South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-02
WHAT HAPPENED WHEN DICIIY
DEVELOPED THE FIRST
SYMPTOMS OF SICKNESS
MADGE EVER KNEW.

/ j watched Dicky narrowly through
the first part of our luncheon. The
fear that ne might be i'll. which
had come TO me when / had no
ticed his languid attitude while
climbing the stairs, gradually van
ished as I noted his hearty appe-
lite and the easy POPULARITY of his
manner.
The thought of Dicky III terrified
me. ] had heard him say once that
I he did not know what II was 10 be
/ sick. and beside the natural terror
felt at any illness coming TO him
I had very lively dread of what
I ii would mean TO take care of Dicky
I in even a slight illness. His is not
a nature TO brook restraint of any
kind. and I have an intuition that
/ he would detest being nursed.
BY the time luncheon was over I
had forgotten my fears. so that I
was genuinely shocked when 7 heard
an agonized groan from Dicky and
saw him. bent nearly double. hang
ing TO his chair.
"Oh. Dicky!" I flew to his side
What is the natter"
Don't touch me-" he replied
sharply, and then I saw him try 10
pull himself erect. an attempt that
ended in another groan.
Please tell me what the trouble
is. sweetheart" I pleaded. land let
me help you to bed. Then I can
/ =.
How do you suppose I know what
the trouble is?" he growIed savage
ly Think I'm some blooming med
ical sharp? But I won't have any
sawbones monkeying temporary. I'll
go up and lie down awhile and I'll
feel better"
81 Can't Let You Suffer.
He made another futile attempt to
straighten himself. and then, bent
double like an old. old man. shut
fed slowly and painfully to the
stairs. His progress up the stairs
must have been a succession OF tor
turing twinges judging from the
groans that ompanied every step.
1, following and listening, grew
more terrified with each passing mo-
ment, and as he finally fell upon
his bed 1 sank to my knees beside
him
please. Dicky. let me do some
thing for you. Let me put hot
water bag 10 the spot where the
pain is worst You know heat al
ways relieves pain. And won't you
let me take your temperature ,"
NO. no, no." Dicky almost shout
ed II won't have any hot water
bag. and I certainly shan't put any
dinky little thermometer into my
mouth"
But must do something for you.
Dicky I protested. 81 can't let you
suffer like this. Tell me something
can do
you can stop that talk and let me
alone" Dicly growled. and with an
other groan he pulled the bed
clothes over his head stubbornly
The fiery temper that I had
thought disciplined by suffering
fiared up in me. No matter how i'll
Dicky was he had no right to treat
me this way. An old remark of
my mothers came back to me.
when people are really i'll they're
not ugly" she used TO say. Its
only when they're getting better or
haven't anything much the matter
with them that they're cross"
Bring on That Bag"
waited until I could control my
self sufficiently to say quietly:
"IH be in the next room within
hearing if YOU want me"
Then / walked steadily out of his
room into mine and sat down by the
window looking out over the rolling
woodland with a little cold disap-
pointed feeling at my heart.
Was il TO be the same old story all
over again? Was Dicky's rudeness,
his utter disregard for my feelings
10 be applied 10 my quivering spirit
Ike a lash whenever he felt out of
sortse
The week since Dieky and had
come home had been no idvllic. so
filed with evidences of my husbands
tenderness and love for me that l
had almost FORGOTTEN DiclSy's power
10 make me suffer when he was un-
comfortable himself
I am afraid I was not so syIapa
thetic with his suffering as I had
been when he was first attacked
Resentment OF his rudeness tenn
pered my terror that his pain might
he the beginning OF some serious ill
ness. I could hear him groaning.
and. I am afraid. swearing 10 him
self as he thrashed around the bed.
but I hardened my heart
Whenever he calls me I will go
and take care OF him with no sign
Of resentment" 7 thought erimlv
''but unless ne does call me shall
not go near him"
II took all my resolution. however.
20 keep my word. fer the groans in
creased in volume and intensity 7
walked up and down my room
clenching my fingers into my palm.
for I was beginning 20 be terrified
again over this strange illness OF