The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-03
EDening Story
Della.

oeurldden Tor twelve years
The guest. wife of the new doctor
IN the little village, looked puzzled.
But what is your trouble ~ she asked,
glancing around the speckless, sunny
room with its Towering plants, each
pot dressed in shiny white paper and
tied with ribbon.
Della essayed a feeble smile I'm
a great sufferer" she acknowledged,
but have learned to be patient.
bear my crosS-and-" she looked up
at the clock that had evidently been
brought in from the parlor, a gay af-
fair under a glass cover, and with an
impatient gesture struck smartly the
bell beside her-"Ruth does not mean
to be neglectful" she said with an
air of patience, "but-"
A girl of thirty years of age hurried
into the room, apprehension on her
face. Nothing wrong, Della ?" she
cried.
''Of course it doesn't make any diff
ference, but it's time for my warm
milk" murmured Della quite weakly
Excitement makes me faint and 1
never Ike to dwell on my past
Ruth pinkened and glanced mean
ingly at the guest. Wont you come
she said. She will perhaps nap bit
now
Jane Morrow, a queer look in her
observant eyes, followed the girl.
looked as tho her youth had been
such a depressed affair that it had
been willingly relinquished and that
she had slipped beyond the borders
of girlhood almost thankful that so
much of life had been traversed The
room beyond was at the north of the
house and was very barely furnished.
None of the pleasant little Injuries so
much in evidence in the invalid's room
were visible here.
your sister tires very easily" re-
marked Mrs. Morrow.
Ruth. beating up eggs in a glass of
rich milk, nodded. Yes, she likes to
talk about her symptoms, but if any
one asks her questions she gets inn
patient 1t is very hard on her. She
has no one but me-"
Then" said Mrs. Morrow with a
keen glance at the weary face, you
have no one but her. Why don't you
pity YOURSELF"
Ruth looked amused. II have Moth
ing to be pitied for. L am very strong.
1t worries me to have to leave Della
while I go to teach, but the school
house is very near, half block, and
still eyes filled with dread
II am always afraid of fire. I'm sure
L could get back here in two minutes,
I've timed myself. but"
mo reason why she couldn't step
out of bed. is there? Anything wrong
with her feet? Lame?"
No. said Ruth. rather surprised at
the newcomers bluntness. but the
exposure would probably kill her.
School is only five days a week, tho,
so Saturday and Sunday I am free to
look after her properly"
who takes care of her when you
are out with the young people ?"
asked the doctors wife.
Il wouldn't leave her just for pleas
ure. You see, 1 know all her ways
and no one else can please her. Why,
if there is even a tiny speck of dust on
her floor she detects it,
x I'D better have doctor stop in and
see her. I've no doubt he'll get her
up in no time" began Mrs. Morrow
briskly, but there was a call from the
front room.
cit rid of that woman" command
ed the invalid. her black eyes snap
ping. How can rest with such
cIatter2 Don't let her send her hus-
band. don't want strange eyes on
me-"
Thoughtfu1ly the Doctors wife con-
'tinued her round of calls. She heard
a good deal about Della wonderful
Fiction, but of Ruth's tireless devotion
no one had much to say; that is. no
one saw anything unusual in it save
Ed Black, who had told Mrs. Morrow
about the years of waiting. He had
bought and furnished a cottage for
Ruth, who had planned to take the
invalid with them after their marriage,
and they had intended to sell the cot
tage belonging to the sisters so that
Della could have the money for her
self, that she might never feel in the
slightest degree dependent. When the
invalid was informed of the plans,
however, she grew greatly excited and
went into Mysteries. She refused alb
solutely to leave her home or to allow
Ed Black to make one of the family.
She seemed Mortified at Ruth's selfish
ness in contemplating marriage. She
aafd she could not last more than a
year at most and surely Ruth could
put off her marriage that long.
And all that happened" reflected
Mrs. Morrow, nine years ago. Ruth
was twenty-one years old then Now
she's thirty and old Della is good for
twenty years yet
The next day Ruth was obliged to
take one of the pupils home. The
child lived two miles out in the coun-
try and Ed Black, who oddly enough
happened to drop in to speak to her.
offered to drive them out. Ruth sent
one of the girls with a message to
Della and, with an unwonted feeling
of relief from the duties of school.
slipped into Eds car and they sped
down the snowy road.
The little girl, who had complained
Of some childish ailment., was left
with her mother, who smiled rather
mysteriously at Ed Black. Mrs. Nor
row was there, and asked Ruth to stay.
but she was anxious to get back to at
tend to Della. AS they left the yard
Ed called the girls attention to flock
of birds going south and in some man.
ner his clutch on the wheel swerved
and the car tipped over.
Ruth. shaken and frightened, was
helped into the house and Mrs. Nor
row, promising to look after Della,
went back with Ed.
The doctors wife seemed strangely
clumsy in her housework- The stove
began to smoke and the tray that she
prepared so eagerly did not at all
please the invalid
Il can't drink that tea. 1t boiled.
I never have my steak fried, Ruth
broils it." she complained.
'Oh, well, you oughtn't to eat much
11-irarr hed r1-f1I In lai IN