The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-08-16

need not move her feet, maintain an
upright position. Perhaps, even, she
slept.
What was that noise? Some one
calling? Some one pounding none too
vigorously on the porch. Who could
it be? 1t counded little like Jared
and yet it did not. She turned in the
chair, looked out the window at its
back. Was that Jared? Was it? Oh,
surely not! And yet
She got uI, opened the door, hold
ing to the knob and looked incredul-
ously out.
"Oh, Jared, dearw she cried, finally,
and bent her gaze on the creature,
half-sitting, half-lying, on the small
porch. For second she thought she
must be delirious. That thing, dishev-
eled, smeared with mud from which
straw obtruded, its clothes nearly torn
to shreds, supinely clinging to the
porch, was never strong, sturdy Jared
Meadows, successful young farmer and
stockman, her mighty husband? AS
she looked down at him from the door
way anguish darkened his eyes, con-
torted his dirt-begrimed face, twist.
ed his pallid lips, caused his jaw, his
chin to culver.
FL stumbled" he hoarsely whis-
pered, "over IA pig. KILLED the
pig, b-b-roke my leg"
"Jared, Jared" she cried, "my
dear"
His Ups moved again and she
stopped to hear.
81 crawled to the car to crank
it and get to town and broke my
my arm. "G-get the doctor!" fright
full groaning. Get the DOCTOR" He
closed his eyes. went very white and
slumped down upon the porch floor
Phyllis Meadows proved herself
then. She did not think herself all
right and then become all right. She
simply forgot herself, forgot appen-
dicitis operations, weakness. She flew
to the telephone. She summoned
doctor. two doctors. Sht called
Jared's mother from town. She turned
down Jared's bed, put water on to
heat. All this for jared. her hard,
glorious Jared, like woman demon
possessed, she did.
In half an hour the two doctors had
arrived ind tall Mrs. Meadows with
her keen, clear blue eyes, like her
sons eyes-yesterday. In another
half hour Jared Meadows was in his
bed, the doctors busted with the bro
ken leg, with the broken arm. In anoth-
er half hour Jared Meadows, in splints
aud multitudinous white bandages, lay
inert and colorless. In another half
hour the bile of Jared Meadows eyes
was visible to his wife as she leaned
over him, flushed and intent. His lips
opened and she heard:
II fell awful-awful-"
you're all right. Meadows" inter-
posed one of the doctors, cheerfully.
you'll be fit as a fiddle again in six
weeks"
Mono. Don't hurry me, doc"
He lay silent for moment. And then
IPhyllis,l bending close. heard: "And
keep FhyIlis in bed. Take care OF
Phyllis. poor girl. Doc, take care Of
| Phyllis"
Phyllis Meadows took her turn at
fainting.
When she awoke she was on a cot
beside the big bed where Jared lay
stretched. Jared's blue eyes were re.
garding her.
"Pll-Tll get up. rll-rll have your
dinner ready"
She slipped her feet to the floor.
'Lie down.! came in terse com.
mand from her lord. "You take care
| Of yourself. The doctors know what
they're about"
Jared's eyes of that bright, uncloud-
ed blue that denotes a nature not
given to softness, to concern for the
woes of this world?. Phyllis knew
they would never seem so again.
Strength that has known weakness,
has felt pity, is strength, indeed.