The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-09-05
By KATHLEEN NORRIS
Copyrishs BY Kathleen Norris

the way back. for Ellen could not
twist her sore shoulder Into her dress.
and came downstairs In her wrapper.
Her aunt and the captain prophe-
sled that II would get better immedi-
ately, and day or two went by. Ellen
lay patiently through the long day
time hours. and wept with pain in the
night.
Mrs. Baldwin persisted that II was
either cold In the shoulder. OF a
"wranch," or "the stiffneck" But she
sent Joe for the doctor after break
fast, and Ellen felt better when she
knew Joe had gone. Her aunt aired
the dining room, anticipating the call,
and had everything in order long be-
fore nine. But it was almost noon
when the busy doctor came In.
That was the beginning. Ellen, who
had never been In doctors hands be-
fore, smiled up at him uncomfortably
as his skilled fingers pressed and ex-
plored. She made rueful face when
she heard her fate. She must lie alb
soutely still for an unspecified num-
Der of days, perhaps. a week. Mrs.
Bradley afterward told some inti-
mates that she mistrusted Ellen was
In for bad spell when Doctor Older,
who was fresh from the city hospital
himself, said that he was going to see
an old doctor In the city who was a
spine authority In a day or two and
discuss Ellen's case with him.
are almost always wretched for the
patient. Ellen was suffering acutely,
she was mystified and shocked, and
she was heartsick at the hideous pos
sibiIity she suspected under the young
doctors frankly troubled manner. Joe
came In to see her for few minutes
twice day, her grandfather once. her
aunt kept the room clean. and brought
her trays she could hardly touch
Fevered. restless, dazed with lack of
sleep and with the effect of the medi-
cine that controlled the worst of the
pain, she would stare at I'm duly.
Gradually she reached the second
stage, and. If hope died within her
then. as to the future, at least she
as a whole, for her soul shrank from
the horror of the thought that she
might never walk free and young
through the garden. and into Main
street again.
A few days before Christmas the
New York specialist came down, and
was friendly and informal to a de
gree that enchanted Aunt Elsie He
could say little more than Doctor
Older. Miss Latimer had done some
thing mysteriously harmful TO one of
the delicate vertebrae at the very base
Of the brain. 1t was an unusual case
The girl quivered into the invaiid's
Invariable question.
"Doctor-do you think-can you
give us any idea-it can be cured.
can't it7'
Almost anything can be cured
Doctor Older tells me that you want
to be an artist" said the specialist for
answer. Nov, there's nothing to pre-
vent you from going right on with your
1on't bother your head about your |
back You're not having so much |
pain, now"
Not unless move" Ellen faltered, |
ceiling the tears of bitter disappoint-
nent press behind her eyes.
Doctor Older Immediately began to
liscuss sort of harness he was hav-
ng made for the neck, and when the
ity man had highly approved this ex-
'eriment, the two went away. Only |
ellen knew the bitter desolation they
eft behind them; and the long hours
n the night she lay sobbing over what
n her dark hour she thought the
cath of hope.
The harness gave her blessed relief,
Though its ugly BROWNIES. pressing
p against her white face, was hurt
0 her girlish pride. And on Christ
has day, with Joe's help, the doctor
loved her down to the dining room,
here a wide couch had been placed
Or her.
After that she came downstairs
very day, and Aunt Elsie and Joe
elped her tenderly upstairs every
light. And there were hours, whole
avs sometimes between the moods of
svOlt and resentment. when she
'und new, odd flavor of joy In her
fe.
Almost every hour something took
sr thoughts to Gibbs Josselyn and
e adventurous day chat had been
sr last day free from pain. At first
had seemed that he must know. ]
at he had right to know, what the
,cident had cost her. She longed-
/. how she longed. for his splendid
ncern and sympathy. There were
hole hours when she lay and
of it, his shock. his horror, q
s visits, and his flowers.
Sometimes the wording of the letter G
e knew she would not write fitted }
rough her mind. Dear Mr.. JOS b
lyn- l know you will be sorry I
netting that seems to puzzle the u
ctors-the pleasant land of counter