Gilpin observer., 1920-03-25
THE FIRST STEP
By H. LOUIS RAYBoLD

SSey said her eyes held the heavenly
blueness Of June sky, her cheeks
were apple blossoms and her hair
curled like the tendrils of the moon
flower vine that grew outside the win
1ows, June Day. what charming name
for a baby!
Her father and mother loved each
other so much that when her father
was called suddenly away her mother
followed very soon.
They've gone to heaven" Annette,
her old nurse. told the child.
And that was the history of June
that and the fall she had had that
lifted her on narrow cot bed and
left her there through all the dream
ing hours Of her girlhoOd.
She watched the birds wing past in
fOcks when spring was come she saw
the five-fingered frond of the horse
chestnut spread into u hand; she
breathed the soft air heavy with the
damp odor of the earth and budding
things.
Then June Day for the first time in
her 20 years had the irresponsible de-
sire to get up and walk. She pushed
back the cover that lay over her and
looked at her helpless feet in their
blue slippers. Very carefully she lifted
first one and then the other with
her hand so that they hung down over
the cot. Then she tried to stand.
Annette found her there beside the
cot when she came up with her glass
Of milk n little huddled figure crying
bitterly.
"NOw, dearie," she scolded. "why
didn't you tell me? 1 would've got 1t
for your!
But 1 wanted to walk! I wanted
to walk!" the sObbing girl choked.
Annette lifted the slender figure in
her arms and laid her back on the cot.
But when she had left the room her
wrlnkled, plain old face bore puz-
zled look. That very afternoon she
put on her black jacket and her black
hat with the red dahlia in 1t and, TAX
ing her black cotton gloves, prepared
TO journey forth.
Anything you want, dearie?' she
asked, putting her head in at the door.
June smiled. "Pm reading the love-
that she doesn't know which one to
choose"
Annette shook her head sadly as she
went down the stairs. That was why
she dared to ring the bell and ask for
Doctor Fleming" in spite of the brill
lance of the new brass plate that
quite filed the old woman with dis
may. She knew, too well, that all
the old doctors had said hopeless"
But still-Doctor Fleming was young
and plain, Annette thought. He
asked her questions In sudden, alb
rupt way that abashed her at first.
Then he sat staring hard at his desk.
Now Annette had come to the hard
est part of her task.
you don't get your meals here7"
she fumbled
NO" he answered, wondering at the
curiosity Of the old woman.
"Then I'm thinking-that Is, would
you take your meals with me to pay
for the doctorlng?"
Doctor Fleming opened his eyes that
were neither green nor gray, and
smiled; and as the smile lighted his
face old Annette wondered why she
could ever have thought him plain.
~ WILL" he said, and gave her his
hand on the bargain.
June Day looked on this new man
creature without shyness, but n
gentle question awoke In her blue
eyes. Was he the incarnation of all
the heroes she had ever read? Was
he the prince charming that always
comes riding for the dreaming prin-
cess3
He was very gentle but very cruel.
too, she sometimes thought when he
made her move her stiff legs until
she felt she would faint from the
pain.
IF he knew how 1t hurt she
thought and closed her eyes. But she
lid not see the doctors face change
from encouragement to sudden mis-
cry. He was still there when she
opened her eyes.
"What are all these abOut?" he
asked. pointing to the books beside
her on the little white table.
"Oh. they're all about love-" June
said. at must be wonderful"
The young doctor frowned. "You
ought not to read that stun. It'll
spoil you. I'm going to be married
soon-myself."
"Oh!" June breathed with her blue
| eyes lifted to his.
''You must know all about love
| then"
The young doctor only frowned
and said: "You are to do that exer.
else twice tomorrow morning and
| twice tomorrow afternoon and twice
the next morning. and"
But aren't I going to see you a,
ali?" June asked ungrammatically hui