Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1920-01-29

group heard a 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 10 go near Isabels 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. Il didn't"
"Well?"
"Oh, my God, 1 didn't think this
thing the matter with her could ever
be serious +" He gasped. "When the
doctor 1 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.
l didn't know what to say. l said I'd
see. I 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. "Ill tell
him. I'll tell him the doctor said she
was to be kept very quiet. IL 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.
"She wants to see you"
The terrified mouth shut with click
and he nodded and followed her but
she remained outside his mothers
room while he went in.
Isabel's 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 a stool beside
the bed He took that slender, cold
hand and put 1t to his cheek.
Darling, did you-get something to
eatT She could only whisper slowly
and with difficulty. 1t was as If Isa-
bel herself were far away, and only
able to signal what she wanted to say.
"Yes, mother"
"All you needed2"
Eyes, mother"
She did not speak again for a 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 darlingT
ITO feel-my hand on your cheek.
FL can feel it."
But this frightened him horribly
that she seemed so glad she could feel
1t, like a 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
unaware, and again was silent. Final
ly she spoke again:
Il wonder if-if Eugene and Lucy
know that we've come-home."
I'm sure they do"
Has he-asked about met"
eyes, he was here"
HAS he-goneT
''Yes, mother"
She sighed family. ard 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 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,
ord moved again, to let the nurse
co.Aa In, end this time there was no