Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-12-08
The Doctors Opinion

'Mary, you mustn't talk Of me
that way. 1 am only a weak, and
some would say very wicked, man,
my dear. Before you have been
here very long someone will tell
you all my shortcomings"
"Am l going to stay here lougf'
For answer Starmount squeezed
the little hand SO confidingly clasp
ed in his.
No matter how long l stay, my
Lord, no one shall ever say any
thing to me about you that is not
good"
"oh, Mary, sister. Come herel ]
am frightened! The nurse says that
the doctors are coming to look at
me and she thinks they will put
my feet on straight again"
Eddie came clumping down the
hallway.
He had heard Mary's voice but
mad not realized that Starmount was
with her. Upon seeing him the boy
shrunk up beside the wall as though
afraid that perhaps he had done
something wrong by calling to his
sister.
Don't you worry, my boy, it may
hurt you little but you are going
to be brave and see it through.
Maybe wen have you walking like
other boys some day.
I'D almost die if l could ee like
other boys" answered little Eddie
confidingly as he took hold of Star
mounts other hand.
With child on each side of him
Malcolm Starmount felt for the first
time in his life that two people
really loved him, two people really
trusted him. He bent down and pick
ed up the little, wizened form of
the boy and kissed him and with
the boy in his arms, Mary and he
walked into the wing-suite.
AS they reached the door SER
want announced a noted diagnosti-
clan and two celebrated surgeons.
Starmount felt Eddie trembling
but he gave him reassuring car
ess.
''Send them in, Benson" and with
Eddie on his lap, and Mary stand
ing beside him, he welcomed the
physicians.
II have called you" he said, ''to
examine the mother of these two
children. The nurse seems to think
that she shows symptoms of tuber-
eulosis. l also want your opinion
about this boy
'Do you think you will have to
saw them off before you turn them
aroundi" inquired childish voice.
"And will it hurt much2"
The younger Of the doctors pick
ed Eddie up in his arms.
I've got a little boy, laddie, who
used to have feet just like yours.
We turned them right around with
out hurting him very much. He only
had to wear a brace for long,
long time. You run and play, laddie
while we go and Ne mother"
Tho doctor watched the child very
closely as he hobbled out the door
way and walked down toward the
beach.
After thorough examination of
Mrs. Devlin the doctors returned to
the sitting room.
MARY" said starmount, Il don't
see Eddie. Win you find him,
pleaseG"
ut isn't necessary, my Lord, to
send me away. want to know all |
about mother"
Her penetration surprised Star
mount. II was one of the times when
Mary Devlin seemed TO have shed |
III her ehildishness and become
woman IN whose soul tragedy had
worked more havoc than time.
The diognostieian looked at Sta.
mount inquiringly. Stsrmount nod
led his head.
'Mrs. Devlin," he said, has only
short time to live as ws count
ears, but with great care, with
which l anticipate you can aal viii
her, sha may have a very
comfortable existence for many
n6nths, possibly years.
"0f course, you understand that
he cannot live in this climate and I
dvise her being sent 10 the Adir0n-
acks Immediately, We viii build
er up a little 50 that she can be