The Sauk Centre herald., 1930-01-02

Jared Meadows lowered beside
his wife's bed, scorn writ large in
his attitude and on his handsome,
ruddy face. His eyes of that
j bright, unclouded blue that denotes
a nature given to softness, to sent
mental concern for the woes of
this world dwelt briefly on his
wife's recumbent figure and then
turned in distaste, away.
Phyllis Meadows, her small, deli
cate face turned toward the win
dow, lay and regarded with unsee-
ing eyes the country without. Her
lips trembled and a flush crept and
burned mementary rose her thin,
pale cheek.
Calmly, resontantly, Jared voiced
his sentiments:
Doctors are grafters. Keep peo-
pie in bed and coddIe 'em up to get
their money. You've got to use
your will power; make up your
mind you're all right and you'll be
all right. No, I don't hold with
doctors. Why, I never had doc
|
Phyllis made no comment; con-
tinued to stare inertly out upon the
! landscape. Jared expected her, the
first day at home from the hospital
after an emergency appendicitis
operation to plunge into housekeep-
ing, to get his meals, wash the
dishes, churn, bake, feed the chick
ems, yes, and probably hoe the tur-
nips, she reflected bitterly. And
you couldn't make big, strong Jar
ed understand. You couldn't. Heal,
thy, strong, candid, sensible" he
was simply unable to comprehend
frailty. And she didn't want hin,
to. His strength she adored. His
intolerance of weakness seemed te
her god-like. Attentively she lis
tened as he went on:
II sure never thought you woulo
ever be the kind of a woman to lie
around and compel a busy man te
wait on YOU"
"T'llEI'll try to get up and gel
something for your dinnear," sht
murmured, and winked her eye
lids to dispell the black dots from
before her frightened eyes. Why
she couldn't. She couldn't. Yester
day nurse had taken care, of her
Today she had to take care of Jar
ed. And they had told her il
would be two months before SHE
would be strong enough to tak'
up her work at the point where
she had laid it down. But sh'
turned and smiled up at her blue
eyed Jared.
That's my girl" Jared rewarded
and she felt his lips upon hel
cheek, his hand firm upon he
shoulder. "I've got a bushel O
things to do today. Can't work OF
an empty stomach, you know.
told Tina Bardwell she'd not neet
to hang around any more. I tolt
her you were no Stacker. I pait
her off and said she could skedad
die. I tell you the doctors do jus
like I said, coddle you up, keel
you in bed. Why, how'd they max
a living if folks wouldn't sta,
sick while for 'em? You're al
right Phyllis. You're alright. Ut
ter nonsense this business of beir
sick is. Well, I'll be getting t
work. Good to have you home, oil
girl. Jehosophat! I missed yo1
something awful" Again Phyli
thrilled at the touch of his lips.
"Oh, I'll try to do as he want
me to. He is so dear-big, oil
strong Jared" she whispered a
she felt the little farm house shak
at his march through it.
The hours sped by. She dozed
few minutes now and again, bu
always was the dread upon her Q
the moment, HOO o'clock, when sh
must get up and begin preparation
for Jared's dinner. And he coul
not do with just a lunch. Dear M
Fancy Jared Meadows coming i
to cereal and milk and fruit an
store cookies! Oh, he would de
spise her, never have any love 70
her again If she failed him. AL
but hadn't the hospital been
heavenly place. All day she coul
!: lie still, and all day, and all da
resting getting well, eating, drink
ling, thinking, dreaming, buildin