Cleveland County herald., 1919-12-25
CHAPTER XIX.


 came-and it came in the spring of the next year-when it was no longer question of Georges letting his mother come home. He had to bring her. and to bring her quickly if she was to see her father again; and Am- person 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 ''very 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 it feebly toward the carriage window.
 Changed" she whispered. "So 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.''
 .Itll 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 Wist- 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 6 nurse was waiting; and he came out a mo- ment later, as the doctor went in. At the end of the hall T stricken group WAS clustered: Anderson and Fanny and the Major. George, deathly pale and speeches., took Lis 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 as,;ed Querulously. 'sThey told me to keep out of the way while they carried her in, because it might upset her. I 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 shuffled forward, leaning on a shaking cane; his figure, after all it's years of proud soldierliness, had grown stopping at last, and his un- trimmed white hair struggled over the back of his collar. He looked old old and divested of the world-as he crept toward his daughters room. Her voice was stronger, for the waiting group heard low cry of tenderness and welcome as the old man reached the open doorway. Then the door was closed.
 George began to pace the floor, talk ing care not to go near Isabels door, and that his footsteps were mulfled by the long, thick hall rug. After a 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. q didn't"
 "Wel?"
 "Oh, my God, I didn't think this be serious r." He gasped. "When the doctor I 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. "He's down stairs. He wants" She gulped. He wants to know if he can't see her. I didn't know what to say. I said I'd see. I didn't know-the doctor said"
 "The doctor said we must keep her peaceful" George said sharply. Do you think that mans coming would be very soothing? My God if it hadn't been for him this mightn't have hap pened: we could have gone on livinss 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 it?"
 Fanny acquiesced tearfully. "I'n tell him. I'll tell him the doctor said she was to be kept very quiet. Fl didn't know" And she pottered out.
 An hour later the nurse appeared in Georges doorway; she came noise lessly, 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 ana followed her, but she remained outside his mothers room while he went in.
 Isabels 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 a stool beside the bed. He took that slender, cold