Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-03-06

ne thought, add when the hop-picklns
was over he could meet her az the
station near the Meades' and they
could come home together. Then he'd
try to get job and keep il permanent
~; he was afraid AnaStasia was get.
ting on of patience with him. He was
| still sitting planning, when Anastasia
came back with her bundles.
a week in the MeadeS luxurious
nome had not passed before Anastasia
made up her mind to something she
mad contemplated for months--to leave
Kent.
She was weary OF financial uncer-
tainty, she had to draw on her savings
In the interlms between Kent's Jobs,
until there was but pittance left he
had never wanted her TO work. but she
would 20 back to nursing, for which
her heart craved and be earning while
she was in her earning years. and let
poor Kent go his foolish, impractical
way alone
EARLY one morning at the end of the
second week, Arnold Meade announced
that he was going to take Anastasia
and Mrs. Meade to see some hopyards
20 miles from their home. Anastasia
sealed the letter she knew would be
knife thrust in Kent's heart, and
slipped II In the pocket of her skirt
for mailing in the next town
They passed through one town, an
other, third, but Anastasia still
clutched her letter.
I'll mail It tomorrow" she thought
unhappily, there's plenty of time to
break his heart"
Here we are, AT the Blooms !"
Meade called out as he drove into the
wooded campyard. Anastasia caught
her breath. Kent was here and she
must not see him-she must not
Suddenly, and Without warning,
standing dead tree crashed across one
Of the tents. Anastasla felt her heart
stand STILL then skip a beat. Meade
jumped down
wait, girls" he said, an go see If
anybody's hurt" After considerable
time he came back.
THE top of the tree caught one Of
the pickers-he's badly hurt, l guess"
he told them, "unconscious-looksa As If
he might be done for. They've got
wood saw, saving the tree SOS to get
IL Off him; the doctor1l be here d.
rectly--let me take you girls out OF
here!"
But despite Meades protests, Anas-
tasia pushed her way through the
crowd that had gathered to the in
iured man, She knelt down by him
and turned his face, ghastly white, the
lips red with some blood drops, to-
ward her.
"Oh, Kent, don't leave me- | can't
do without you-don't leave me- dear!"
Meade heard her say in sort Of quiet
agony, and saw her slide her trained
nurses finger to his wrist.
At the city hospital it was days be-
fore he could speak to her-days be-
fore she left him, even to sleep.
"Why didn't you let me die Stacy"
he cried out bitterly the day the doc
tor told him he would never walk
again. 81 had my life insured for you
the day I went to the hopyards. You
would have had the money, If you'd
let me die know I've fretted you
beyond endurance, going from one job
TO another, and making good at none,
but I've got o permanent job now
sitting In a wheel chair Stacy, Stacy
Why didn't you let me der
She held him close. 'Hush," abe
whispered. cts a lovely job this one.
You1l always be close by where / can
pet you and scols you. when I'm Off
duty nurslngV
The next day the Meades came in
10 see him. When they were leaving
Meade handed Anastasia sealed en-
velope.
II found 1t when | shook out one of
the auto rugs this morning" he said;
"you must have dropped 1t In the car
the day of the accident"
Anastasia crimsoned, then paled as
she looked at it, then thrust it in her
apron pocket. When the callers were
gone. she flew out to the hospital
kitchen.
"You haven't read your letter, sweet
heart" Kent reminded her when she
came back at might be important"
ooh. it wasn't anything she
smiled, "just a foolish letter forge
10 mail ~