The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-07-11


fly, want to look pretty and have a
good time. But here -
She let her gaze stray to the win
dow to rest upon the drifts of snow
piled up about the little house. A
year before she had left her luxuri-
GUS home in the East to come here
as the bride of Billy Marks, mu-
nicipal doctor.
1.-TWO years more before we leave
here and Billy seeks a practice OF
his own" Edith unused. "Pll go crazy
before then. If it hadn't been for
Anna I'd have gone crazy before this"
Anna was an old woman, who, with
her son, was their nearest neighbor.
Edith remembered her first letter
home following her arrival at the vii
lage. "Well, here we are, Liz" she
had written to her sister, "a million
miles from nowhere after wonder
full honeymoon at Banff and other
points west. And there's not even a
railway here. We had to drive down
from Cardurcis, twenty miles away.
And will be here for three years But
I'll never get lonesome so long as l
have Billy"
But she had-so lonely at times she
wept from longing. And there were
no social events such as she had been
accustomed to, which formerly had
: been the sole matter of her existence.
Suddenly as she stood there musing,
the door was thrown open and Billy
entered, stamping the snow from his
overshoes and shaking it from his fur
coat.
"Lo, Honey" he greeted her,
SLOWS tricks"
"Fine," Edith lied. MANY patients
today?"
The stork and had busy day at
Wilson's-twins. Two fine boys" Bill
ly informed her as she placed his sup
per before him.
"Well, Edie, here it's winter again"
he resumed after a pause. Il think
We'll go skating this winter. Good
exercise and lots of fun. And I'm
going to buy toboggan. There are
some fine hills around here for sport
like that, and We'll have whale of
time. What did we do most of last
winter?"
ooh, played the gramophone and
listened to the RADIO" Edith volun-
teered.
And l listened to you sing" Billy
added. $50 l guess | had the worst Of
it. Why, dear, what's the
matter? Why the tears?"
Edith tried to stem her tears. She
wanted to be brave. But they came
in spite of her. Billy's words had
brought the memory of her loneliness
erWhelmingly upon her.
ooh, Billy" she sobbed, wiping her
cheeks, cant We 90 to Cardurcis for
the winter? It's $3.50 lonely here
when we're shut in by the snow"
Billys arms were about her, COM
forting her, his brow puckered
thoughtfuly. This was the first in
timation Edith had given him that she
was not altogether happy.
"Why, DEAR" he explained, 81 didn't
know you felt like that about it. But
/ can't go to Cardurcis for the win
ter I'd be too far away from my
patients. But you can spend the win
ter there if you like"
1T would be no better there with
out yOu," Edith objected. But what
a baby | am to be so silly"
"We'll talk it over" Billy stated
gravely. well find some way out.
And by the way, I'm going to Car
durcis tomorrow. Wouldn't you like
to Gomez"
I'D love to-" Edith responded, at
tempting a smile.
So in the morning Edith and Billy
prepared for their trip to Cardurcis,
Edith's spirits had risen at the con-
templated journey, and they talked
and laughed like two happy children
as they drove off in Billys cutter.
But in Cardurcis, at the sight of the
people there and the things that were
denied her, Edith's longings seized
her anew. But she said nothing of
it to Billy.
1t was dark when they arrived home
that night, but light was burning
in the house, which was strange
They were met at the door by An
mas son.
Mother broke her leg. She slipped
on some Ice" he informed Billy in
his broken English. You've got to
como ovnr RIGHT awovo
Edith's face paled and she gave a
little cry.
Anna! My best friendr she ex-
claimed. "Oh, poor soul! Billy, I'm
going with you"
fhey found the old woman lying
on her bed. Edith's heart was torn
at the sight of her suffering.
"Oh, Billy, Billy, do something,
quick" she pleaded. "Oh, Anna, my
poor dear. :"
Billy, quietly professional now, paid
no heed to her hysterical peadings
as he busted himself over the injured
woman. And Edith, grown silent.
Obeyed almost mechanically his terse
commands as he enlisted her assist
ance in alternating the pain of the
suffering woman. 1t was the first
time she had seen Billy in the course
of his professional work and while
her heart was suffering with her
friend she watched in fascination his
deft, sure fingers in their mission of
CT.