The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-01-08
CHAPTER X-Continued
IL

LIllS, anu a uLLle laCeT tuey T6LuIHGU
indoors.
Doctor Breeding that night was
unable to sleep, but lay with his
eyes open, staring at the ceiling.
Dawn found him with burning
eyes. He went to swim, and found
in the water peace and content
ment for a while. But later, after
he had dressed again, the sultry
heat settled down once more, smoth-
ering and sitting him. He relieved
Mary AIMS vigil by Dams side,
and saw that Dan was better. In
lection must almost certainly have
set in before now, if it were to be
feared at all; and Mary Ann point
ed this out.
ellis temperatures normal" she
whispered. Dan was still asleep.
81 think the danger of complica-
tons is past"
Doctor Breeding nodded. 81 think
So" he agreed. cts only mat
ter of nursing now, of avoiding
complications"
"I'll see to that" she promised,
and left him. He recognized the
fact that his task was done, that
Dan would live.
But with this miracle accom-
plished, his life was left complete
ly empty now; and at the thought,
great WEAKNESS oppressed him. He
who all night hao been unable to
sleep, suddenly surrendered to deep
slumber. He went to the couch in
the billiard-room and lay down; and
when presently Nancy came and
found him there, she covered him
over tenderly. He slept till almost
noon, while the others moved quiet
ly so that he might not be dis
turbed.
And he woke to peace, a content
and ordered mind
Dan was fretful that afternoon.
The heat irked him, and returning
strength gave him sufficient ener-
gy to resent it. Nancy was dis
tressed by his mood, till Mary Ann
jubilantly treasured her.
cts the best possible sign," she
said. "When a sick man begins to
be sulky and bad-tempered, you
may know he's well on the road to
recovery"
So Nancy was amused. The early
afternoon she spent with Dan-Doc-
tor Breeding was in his room, and
she and Dan found themselves in
volved in one of those arguments
without either a beginning or an
end, which may arise between two
people who are close to one anoth-
er. He was flushed with something
like anger when Mary Ann returned
ano found them so, and Nancy said
laughingly:
MARY Ann, you stay with him for
while. He's unbearable! I'm 60
ing swimming" She spoke to Dan.
Don't you wish you could? 1t will
be so beautifully COOL"
Dan growled, halt angrily:
''That's right, make it tough for
me. Go on, get out of here!"
She kissed him on the forehead.
''I'm going!"
kiss me right" he demanded.
''Don't peck like that"
"You don't deserve it," she pro-
tested. "But-there. And she left
him with Mary Ann.
She swan, then lay on the wharf,
half-asleep. The afternoon was sti-
flingly hot; but to the northwest,
clouds were banking, and she heard
far roll of thunder, and thought
shower was near, and was CRATE
flu for the approach of this relief.
After while she saw her father
come down to the beach and go into
the water, and she called ironi-
cally: Beautifully cool, isn't it?"
"Great," he agreed He said:
81 believe there is a shower COM
ing!"
She nodded, and watched him
lszily, through half-closed eyes. He
swan slowly, strongly, out into the
lake. He often did this; often swan
from the island to the mainland
half a mile away. That he should
do so now was not remarkable; but
she called out to him: care you
going across?"
He did not answer, probably did
not hear her. She thought of join
ing him for the long swim, but was
too much at ease.
The clouds yonder came racing
toward them, a dark wall streaked
now and then by ightning's flame.
She watched these flashes, thrilling
to the beauty of them, waiting ar
IDENTIFY for the slashing of rain across
her body.
Doctor Breeding swan straight
away from shore, yet not with any
purpose in his mind save TO commit
himself to the embrace of the cool
water. Once or twice he paused.
floating on his back, utterly re-
Taxed, resting. The island, the
world, was far away. Floating thus,