The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-08-16
JARED,
THE HARD
BOILED
GO by D. ] walshl

&c by D. walshl
TARED MEADOWS lowered beside
his wife's he'd. scorn writ large ia
his attitude and on his handsome.
- rudy face. His eyes OF that
bright unclouded blue that denotes
nature not given TO stiffness. 10 senri-
mental concern for the woes Of this
world dwell briefly on his wife's re-
rumhent figure and then turned in
diSraste. away.
Phyllis Meadows, her small, delicate
face turned toward the window. lay
and regarded with unSeeing eyes the
country without Her lips tremhled
and flush crept up and burned into
mnmenrary rose her thin. pale cheek
Calmly resonantly. Jared voiced his
sentiments.
doctors are grafters. Keep peo-
pie in bed and cOddle 'em up 70 get
their money. You've got 10 use your
will power: make up your mind you're
all right and you'll BE all right No.
don't hold with doctors. Why. never
had p doctor PAWN over me in all
MY Iifer'
Phyllis made no comment; contin-
ned To stare irertly out upon the land
scape. Jared expected her. the first
Day ar home from the hospital after
IN emergency appendicitis operation.
to plunge into housekeeping. TO gel his
meals. wash the dishes. churn. bake.
feed the chickens. yes, and probably
noe the turnips. she reflected bitterly
And you couldn't make big. strong
Jared understand. You couldn't
Healthy. strong. candid. sensible" he
was simply unable TO comprehend
frailty. And she didn't want him tot
His strength she adored. His intoler
ance OF weakness seemed to her god
ike. Attentively she listened as he
went on.
81 sure never thought you would
ever be the kind of woman TO lie
around and compel busy man TO wait
On you"
"TU-Tll try to get up and get some
thing for your dinner" she murmured.
and wnked her eyelids 10 dispell the
black dots from before her frightened
eyes. Why. she couldn't. She couldn't.
Yesterday q nurse had taken care Of
her. Today she had 10 take care of
Jared. And they had told her il would
ne two months before she would he
strong enough TO take up her work al
the point where she had laid il down.
But she turned and smiled up at her
blue-eyed Jared.
~Thars my girl" Jared rewarded
and she ell his lips upon her cheek.
his hand firm upon her shoulder. I've
got hUsheI of things 10 do today.
Can't work on an empty stomach. you
know. told Tina Burwell she'd NOT
need 10 hang around here any more.
] told her you were no Stacker. paid
her off and said she could skedaddle.
| tell you the doctors do just like |
said. coddle you up, keep you in bed.
Why. how'd they make living if folks
wouldn't stay sick while for EN-?
You're all right Phyllis You're all
right. Utter nonsense this business of
bein' sick is Well. III he getting 10
work. Good 70 have you home. old
girl. Jehosophatl | missed you some
thing awful" Again Phyllis thrilled
at the touch of his lips.
'Oh. will try to do as he wants
me To. he is so dear-big. old strong
Jared" she whispered as she felt the
little farmhouse shake at his march
through it.
The hours sped by. She dozed a few
minutes now and again, but always
was the dread upon her of the mo-
ment. eleven O'Clock. when she must
get up and begin preparation for
Jared's dinner. Anu he could not do
with Just a lunch. Dear me. Fancy
Jared :,eadows coming ID TO cereal
and milk and fruit and store cookies
On. he would despise her, never have
any love for her again if she failed
him. All. but hadn't the hospital been
a heavenly place. All day she could
lie still. ali day and all day. resting.
getting well, eating, drinking. think
ing. dreaming. building up strength.
Al the hospital everybody had smiled
al her. nurses had brought her things
brushed Ter hair. the doctors had been
sympatheticaily interesting, kind, un-
Outstanding. And she had been home
sick. How could she have been, she
asked. longing for the peace of the
place. Well. she had been hOmesick
for Jared. for this hale blue-eyed
young giant who was her husband.
Never once had she failed TO cry when
the sisters sang vespers and she knew
night was coming down and she was
alone in the big white-peopled place.
far. far from Jared. In her mind now
as she lay she dwell upon his strength.
Perhaps if she thought of his health
and vigor il would help her 10 gain
them for herself She must have some
will power as he suggested. IF you
think you're all right you are all
right" he had said. Perhaps that was
perfectly true. Perhaps she was only
thinking she was unable TO work.
Doctors are utter nonsense" he had
said
The kitchen clock struck eleven.