The Arvada enterprise., 1919-12-11
By Booth
Harrington
CHAPTER XIX.

the next year-when 1t 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
berson had been right: her danger of
never seeing him again lay not In the
Majors fceblenesS of heart but In her
own. AS 1t was George telegruphed
his uncle to have wheeled chair Mt
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 Every sweet" FDnny
found the desperate courage to tell
her. She was lifted from the chair
stronger as they drove home; for once
she took her hand from Georges md
waved 1t feebly toward the carriage
window.
Changed" she whispered. $50
changed"
"You mean the town." Anderson
said. "You mean the old place is
changed, don't you, dear2"
She smiled and moved her lips:
"Yes."
eth change to happier place. old
dear" he said, "now that you're back
In 1t. and going to get well again..
But she only looked at him wist-
fully. her eyes little fatigued.
When the carrlage stopped her son
carried her into the house and up the
stairs to her own room. where a nurse
was waiting; and he came out mo-
ment later, as the doctor went in. At
the end of the hail stricken group
was clustered: ANDERSON and Fanny
and the Major. George. denthly pale
and speechless. took his grandfather's
hand. but the old gentleman did not
seem to notice his action.
"When are they going to let me see
my daughter1" he asked querulously.
"They told me to keep out Of the way
while they carried her In. because It
might upset her. wish they'd let me
go In aud speak to my daughter. I
think she wants to see me-"
He was right-presently the doctor
came out and beck0ned to him. and the
Major shufiled forward. leaning on
shaking cane; his figure. after all its
years of proud s0ldierllncss, had
grown STOPPING ut last. and his un.
trimmed white hair struggled over the
bnck Of his collar. He looked old
old and divested Of the w0rld-as he
crept toward his daughters room. Her
voice was stronger. for the waiting
group heard low cry Of tenderness
and welcome a. the old man reached
the open doorway. Then the door was
closed.
George began to pace the floor. tax.
Ing care not TO 70 near Isabel's door.
and that his footsteps were mufled 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. II didn't"
"Wellf"
"Oh. my God. I didn't think this
thing the matter with her could ever
he serious! l." He gan.'ed. "Whcn the
doctor ! had meet ux st the boat"
lie could not 60 on.
Anderson only nodded his head. and
did not otherwise change his attitude.
-. Isabel lived thr0L gh the night.
At eleven o'clock Fanny came timidly
to George In his room. Eugene In
here" she whispered. He's down
stairs. lie wants" She gulp.d. "He
wants To know n he can't see her.
! didn't know what to my. I said I'd
see. ] didn't kn0w-the doctor said"
"The doctor said We must keep her
peaceful" George said shnrpiy. .'Do
you think that mans coming would be
very SOOthingf Ny God! II II hadn't
been for him this nightnt have hnp-
pened: we could have gone on living
here quietly, and--why. Il would he
like taking . stranger into her room
Shs hasn't even spoken Of him more
than twice In all tho time we've been
away. Doesn't he know how sick she
isf You tell him the doctor ssid she
hnd to be quiet and peaceful. That's
what hc did ray. Isn't Itf'
Fanny acquiesccd tesrfulIy. "I1i tell
him. III tell him the doctor said she
wss 10 he kept very quiet. IL didn't
know" And she pOttcrcd out.
An hour Inter the nurse appeared
In Georges doorway: shc came noise.
lcssly. md hIs back was toward her:
but he jumped mn II he had been shot.
md his jnw fell. he 10 feared whnt
she WINS going 10 say.
'Shc wnnis 20 scc you"
The terrIricd mouth shut with n click
nnd he nodded and followed her, hut
she rcnnIncd outside his mothers
room while hs went In.
isnbels eyes were closed. nnd ahe |
did not open them 0r move her hcnd. |
but she smiled md edged her hand
toward him nv hc snt an n stool beside |
the bed. lie took that slender. cold |
hand md put II 10 hia cheek.
"Dnriing. did you-get something 10 |
estr' She could ooly whisper slowly