Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1919-11-14
DOLLIE'S CURE
BY WHITE.

while his mother is alive. There are
no bonds so strong as the weakness
with which an invalid holds her sub
ject.
douglas has tried one nurse after
another; capable, charming women.
too, but not one could bring his moth
er to any degree of %helpfulness to her
self. Mrs. Cameron relies upon 9th
ers for her slightest need, and all are in
terror of her hysterical outbursts. Not
that Celia Cameron is noisy in her at
tacks. but her silent and prolonged
weeping wears more | think upon ones
nerves. Her husband spoiled her by
his unreasoning devotion, and Douglas
was forced to continue the slavery.
Pardon me, my dear, much as I love
Celia Cameron, slavery is the word
which expresses her exactions. And
when it became evident that Douglas
was paying attention to yourself, my
conscience chided me for being the
means of bringing you together. 1t is
honest of him to ask you to spend a
few weeks at his home in his mothers
fretful society before urging you to be-
come engaged to him. He certainly
wants you to know what you are about,
and from what Huldah White told me
of her experience as nurse there l
can foresee that your visit will be de-
cldedly short. You have neither HUI
dah's patience nor endurance. You've
always been humored yourself, Dollie.
When l try to fancy Douglas mother
and you in the same house-the thing
is impossible"
Dollie clasped her arms about her
curly head, and into the china-blue
eyes which had caused her family to
bestow upon her the name of Dolly
came an ~inscrutible light.
yet, l I'm going to marry Douglas"
she said, land I'm going to make that
visit"
Douglas himself looked apprehensive
as he met his sweetheart at the
suburban station and drove her out to
his fine old home.
Mother" he gently announced,
"Dollie will visit with you in the gar
den; she will not be in the least Of
Tended when you are tired of talking If
you send her away"
Dollie agreed with a doubtful smile
as the son departed.
81 get tired of talking myself" she
told the invalid sadly. sit ruf1es my
nerves."
Nerves !" cried the other, and she
leaned eagerly forward.
MY doctor forbids the subject, and
the nurses were like sticks when I
ventured a thought. 1t will be com
forting at least to talk to one who SYM
pathetically understands. Douglas
never told me that you also suffer from
nerves. Now, do you have wakeful
nights, and crying turns, and
II often cry" admitted Dollie, eff
things don't go my way. And-I just
can't fuss doing every little thing for
myself, especially when I've a head
ache"
The china-blue eyes grew pathetic.
81 have a headache now" said Dollie.
Would you mind handing me that pill
low?"
The invalid hesitated a moment
aghast.
Douglas brings the reclining chair
out for me to rest on" she sug4
gested.
Jumping into it, Dollie closed her
eyes.
now If you'd just arrange my pill
low" Presently the invalid found
herself slipping 1t under Dollie's quiet
head. The girls soft hair touched the
older woman's fingers. and with an I'M
known impulse the slim hand moved
ca~ressingly through its waves.
SIS YOU head so very badT" she
asked.
Opening her distressed eyes, Dol
lie answered with a question:
you think that you could read a
little to me-from your book? A read
ing sound soothes. l think, don't your
81 never read aloud" the invalid re-
sponded fearfully. I have to be-read
to-"
"Oh, deari" moaned the girl, tears
seeming dangerously near her CULVER
ing lids.
eff you cry" Mrs. Cameron said
ENORMOUSLY, Il shall cave you. 1t
would quite unsettle me-"
what" asked Dollie suddenly in
terested. do you do when you feel
like crying?"
"Some one usually tries to distract
me-" the invalid replied.
"But how?" Dollie persisted.
Miss White used to tell me stories,"
she said at last.
Dollie reclined again with a relieved
sigh.
Suppose" she suggested, that you
tell me a story now about Douglas,
when ne was a little boy. How he
first started off to school, and-some
of his naughtiness, too. love Doug
las-more than any one in the world.
You love him; we could enjoy the