The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1919-10-09
DoLLIE'S CURE
BY MILDRED WHITE.

40 bonds so strong as the weakness
with which an invalid holds her SUBJ
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 chded me for being the
means of bringing you together. It 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-
I cidedly short. You have neither HUI
dahs patience nor endurance. You've
ALWAYS been humored yourself, Dollie.
When Il 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, am going to marry Douglas"
she said, land I'm going to make that
visit" / III
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, lit ruff1es 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. It will be COM
forting at least to talk to one who SYM
pathetically understands. Douglas
e never told me that you also suffer from
i nerves. Now, do you have wakeful
: nights, and crying turns, and"
II often cry" admitted Dollie, iii
), things don't go my way. And-1 just
can't fuss doing every little thing fol
;, myself, especially when I've head
n ache" .... ~.
;" The china-blue eyes grew pathetic
) II have headache now said Dollie
e Would you mind handing me that pill
y low?"
The invalid hesitated moment
7, aghast. +
Q douglas brings the reclining chail
q out for me to rest on" she sug.
gested.
q Jumping into it, Dollie closed hel
" eyes.
cts great!" she said cheerfullY
"now if you'd just arrange my pill
low" Presently the invalid fount
% herself slipping it under Dellie's Quie
head. The girls soft hair touched tn,
u older woman's fingers, and with an I'm
u known impulse the slim hand move,
caressingly through it's waves.
e us your head so very bad?" sh
asked. T..
Opening her distressed eyes, Dol
lie answered with question:
le "YOu think that you could read
little to me-from your book? A read
"a ing sound soothes, think, don't you?
s. II never read aloud" the invalid re
sponded fearfully. have to be-rea,
t. to-"
"Oh, dear!" moaned the girl, tear
seeming dangerously near her culver
n ing lids.
I'd If you cry" Mrs. Cameron sal
in ENORMOUSLY, II shall leave you. ]
II would quite unsettle me-"
re "What," asked Dollie suddenly III
n. terested, do you do when you fee
:" like crying?"
"Some one usually tries to distrac
r me-" the invalid replied.
lg "But how?" Dollie persisted.
lg miss White used to tell me stories,
ne she said at last.
Sc Dollie reclined again with relieve
g. sigh.
q. Suppose" she suggested, "that 70
ne tell me story now about Douglas
when he was little boy. How h
n first started off to school, and-som
~ of his naughtiness, too. love Dout
en- las-more than any one in the worl.
I'd You love him; we could enjoy til
%. stories together. Please"
lis Light of Renaissance shone in tn
;e. mothers tired eyes, smile for year
Sc of happy memory curved her restrain
ed lips.