The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1920-12-30

1920. western Newspaper Union. !

Copyright. 1920. western Newspaper Union.
"Coddling, my dear-that is the sys.
tenn we are to employ with Cousin
Roylston. The men all like IT"
lis he really a cousin7" inquired
Prudence Blake OF her sister, d spin
ster like herself, though ten years her
senior.
well; maybe third Or fourth, re-
moved, but he hasn't many Of near kin,
and 1t Is probably because Of our re-
lationship, distant though 1t may be,
that he has chosen, our home to 70.
cruit his health In"
Why, Is he an invalid1'' questioned
the seemingly artiess Prudence.
mo, but he has been q victim Of the
prevailing grip epidemic and his doc
tor said q few weeks ~cOnvalescence
away from business cares was neces-
sary."
'.sYes, we must be helpful and kind
to the sick and weak" sighed Pru-
dence pathetically. 10 tt G&s
"You mean we must seize all golden
opportunities" reported Dorcas tartTy,
vVluing the simpering platitudes Of
her sister at their true worth. "Cousin
Royiston fs a man Of means, a COM
paratively young man, and-whO
knowsT" And Dorcas prepared to put
her coddling system into practical
operation, and Prudence hunted up
her most captivating ribbons and laces.
Ward Roylston heaved a sigh Of relief
antfcipatingly Of coveted peace and
rest as he reached the isolated town
Of Clyde.
,'"You do not look very well, Cousin"
were the first encouraging words Of
Dorcas. "Our brother Ezra has just
received his medical diploma and he
viii call to look You OVER I
'"'Why, I am not Sick" said Roylston.
I'VE never know In 4 case like
yours" observed Dorcas In a dolorous
tone. e.They say the after effects are
sometimes very severe. But you will
have at hand faithful nurses"
Roylston made q wry face, unob-
served, by his :of1cious relatives, when.
he sat down to his first meal. He was
hungry as an OK, but cream toast, thin
cruel and a single poached egg we're
proffered him. ~-.z-5r, ~
brother is very strict as to the
alimentary regime" droned Dorcas
prudence be sure that Cousin Royl-
ston's room is ventilated just right and
a warming pan pressed between the
sheets before he retires." And then
came Brother Ezra, a cadaverous
young man who gloomily kept his eye
on Roylston as though he was analyz-
ing him with view to protracted medi-
cal treatment.
II shall send over some medicine in
the morning" he announced sepul-
chrally, "a few gargles and lotions"
and he left a phial Of pellets which
Roylston promptly tossed out of the
window when he reached his room.
In the morning there arrived a pack
age of counter-irritants, lotions and
the like, and all that day the sisters
watched Roylston with. an assiduity
and -vehemence that nearly drove him
wild. To cap the climax, after dark
Dorcas solemnly rendered q little
package.
"A blister Brother Ezra sent" she
explained. Drastic he says, but
sure to prove beneficial. Prudence and
I will sit up to night, Cousin Roylston,
and you must promptly call US II you
feel any bad symptoms. The aftergef-
fects Of the fatal grip must be warded
of, you know"
Scrip" muttered Roylstop. as he
reached his room. "Of all the busy
bodies. The only grip I am interested.
in IL this" and he opened his single
piece Of baggage land proceeded to-
pack It. It'll make my escape before
they. poison me-. IL I have to Jump
from the window"
That was just what Roylston had to
do an hour later. Gazing thence he
observed the reflection Of q light In a
lower. room. He could not leave the
house that way, without apprizing his
jailers. He dropped his grip from the
window, followed with the aid Of q
trellis and made tracks speedily.
Roylston turned from the house and
town. HIS idea was to seek the first
safe shelter that presented. At the
end Of a fve-mile tramp, wearied and
forlorn, turning a bend In, the road he
came, upon a horse and wagon at q
standstfll,. A shapely, golden-hafred
girl was mending the broken harness,
musically %upbraiding and then petting
the steed, who had attempted to run
away.
Roylston came chiva1rously forward
and assisted her ia getting things to
rights, casually explaining his quest
Tor some settlement or roadside inn.
'4TAhesnearest town is ten miles dis
tant.' his bright, sensible new friend
told hin, hut we live a little further
on. Father will be waiting up, for i
have been delayed delivering some
eggs and butterf and he will house
yOu Tor the night, l am sure 49,
But Ward Roylston was destined to.
remain at the home Of JacObsand Irma
Daniels FOR the reaf Of hia ntoncrthod