The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-08-16

Utter nausea overcame her, She iet in
flop down again. forced IL up again
Painting. she summoned her will To aid
her. Her feet sought weakly the floor
All, she was standing. She held 10 q
chair, pur her hands out. clutched the
dresser. the sides of the doorway. AT
last she reached the dining-room. If
way she might get 10 the kitchen.
But no, she couldn't. without stopping
second 10 rest there on the chair by
the window. She sank weakly down,
closed her eyes. conscious of nothing
for moment save of relief that she
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
il be? IL founded a little like Jared
and yet il did not. She turned in the
chair. looked out the window at its
back. Was that Jared? Was il? Oh.
surely not And yet
She got NJ. opened the door, hold
ing TO the knob and locker incredul-
ously oct.
''Oh, Jared, dearw she cried. finally.
and bent her gaze on the creature,
half-sitting, half-lying, on the small
porch. For a second she thought she
must he delirious. That thing dishev-
eled. smeared with mud from which
straw Ohtruded. 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 al him from the door
way anguish darkened his eyes. con-
torted his dirt-hegrimed face. twist.
ed his pa,Iid lips. caused his jaw, his
chin 70 CULVER.
IL stumbled, he hoarsely whis-
pered. "Over "a pig. KILLED the
pig. h-h-roke my leg"
"Jared. Jared" she cried. 'my
dear"
His fps moved again and she
stopped 10 hear.
81 crawled 10 the car TO crank
il and GET 10 town and | broke my
my arm. ''G-get the Guctor!" a fright
full grooming. 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. fOrgOI appen-
dicitis operations. weakness. She flew
to the telephone. She summoned a
doctor. Two doctors. She called
Jared's mother from town. She turned
down Jared's bed. put water on &c
heat. All this for Jared. her hard.
glorious Jared. like a woman demon
possessed. she did.
In half an hour the two doctors had
arrived md 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 spIints
aud multitudinous white bandages. lay
inert and cOlorleSs. In another half
hour the bl Ie of Jared Meadows eyes
was visible to his wife as she leaned
over him. flushed and intent His lips
opened and she heard:
Il 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"
"No-no. Don't hurry me, doc"
He lay silent for a moment. And then
Phyllis. bending close. heard: And
keep Phyllis 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.
"Tll-Pll get up. Fll-Fn 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.