Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1920-07-22
zoe and
- Her Problems

doctor as they worked over Homer
who laid so still and deathhke. A
look of anxiety crept into the doc
tors face as time passed by and
still there was no sign of life. Zoe
saw it and great fear clutched her
heart. A panic seized her and she
cried" He's dead, Homer's dead.
Find papa, Doris, . and she fell to
hard, dry sobs which shook
her frame as with an ague.
Don't, Mother" Max said brok-
emily, for he, too, had noted the
grave lines in the doctors face, and
had a great fear, He'll come to
soon, won't he, doctor?' and he
looked anXiously for an affirmative
answer, but the doctor who was lis
tening for heart action gave no an
swer.
Max was the first to perceive
signs of returning consciousness.
Allen had arrived and the doctor
had paused to answer his hurried
questions. The injured boy uttered
a faint sigh and when the doctor
looked around Max was rubbing
the limp hands.
A moment later the eyes opened
and rested on the doctor who was
bending over him. Then they wand.
dered to the others and the lips
moved. " Who is he, Max? the
boy breathed rather than spoke.
Its the doctor, you fell out of
the cherry tree and we sent for him."
ooh" and with a deep sigh he
relapsed into Inconsistencies. The
doctor again placed his ear to the
boys chest.
% think we can safely take him
to the house now," he said, rising
to his feet. THE heart action is
much stronger. may as we'll tell
you that he has had very close
call. At one time the heart seemed
to cease it's action entirely
They bore the injured boy to the
house and placed him in his own
bed. 1t was some time before he was
fully conscious after which the doc
tor made an examination for in
juries.
No bones are broken" he told
them: and no serious injuries are
apparent. 1t was the shock more
than the hurt which so nearly psov-
ed fatal. The boy here" indicating
Max" was an able assistant. If he
had not been so different it is doubt
full if | would have been successful
in reviving the lad. Keep him quiet
and in bed few days. There may
have been internal injuries but |
don't think so"
When he was gone Zoe slipped
away into her own room faint from
the excitement and fright. With
her head resting against the pillows
of the couch she reviewed the events
of the morning. Max was with Ho-
mer and Allen had gone out.
Until this morning she had not
known that Max had joined the
Boy Scout Troop. He had asked
permission more than a year age
but she had refused to allow him to
consider it. His confession of the
morning coupled with the recollect-
ion OF her refusal angered her and
she shed bitter tears of resentment
How had he dared to Join them
against her expressed command
Max, who had always been so sub
missive to her authority. He should
be punished or his disobedience.
And then she remembered the
doctors words. ''If the boy had
been less efficient it is doubtful if
4 would have been successful in re.
vlvlng the lad" and the knowledge
was borne to her inner conscious
ness that it was through Max's dis
obedience that Homer's life wa
saved. The thought appalled, her.
What if he had obeyed her?'
Her ideas Of a parents duties wer'
all in tangle.
''This," she whispered to herself
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