The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-09-16
THE AFTERMATH
BY GRACE O. wEATHERBY.
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ana D0y-man, Olu III appearance
young in years. The eighteen months
in the service Of his country had
wrecked his health, robbed him of his
strength, and left him bitter, sullen,
discouraged The two girls coming up
the stairs paused at his door and
glanced in.
mot now, Peggy dear, little later.
He isn't very cheerful, and in fact he's
very rude to strangers. Don't bother
now, come to my room."
Help yourself, Peggy darling, and
tell me about everything It's so long
since we left college 1t seems there
must be loads to tell"
But, Olive dear, l want to know
about that poor brother Of yours first.
Tell me-he isn't crippled for life, is
her"
mo one knows. He was gassed,
you know, and that shrapnel wound In
his back is the cause Of his paralysis;
and we've had doctors and doctors and
they shake their learned heads and
charge outrageous fees and suggest
numerous costly operations which
may help little. It's very discour-
aging.
Peggy stared out Of the window, I'M
seeingly. 1t had disturbed her strange
ly. II WONDER" she unused, ''if could
not help him little.
Her friend nodded absently. go
to 1t. I'm quite resigned to anything"
She pulled up hassock and sat by
the side of the sick man.
"Ralph Lynch, you don't know me,
but I'm Peggy Stuart and you're go
ing to see lot of me. l want you to
like me-"
In spite of himself, an interested
CLEAN came into the eyes of the in
valid. ~ don't like sunshine. Please
pull the curtain down again"
mo, sir, sunshines good for you,
and besides | want to look at you"
Ralph pulled at his pipe in con-
fusion.
what a handsome pipe. Did you
color it yourself? How long did it
take you? Dad would give his right
hand for a pipe like that"
please go. I'm very tired, and, do
not feel like talking"
Instantly she was all contrition.
You poor dear boy, you shan't talk If
you don't want to. I'll play you to
sleep" She placed fresh pillow be-
hind his back aud tucked the robe
more comfortably about his emaciated
| figure.
Peggy then seated herself at the
| piano, and played-softly, dreamily,
beautifully, and in few moments
Ralph Lynch was asleep, for the first
time in many days, sleeping dreamless-
| ly, without the aid of drugs. The girl
continued to play while she planned a
sort of campaign for Ralph Lynch. He
slept three hours and a half, and
awoke refreshed and feeling better than
he had for weeks. Peggy was there,
sitting by the fire. the rosy light play
ing on her bewltchlngly. For a full
minute the man watched her before
she discovered he was awake.
"Well, it's about tlmel You old
sleepyhead, you'll Supper is over long
ago, and yours Is cold as iCe!"
81 don't believe I care for it, any
way :" he began, but she had
gone, to return in a few moments
wheeling a tea table daintiIy set. Be
fore he realized 1t he was eating. All
the while the girl nibbled at eating,
Chattering like maybe.
Joe Spencer and Tom Hartford are
coming at eight, and you must be fixed
up bit before they come"
"Who asked them to come? l don't
want to see them"
"Yes, / know. They were your
chums before you went to France. l
asked them"
Presently she removed the tea table
| and made no comment on the splendid
supper he had eaten, but took it as
a matter of course. Ten minutes la
ter he was eagerly waiting for his
chums and when they came his eyes
sparkled and he held out his bony
hand in cordial welcome. The two
young fellows were astonished, for
only last week he had refused to see
them, had bitterly sulked in his chair.
Don't betray the fact you are sur
| prised. Just act as If nothing had
ever happened" warned Peggy, and
she left them. At quarter to nine she
came in and announced 1t was time for
all decent visitors to go home, or If
they didn't care to go home they would
find Olive in the library.
TITS time for bed, now, Bud, old
top" she whispered, and called the
butler. Good night. I'll see you in
the morningW
Ralph slept better that night. The
next day Peggy kept him busy
and occupied. A new doctor was sum-
moned, and he pronounced in solemn
tones that an operation would be nee
essary before the boy could walk, but
he was confident the operation would
be a success.
HE needs to be built up bit first. "
And so the building up of Ralph pro-
ceeded, and Peggy's two weeks visit
heightened into two months.
| The oneration was n success and