Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-08-16
By
Florence Bingham Livingston
CHAPTER x.-cOntinued.

know about itp He turned and
confronted her in swift Indignation.
"Nobody knew about it till two days
ago. She claims she hasn't been feel
ing well for long time, but she's en-
dured in silence. We've been trying
to have her consult a doctor, but she
won't listen to it-says we've no right
to annoy an afflicted woman when she
can do her own diagnosing"
"But you think there's-no doubt"
insinuated Mrs. Penfield slowly.
Il think there's no doubt but that
she's making the whole thing up" ex-
ploded the young man. what
thought maybe you'd do, Mrs. Penzie,
is to look us over from the stand
point of an outsider and tell us how
to act"
She smiled. 81 can't tell you on the
minute, but I'll see if l can think out
anything. I'll go over tomorrow, and
mebbe I'll get line On it. You come
around sometime soon, and I'll re
port"
He held out his hand. "Thank you.
You're my mother, Mrs. Penzie, but
III bet you didn't know it. never
had one that 1 could remember-till
now"
Before she could speak. he was
gone.
The next day Mrs. Penfield crowded
her work as much as possible, that
there might be time in the afternoon
for call on Mrs. Percy.
"Lettie," she called into the back
yard, won't you please pick me bout
three of them pretty caterpillars off'n
the willow tree? Put 'em in this here
envelope, and be careful you don't
squeeze 'em."
A little later Mrs. Penfield set forth,
gingerly concealing under her worn
Jacket the envelope which contained
the three scraps Of furry life. She
stopped first at Mrs. Sanders.
Don't you want to run in to Mrs.
Percy's with me?" she inquired. 81
understand she amt well, and seems
as if we'd oughter be mite neigh
borly."
'Oh, l hadn't heard" cried Mrs.
Sanders, with instant solicitude. Eyes,
sure I'll 60"
The two ladies and the three cater
pillars proceeded on their way.
When they had rung, they could
hear Mrs. Percy coming along the mar
row hall with jerky, shufling sound
She opened the door with her left
hand.
Good afternoon" she greeted them
Iaconically. "Come in."
She ushered her guests into the
tiny living-room and laboriously re
moved a litter of magazines from one
chair, a piece of sewing from another
An awkward toss with her left hand
sent a white crocheted shawl from a
third chair to a small table. The
three ladies were thus enabled to be
seated.
"How are you feeling today?" in
qdired Mrs. Penfeld brislzly.
Mrs. Percy shook her head. 'T've
got my warming" she replied lugubri-
ously.
"Warningl" echoed Mrs. Penfeld
0OOu WAdl uO JOQ AACdA
Mrs. Percy's eyelids dropped mourn
fully, II mean the forerunner Of the
the end"
'"Oh, nonsense, I don't believe it,"
cheered Mrs. Penfield. whats wrongT
"You couldn't have been using your
eyes," returned her hostess, in an ag-
grieved tone Maybe it doesn't show
in my face-yet, but It's strange If
you didn't notice the way I walked.
My right foot drags. can't scarcely
use my right arm at all"
'How long have you had itY'
"Three days. 1t came on sudden
one morning"
81 s'pose you've seen a DOCTOR" sug-
gested Mrs. Penfeld.
Mrs. Percy sighed heavily. "No
need. He couldn't tell me more'n 1
know. I've just got to wait-and grow
steadily more helpless. The hardest
part Of it is Lorene's leaving. I shall
be alone, and 1 can't do for myself
now. Troubles always come together.
I'VE been set against Lorene's mar
rying from the first. She might wait
a while before she plunges; probably
she'd marry better If she did,
Mrs. Penfield appeared to be pom
dering the situation. IT thought you
felt that way, Mrs. Percy, but that's
slight trouble compared with your
sickness, amt itY'
eyes, of course, but"
"Pn just bet" exclaimed Mrs Pen
field with conviction, "that If you
could use both your arms and legs all
right, you'd feel that was the main
thing. What Lorene done would be
so small a point you wouldn't scurceIy
care which way it went, would you?'
Mrs. Percy opened her mouth
closed st again.
Mrs. Penfeld's brown eyes grew
wide in stare Of innocent surprise.
sWhy, land, you don't mean to tell
me-for goodness sakes, Mrs. Percy,
If your body was all right again,
wouldn't you be so thankful that
you'd be more'n willing Lorene should
leave you for a life of her own?"
A slight flush colored her hostess
heavy cheeks. ''Why, yes, of course"
she acknowledged stiff1y. II should
feel very different in that case"
Mrs. Penfield nodded condolingly.
Eyes, 1 guess you would. Health's