The L'Anse sentinel., 1921-04-29
THE LIGHT
ny MILDRED WHITE.
Se9e9S9eSSSe e9R9eSeSe9es
t@, isai. western Newspaper union.) }


Ing through the half-darkness. The
small station Was closed and locked
for the night. aD&the great train rush.
Ing again on its way left Janet a
solitary arrival. Troubled, she walked
the length Of the platform, then sat
down on the crude steps to think the
situation over. She had left her beauti-
full city home that afternoon hastily,
and in an unenviable frame Of mind
Mother. father and the governor were
all insstent in their demands for IN
early marriage. while Janet was not
sure that she wanted to be married
at all
In her hasty departure Janet had
never considered the possibility of her
present position. Taxis, she supposed,
awaited train arrivals in even Willow
by town.
Aunt Clarabelles cottage. Janet
knew. nestled at the foot Of the strag-
Cling village Street, two miles away. 1t
was not the walk Of the two miles
that she feared to attempt, but the un-
accustomed darkness of the tree bor-
dered road AS she sat on the station
steps, the sheltered girl became nerv-
ously alarmed; the spot was exceed
Ing desolate and the purse In her
travelling cloak pocket was filled with
bills. Desperately, at last she arose
and began her stumbling way.
Ruts and twisted brambles seemed set
like trap for the unwary.
Then, almost directly before her. she
suddenly saw a light. Someone, had
come from among the trees to the
roadside, and the someone carried
lighted lantern. Janet drew back fear
fully, but as the light went twinkling
ON, noiselessly she followed. 1t would
be useless TO try to locate Aunt Clara
bellies abode in the confusing twist OF
ways.
This light must leau TO some COM
panionship, perhaps to the village,
where she might be accommodated for
the night; Janet steadily and with new
courage pressed onward. The striding
figure before her turned abruptly down
the outlines of small house.
The man, as she drew near, put down
his lantern to open the house door.
Janet silently waited, as unannounced
he entered and struck a light She
saw at side. of the room sick wom-
an lying upon bed, with child fret
ting at her side. The tall man
advancing lifted the child gently in
his arms and with laughing word
sent 1t after an orange tossed on the
floor. Then, throwing aside his cloak,
he bent an anxious face over the sick
woman, Janet, studiously regarding his
face, was all at once reassured. "Yes,
doctor" she heard the womap gasplng-
ly answer a question; then, impulsive-
ly, Janet stepped past the lantern into
the room. The doctor glanced up
sharply.
"Take off your wraps" he startlingly
! commanded, "and come here"
Half unconscious of her own action
Janet Darcy obeyed.
| I'VE will have to work fast" the
man told her. KINDLY follow direc-
tions without question. Hot water at
once Peremptorily he issued his or
| ders.
Janet, the sleeves of her white waist
rolled high, went TO the cold kitchen
stove. There was wood piled near,
and matches.
Desperately, as the woman's labored
breathing reached her, she bent to her
task. fire was cracking at last
beneath the kettle. Janet's soft fingers
were smudged and blistered, but her
eyes shone VIGOROUSLY.
She saw the perspiratfon on the
young doctors forehead as she re-
sponded eagerly to his demands.
Its pneumonia" he told her as
they rested. pretty bad, but / think
we will be able to break 1t. Rural
postman informed me of the case, re-
turning from his route this evening.
Immediately l telephoned to the city
for you. That is, telephoned for my
usual nurse, but I suppose you hap
pened to be the only one available at
the time. You made good time get
ting out. Now, we will leave our
patient. Look to the comfort of the
child"
Janet turned with smile In her wear
iness-thls language Of command she
had never known impressed her
pIeasurably 1t was as II between the
strong capable. man and herself ex-
listed some bond Of understanding and
sympathy.
Janet washed and fed and coaxed
the baby to sleep. Then, disheveled
and star-eyed, she sought the watch
fully alert physician.
ANY further ordersY she asked
quietly.
1t was ten days later when Janet
Darcy stood in the small house door
way, while Sukey Wells sang inside,
with the patient now well on her way
to recovery. Alan Brent, looking down
en- the volunteer nurse, smiled very,
very tender smile. To him, she had
Just made full confession; to him she
had told her story.
"You are wonderful" he said softly.
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