Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1924-04-17
CHAPTER Xxx
Search Of the L.nouId Eyes.


All through the long and terrible
day following that tragic night. the an
gels of life and death waged their grim
struggle In the parior bedroom, where
the hapless sufferer writhed In the de
iirium that followed the shock Of her
wound.
Toward evening Aunt Eliza. believ.
ing with the others that the end was
near. beckoned the woodsman to the
bedside.
II fairly staggered him 20 see the
frightful change the hours had
wrought. Under nm impulse Of pity
that he could not resist he bent over
the bed. caught up her hands and spoke
her name. She instantly grew more
quiet and turned her face toward his
voice.
The doctor was quick TO notice this,
and nj his direction Jack dropped on
his knees by the bedside and began
talking 10 her. softly siroklng her
hands and wrists and face the while
and as he talked she grew calmer.
Hour after hour the man knelt and
crooned the story Of their playmate
days. while the doctor piled his utmost
art and the women iavished their care,
Late that night she seemed to quiet
away into a light sleep. A smile strug
gled out upon the doctors grim feat
ures and he went out into the yard for
moment Of relaxation. The woods
man laid the girls hands down upon
the covers. rose 10 his feet. stumbled
out 20 the kitchen and dropped down
on chair by the cook stove.
Barely minute after, Aunt Liza,
slaepless and faithful. tapped him on
the shoulder,
"She's frettin ag'ln."
He sprang up and hurried TO the
slck.room. But before he reached the
bedside her tossing had ceased and she
lay hack against the pillow still and
white. lie caught up her hands; they
were 30 cold II startled him.
At that moment the doctor came
back In. The instant he entered the
room the unusual stillness--or the In. |
stinct OF his profession have
warned him that something was amlss.
for he hurried to the bedside and bent
keen look upon the patient.
"tIcr hans are like Ice" the woods.
man faltered.
"She's sinking fast" was the doctors
answer. as he made ready powerful
stimulant. rub her hands and wrists
aud temples--ruh toward the heart
and try to call her back with some |
more OF that Black rock and Whisper.
hg spring talk. And be quick with
those hot cloths, you women. II we
can only keep breath In her for the
next hour"
The woodsman, tolllng with gray and
craven face, was the firs, to notice the |
clammlness leaving her hands and a |
faint tinge " color beginning 10 drive |
the chill out OF her fingers, The doc. |
tor bent low over her, noted the respi. |
ration, took her pulse again.
shes got chance" he muttered
Keep ON with that talk, warhcpe,
and rub her wrists and temples--and
come on with more hot clsths, the res,
OF you"
Nearly an hour had gone when the
girls lids fluttered apart and the bril-
liant eyes strayed open-weak. hag,
gard. hut no longer wild and vacan,
with delirium.
Slowly the eyes Travelled over the
room. u languid questioning In them
searched the faces about her; dwelt
at last upon the face Of the woods
man.
"Jack"-it was only a whisper, fut
tering out upon the labored breath
but n was the sweetest sound his ears
had ever heard--"he didn't XIII y'u--s
He dropped on one knee by the bed
side. but dared not trust his voice with
q word.
ck-what--what-r
you've ben sick-bad--an we're
all tryin' Z coax y'u back well. When
yu GIT strong. wen have long talk
you and me--but now. won't y'u fist
try e 20 Z sleepy Won't yur
"Yes,' she whispered. like a trust
Ing child--"I'm so-tired-"
One hand stole across the covers
and hunted his; the long lashes
dropped over the languid eyes and she
slipped away 10 sleep. The others tin
toed from the room.
.what she needs above everything"
rauttered the doctor. softly closing the
door--slecp--lt win do her more good
right row than oil the medicine In the
world
And there Jack crouched-himsslf
bruised and worn-afrnid to move
with her hands In HIS lest she start
awake and % lose one moment Of the
rsst just then precious beyond calcals-