Three Little Women's Success Part 10

"He's a pretty old man, and took big chances yesterday. If it were only the rheumatism I had to contend with, I should not feel the least concern for him. That is painful, I know, but not dangerous, as it has settled in his limbs; but I don't like this temperature and breathing.

Yet I dare say, if I use a stethoscope, he will think he is a dead man already. These colored people are difficult patients to handle, what with their ignorance and their emotional temperaments they are far worse than children, for we can compel children to do as we think best."

Mrs. Carruth smiled. "You do not know the ante-bellum negro," she said.

"Maybe I do not, but I know the post-bellum, I can tell you, and I've very little use for them."

"Do you wish to examine Charles?" she asked, quietly.

"If he had been a white man, I should have done so last night when I was first called to attend him; but I came near being mobbed the last time I tried to use a stethoscope on a negro patient. The family thought I was about to remove the woman's lungs, I believe."

"Charles, I wish Dr. Black to examine you very thoroughly while he is here-as thoroughly as if he were treating me. There is nothing to alarm you; but we cannot treat you understandingly unless he learns exactly where the greatest difficulty lies."

"Wha' he gwine do to me?" asked Charles, his eyes opening wide.

"Examine your lungs and heart to see if they are sound and strong."

"He gwine cut me wide open?" cried the old man.

Just then Mammy entered. It was well she did. "Luty, Luty, dat man gwine projec' wid me, honey; don' you let him."

For a moment Mammy seemed ready to take the defensive, and Dr. Black shrugged his shoulders in a manner which indicated: "I told you so."

Perhaps it was the shrug-Mammy wasn't slow to grasp a situation-but more likely it was the look in her Miss Jinny's eyes, for, turning to the doctor, she said, with the air of an African queen:

"Yo' is de perfessional 'tendant, an' I wishes yo' fer ter do what yo'

an' ma Miss Jinny knows fer ter be right wid de patient."

When Dr. Black left a few moments later, he said to Mrs. Carruth, who had followed him downstairs, while Mammy remained behind to alternately berate and calm Charles:

"If we can keep the fever down, the old fellow may escape with nothing worse than his rheumatic twinges-hard to bear, but not alarming; but I don't like the other symptoms. He was too old to take such chances. Can you let me hear from him about eight this evening?"

"Every hour if necessary. He is like one of our own family to us, and nothing we can do for him or Mammy can ever repay their devotion to us.

Would it not be better for you to call again?"

"I'd gladly do so, but I am likely to be summoned to a patient in Glendale at any moment, and with this storm--" And the doctor waved his hand toward the turmoil beyond the windows.

"I know it. I will 'phone if--" Then Mrs. Carruth paused in dismay.

"What if the wires were down?"

"My wire was all right when I left home less than an hour since, and you may not need me, after all. I hope you will not."

"Amen to that hope," said Mrs. Carruth, fervently, and, bidding the doctor good-bye, she returned to Charles.

As the day dragged on the storm increased in violence. Mammy would not hear of Mrs. Carruth returning to the house, but prepared a dainty tray for her and ordered her into the Bee-hive to partake of her luncheon, and afterward to lie down. Perhaps she would not have been so ready to comply with the old woman's wishes had she not resolved upon a course which she felt sure Mammy would combat with all her strength. This was to spend the night with Charles, whose condition did not improve. Toward evening Jean came battling out to the cottage, followed by Constance, greatly to Mammy's consternation.

"I 'clar's ter goodness, yo's all gone crazy!" she stormed as they came in from the Bee-hive. "Fo' de Lawd's sake, wha' brung you chillun out hyer? Ain' yo' Ma an' me got 'nough fer ter pester us wid dat sick man up dar widout any mo' tribberlations 'scendin' 'pon us? Go 'long back, I tells yo'; 'fo' we's driven cl'ar crazy."

"Hush, Mammy, dear," said Constance. "I want mother to go back to the house and let me take her place with Charles. I am so strong that it won't tire me, and you know I'm a good nurse, don't you?"

"And so am I, Mammy. You know I am," broke in Jean. "Please, please let me stay."

For a moment Mammy looked as though she were about to take a wild flight into the wilder weather outside, and her wits along with her; then she stamped her foot and said:

"Yo' chillern come an' talk wid yo' ma."

CHAPTER XI

IN THE VALLEY.

"No, dear. I shall not wear myself out," said Mrs. Carruth, gently, though firmly. "I want you to go back to the house to look after the maids and Jean--"

"Oh, I don't want to go back! Please, please let me sleep in the Bee-hive, mother. Please, please do," begged Jean, clasping her arms about her mother's waist. Constance interrupted:

"Yes, mother, do. I will go back if you are determined not to, for I dare say the maids would be panic-stricken if left alone; but Jean might just as well remain here with you," for into Constance's active brain had sprung an idea which she wished to carry out, and she knew she could count upon Jean's co-operation.

"But you and the maids would be quite alone in the house," demurred Mrs.

Carruth.

"And do you think Jean would be big and valiant enough to protect me from prowlers?" smiled Constance. "It would be a hard-pressed burglar who would venture forth this night, I'm thinking."

Just then a sound overhead caused Mrs. Carruth to raise her hand to enjoin silence, and Mammy was heard to say soothingly:

"Dar, dar, honey, jis' let me raise an' ease yo' up a leetle, so's yo'

hits de sof'est fedders in de baid," and quickly upon the softer, more soothing tones followed: "Yit what in de name o' man ever done teken yo'

out of dis house yistiddy's mo'n I can tell. Ef yo'd done taken heed ter ma' wo'ds yo' wouldn' never come ter dis hyer pa.s.s."

Then followed a series of groans from the patient.

"Mammy is getting worn out and consequently irritable," said Mrs.

Carruth. "Yes, you may remain, Jean, but Constance must go back, and I must go to Charles. If Mammy has much more to tax her strength and mind she will be ill, and she is in no mood to care for Charles now; she will do more harm than good. Good-night, darling. Don't worry about me I will 'phone over to the house if I need anything in the night." And Mrs.

Carruth hurried upstairs.

"Come into the Bee-hive, Jean," whispered Constance. The little girl followed.

"Now, dear," said Constance, earnestly, "you and I have got to take matters into our own hands. Can I trust you, Jean?" Constance dropped upon a chair, and placing both arms about the little sister looked straight into her eyes.

The look was returned as steadfastly, and the fine little head poised in a manner which would have delighted an artist's soul, as Jean asked:

"Don't you know you can, Connie?"

"Yes, I do! And here is the situation: Before we came over here I tried to 'phone over to mother, but even our wire is out of order. I dare say every wire is, and that the trouble is in the central office, owing to this storm. I did not tell mother because it would only alarm her, and she may not have occasion to use the 'phone at all; I earnestly hope she will not until it is repaired. I shall go home, but I shall not go to bed. You stay here in the Bee-hive, but don't undress, Jean; roll this warm rug around you and cuddle down on the couch. I know you will drop asleep, but I know you will not sleep so soundly that you will be lost to the world altogether. I shall be on the couch in the library and can see this window from there. If Charles grows worse, or you think mother is worn out and needs me, will you flash the electric light three times?

I shall know what it means and come straight over." Constance spoke very quietly, but very earnestly.

"I'll do it. I may go to sleep, but somehow I know I shall wake up if I am needed, Connie. Even if I am only fourteen years old I can be a little woman, as mother so often says I am."