deathly pale
and speechless, took his grandfather's
hand, but the old gentleman did not
seem to notice his action.
"When are they going to let me see
my daughter?' he asked ENORMOUSLY.
''They told me to keep out of the way
while they carried her in, because it
might upset her. l wish they'd let me
go in and speak to my daughter. /
think she wants to see me-
He was right-presently the doctor
came out and beckoned to him, and the
Major shuffied forward, leaning on
shaking cane: his figure, after all it's
years of proud -soldierliness, had
grown stopping at last, and his I'M
trimmed white hair struggled over the
back of his collar. He looked old
old and Invested of the world-as he
crept toward his daughters room. Her
voice was stronger, for the waiting
group heard a Tow cry of tenderness
and welcome as the old man reached
the open doorway. Then the door was
closed.
George began TO pace the floor, TAX
ing care not to go near Isabel's door,
and that his footsteps were muffled by
the long, thick hall rug After while
he went to where Anderson, with fold
ed arms and bowed head, had seated
himself near the front window. Uncle
George" he said hOarsely. 81 didn't"
"Well?"
"Oh, my God, I didn't think this
thing the matter with her could ever
be serious I" He gasped. "When the
doctor had meet US at the boat"
He could not go on.
Anderson only nodded his head, and
did not otherwise change his attitude.
:. . Isabel lived through the night.
At eleven o'clock Fanny came timidly
to George in his room. Eugene is
here" she whispered. Hes down
stairs. He wants" She gulped. HE
wants to know if he can't see her.
/ didn't know what to say. / said I'd
See / didn't know-the doctor said"
1.-THE doctor said we must keep her
peaceful" George said sharply. do
you think that mans coming would be
very soothing? My Godl if it hadn't
been for him this mightn't have hap
pened: we could have gone on living
here quietly, and-why, it would be
like taking a stranger into her room
She hasn't even spoken of him more
than twice in all the time we've been
away. Doesn't he know how sick she
is? You tell him the doctor said she
had TO be quiet and peaceful. That's
what he did say. isn't itT
Fanny acquiesced tearfully. 'T'll tell
him. I'll tell him the doctor said she
was to be kept very quiet. II didn't
know" And she pottered out.
An hour later the nurse appeared
in Georges doorway; she came noise
Iessly, and his back was toward her;
but he jumped as If he had been shot,
and his jaw fell, he so feared what
she was going TO say.
.She wants TO see you"
The terrified mouth shut with click
and he nodded and followed Der, but
she remained outside his mothers
room while he went IN.
Isabel's eyes were closed, and she
did not open them or move her head,
but she smiled and edged her hand
toward him as he sat on stool beside
the bed. He took that slender, cold
hand and put ii TO his cheek
Darling. did you-get something TO
eatT She could only whisper slowly
and with difhcufty. 1t was as II Isa-