Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1919-12-12
By Booth
Harrington

| 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, TAX
ing care not to go near IsabePs door,
and that his footsteps were muffled by
the long, thick hall rug After 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. 81 didn't"
"Well?"
"Oh, my God, I didn't think this
thing the matter with her could ever
be serious! r." He gasped. when the
doctor / 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. Hes down
stairs. He wants" She gulped. HE
wants to know If he can't see her.
I didn't know what to say. said I'd
see. / 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 living
here quietly, and-why, it would be
like taking 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. "I1l tell
him. I'll tell him the doctor said she
was to be kept very quiet. II 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.
Sne wants TO see you.
The terrified mouth shut with a click
and he nodded and 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 stool beside
the bed. He took that slender, cold
hand and put it to his cheek.
Darling, did you-gef something to
eat?" She could only whisper slowly
and with difficulty. It was as If Isa-
bel herself were far away, and only
able to signal what she wanted to say.
"Yes, mother"
"All you needed?"
| Eyes, mother"
She did not speak again for time !;
then, "Are you sure you didn't-didn't
catch cold-coming homer"
"I'm all right, mother
THAT'S good. It's sweet-it's
sweet"
what is. mother darling?"
ITO feel-lny hand on your cheek.
IL can feel it."
/ But this frightened him horribly
that she seemed so glad she could feel
| 1t. like child proud of some miracu-
lous seeming thing accomplished. 1t
frightened him so that he could not
speak, and he feared that she would
know how he trembled; but she was
/ 20 ci10
| ly she spoke again:
II wonder if-if Eugene and Lucy
know that we've come-home.'
'I'm sure they do"
"Has he-asked about me?'
eyes, he was here"
HAS he-gone?" Il
eyes, mother"
She sighed family. I'D like
'What, mother?'
"Pd like to have-seen him." It was
audible, this little regretful murmur.
Several minutes passed before there
was another. "Just-just once,' she
whispered, and then was still.
She seemed to have fallen asleep,
and George moved to go, but a faint
pressure upon his fingers detained
him, and he remained, with her hand
still pressed against his cheek. After
a while he made sure she was asleep,
and moved again, to let the nurse
come in, and this time there was no
pressure of the fingers to keep him.
She was not asleep, but, thinking that
if he went he might get some rest, and
be better prepared for what she knew
was coming, she commanded those
longing fingers of hers-and let him
| go.
He found the doctor standing with
the nurse in the hall; and, telling
| them that his mother was browsing
now, George went hack to his own
room, where he was startled to find
his grandfather lying on the bed, and
his uncle leaning against the wall.
They had gone home two hours before,
and he did not know they had return
ed.
'The doctor thought we'd better
come over" Anderson said, then was
silent, and George, shaking violently,
sat down on the edge Of the bed. His
shaking continued, and from time to
time he wiped heavy sweat from his
| forehead.
The hours passed, and sometimes
the old man upon the bed would snore
a little, stop suddenly, and move as If
4. I11% An y