SERVICE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16741, 23 December 1914, Page 10

SERVICE.

(By HAROLD TITUS.) And Booth HarJowe had come to ibis! Jane Lee stood in the room that ■served as his office and stared about her, scarce believing. Booth Harlowe, lie best man in his class, the young niern on whom all those big New York •urgeons laid looked with a personal interest, had buried himself in this .ness! Why, it was not a possibility! The nan who headquartered in that hole could not be the man she had known! The cluttered room shocked the onng woman physician, fresh from her glittering laboratory with its immaculate up-to-dateness. The first thought which Hashed through her profcssioiui,y trained mind was that she saw a brilliant career going to waste out here .n Hickory Hill, Arkansas; but, striking closer the warmth of her heart, she anew with cruel abruptness, that those .lalf dreams of the future they had iketched together back there in the city during the last years of their preparation had been without foundation; or, ounded, had suffe.od the preps to be knocked from under. It caino back to her thou, that scone in the Grand Central. He had hold her hand tightly at parting, and said: • Wo’ll both find our fields; then I’ll make love to you.” He had said it frankly, simply, as hough talking of instruments lie was .0 buy, but she knew that it was a wonlerful impulse which prompted the decla ration. Demonstrativeness had been cloaked by his enthusiasm for his eience. Nevertheless it was there, and lane Lee understood—and thrilled. She waited for the first, year to pass, planning on his promised trip East liter the months out there in the West, where he had tried general practice. It had been a long year in seme ways. His letters'were infrequent and iier work in the institute confining, rigid, giving her little time for other houghts. And these conditions made ier disappointment, move keen when he lid not come, saying that it vmuld be ••earcely human to leave Hickory Hill then. Now, though, she had vine to fulfil her part of the compact—ror they had sworn alternate visits during those years of finding themselves; and as she looked about and sensed ibe change that must have taken place in him she .vondured, in that cold way of hers it it had not all been foolvu ter,timer ;ality. Her pride had been touch moreaver. He had not met her at • lie rain. In his place came a tall, I fr.vy?yed, sallow woman who dm-c-ed her to the house. She had reform'd to Harlowe as " Doe,” with a loose fainiiarity that stung Jane’s profe-s-onal dignity. She could not Way in the stuffy room she had been shown, so she wandered upstairs where Booth had offices and a sleeping place. And here the shoe!; bad struck her slap in the face. He had told her little if his work here in these swamp lands she had been utterly unprepared for the squalor of the country through which hor train rocked; less so for the appearance of the sordid little town,

nd now the look of this office completely crushed her: for offices are siglifieant of character.

Clothing hung from nails and chairbacks. Her picture was on bis desk in a clutter of dusty papers. _ His op-erating-table was piled high with pamphlets. Those last six or eight ’lumbers of a medical review had not icon touched. Why, it was Then she heard his step on the stair nd his voice calling to her. She met lira in the doorway, both hands oxtendd.

“Why, Booth!” she cried, stopping bort, a catch in her voice where she -ad meant to open with rebuke. Ho had both her hands in hi 3 and as muttering under his breath the fulness her coming brought. "But, Booth!” she went on You’re—why, you’re so thiu !” Me released the hands and squared s shoulders, smiling down on her. “ Maybe I’m down a little,” he ad-it-,ted,' " but hard as nails I 111 look 'ttor shaved. " Awfully sorry, Jane, I had to misß acting you,” ho went on, pulling off ae mud-spattered overcoat. “ Frnoired arm. Boy fell off a horse _ yesrdav afternoon and mother afraid to ay alone while father rode to teleacino! Gad, I could have choked ’em I or kid, awful mess.” “But, Booth ” He looked at her, sobering, and took ■r hands again. “ Why . yes; I suppose I do look ■ugh, But I’m working. Jane, workgl” Some of the old fire in those words, gladness in his toil that comforted r—and vet it chilled, shattering the mnants 'of those dreams. This was s life, and yet he was happy in i When lie had shaved and returned no gave him a wondering look and ept'a hand in gesturo about the !CQ.

“ I know,” lie said with an asliamod tie laugh, scratching his head. “It dts fierce, but somehow I never have no to clean up." The girl walked absently to the table kI picked up cne of the pamphlets. “Department of Agriculture—bultin - drainage,” she murmured, hen another, and read > “ Cesspools >r the Farm,” and so on, a cfozeii '■ more, her amazement mounting. “ But this stuff#” she said with ■•inkled brow. “ All this—what’s it do with medicine, Booth?”

He gave the short little laugh again. “I know. Funny, isn’t it? Our leas of values all go to pot and new “nudirds pop up. We start out to do ne thin" and wind up doing another, !1 for tne same end. You see ”

From below, the woman’s voioe: “Oh, Doc; somebody here.” And when he had gone down Jane heard a youthful voice crackle: “Maw’s awful sick; reckon you’d better hustle.”

He was gone, telling her to rest, for the drive would bo an ordeal. She was glad of the chance. All the enthusiastic hope she had summoned on hearing his voice had departed, and now she was sure that her trip had been inane Furthermore, it hurt her. Booth Harlowe—and this! Was the man mad?

And that first afternoon was merely a sample of what her days in Hickory Hill were to be. Rain continued; roads be described with profanity. Jane did not offer to go with him. for be it known that the girl, having been trained one-sidedly, was a bit of a professional snob. The community, liis office, the class of work were all foreign to her; and, she frankly felt, beneath her. Perhaps Harlowo sensed this; anyhow, he pressed upon her no invitations to ride with him on his'far-soat-terod visits.

They talked nights, while he sat with a hand shading his tired eyes, and Jane Leo tried to bring him back co the man that was with tales of the institute, of the inspiration thnt came from tho great minds there; tried to spur him back to the fiery vigour of the old clays, to his consuming ambition to conquer, to do the things ne then considered worthy; to strike the high road which was to lead him to that greatness which created an aura about those men for whom she laboured.

“ I know,” he said appreciatively. “ I know. But doesn’t it ever get tiresome, just the detail, Jane? Just being an assistant? Statistics and section' work?”

She fo't quickly resentful. “ Perhaps,” she admitted a ait icily; ‘‘but if this is general practice, give me the routine!’ He dropped the shading hand and looked at, her from out Ins thin face. “It struck me that way the first month,” he said softly, ‘‘ And then I commenced to see need, with a big N, I. began to rend up in those bulletins. I got busy in politics. I ” “But building cesspools and mixing in politics isn’t medicine.” alio shot back. He was silent a. moment Then : “ 1 know; I understand I couldn't appreciate it myself. But—God, Jane, it’s pitiable 1” Ho sat forward in the low chair. “ From tboir State constitution to the stuff they eat they’re forty years behind! The average school year is less than a hundred days; illiteracy is the rule, not the exception, in this community. It’s awful! It means work!” ’ “ But you fitted yourself for •” “ I know.” he said, waving a hand. “For service. And I’m giving it I Something in his tone broke through her disappointment in him “ Aren’t you working yourself r o death ?” “Maybe,” he said “I should have help.” He looked at her meaningly and sho dropped her eyes, not wanting to hurt him with the resentment there. “I can’t read enough,” 10 went on. “ I ought to have somebody helping xne. I can hammer into them if- T can only soak it up myself—all this!” He indicated the stack of bulletins So be went on, warming to his subject, getting up and walking about. “And this, you see, is the work I started out- to find,” he concluded, stopping before her, “ I’ve found it; I want you to find yours, .Jane. No no! Don’t think I underestimate the institute. I know—but 1 think I’m doing more here than I could in a laboratory. My shoulders against the wheel, you see. I want you to look around and see what I mean—because it’s my,work—and ” Sho "averted hoi- eyes again, for 'he knew what was in his inmd: she told herself that it never, never could bo. He had abandoned all that ho had been, the man she had loved. He nad cast his lot away from her. The rains hold on and her _ stay dragged. Sho fretted, lost patience. Why. it was degrading, without a redeeming feature. And Harlowe saw. A doglike resignation came into his faco. She was disappointed in him for this,, consequently ho must admit disappointment •fn her. He tried to make her understand, but gave it up finally and turned the talk"on other things, hiding the pain in his eyes. Oh, she could not see it —yeti

The day of her departure dawned, as lmd the others, driazlv and gray. He was knocking on her door before light filtered through the curtains. “ I’ve got to make a long drive,” he said. ‘‘Won’t you come with me—this enceP I can make it back in time for vour train.” As she coiled her heavy hair and stared at her own girlish face in the mirror she saw the mouth soften. His voice bad been wistful, lonely, tired. The drive through those hills was unlike anything the girl had ever experienced before. Mud. mud, mud 1 llaui

id dripping trees and ruts and rocks: '.■isting and turning, climbing up and ipping down. Past 6qualor and filth. He talked much to her as they went, >ut she heard only parts of what he nid. Sho had tried to divorce her mnormost feelings from the matter, but the pathos of soeing a man of bis potentials plunged into suoh an existence would not down. And no more was his mind fully cn his own words. A dull ache caught nt Ills throat: he wanted to crush Her to him and make her understand, but ho know oho girl too well. She must have knowledge come from within; not bo impressed by an exterior force. And ho despaired. Their destination: A house of rough 'timber divided into two rooms. TTie loorytU'd a mire, in which a sow uid her complaining brood wallowed; a • backing dog a cow loose and licking tt a window, chickens inside ana U The bov had typhoid, no mistaking it, and fretted on filthy quilts there in iho corner. And across the room, in j a tumble of damp blankets, wailed a mby that had yot to see its first six nonths, face a. mass of yellow fever ■listers. The mother coughed as she htted about, that, ominous morning ■augh. An o'd, snuff-using woman sat iv the red stove and shivered, drawin her unclad feot- under hor tattered •’iirt and looking at Jane with wit'ss, bleat- eyes. A man with a messy ward rr.i-cd a ba.ro foot close to tooth's face. “Look, Doc,’’ ho whined, "I done top on a glass !’ 7 “All rkht,” Booth answered eb..,ntly. “ Wash it out—hot water and ;oap Then I’ll fix it up.” Ho went quickly from one to another, questioning grimly, contradicting sharply, getting at truth, eyes alert, hanging on every word; administering unhesitatingly. Then he went outsido liimsolf -and brought in a wash-tub. Jano listened as he ordered tho younger woman about, commanding her to wash bedding, and wash it clean. The girl saw how the woman’s eyes followed the doctor. how she listened, trying to comprehend, trying to respect: saw how simply he went down to that buriep part 'of her where drowsod emulation and desire, saw him touch upon it deftly, saw the response and the triumphant look of nini when it came. After he had bandaged the man’s foot he said: “Now, Jack, come with She saw him take shovel and start through the mire, heedless of. wet feet, watched him throw out a little mud, point and explain as to a child, quick, enthusiastic, inspiring; and when tliey came back she hoard him saying: “ Ditch it straight to the hollow and drain tho whole thing. And do it now 1 You hear meP” “Yuan, Doc; I’ll do tt to-day; honest, I will.” “Good!” His hand fell on the slacked shoulder and he smiled in a brotherly way. The: 1 - to tho woman: “"Where do you sleep?” She hung her head. “ I thought so,” he muttered sorrowfully, and make her look up at him. “I’m coming back, to-morrow, and I want to see a bed rigged up in that waggon shed. I want you to sleep thera every night—every night. Understand?” “I’ll do it. Doc: I’ll do it, I will I” “That’s tho stuff!” he' cried. “ We’ll get you stronger if you’ll only help us by doing what you’re told!” And to the fevered boy: “ You’re not half so sick as you think you are. A big. strapping fellow like you isn’t going to let a little fever whip him 1 I guess not J You’re not that sort of a coward. You’ll get well. Hear me? You’ll get well!” The young fellow made a sign of recognition. And bewildered Jano Lee.. watched Booth go on; heard him ovoke promises to house the chickens and pen the pigs, to cleanee the house, to boil the water. He dominated. His thin frame was a vast presence in that sordid room; the glow in his eyes a flaming torch that lighted the way for them. She saw hope oome to their faces, and will; saw those awakened responses grow, saw those human beings stir in the quicksands that would claim them. Her heart began to pump quickly. Back in the institute men had inspired her—but this was different! There was clang and clank and rumble of tho Crusades; here it was chivalry—the light, going out to battle darkness! “ Now, Jack. I know what ailed your cotton,” be was saying as they passed out to the carriage. “I m going to read yon. something about it to-morrow, and you've got to remember it and toll it to me the next time I. come after that so I’ll know you’ve been thinking about it. Bigger crop next year. Got to be. Taxes ’ll be higher. We’ll have that new schoolhouse in the spring 1” “We shore will, Doc.” “ Six months ago he wanted to shoot me because I agitated for a new schoolhouse,” he told Jane, and stared grimly up the road as tho horses mounted the first rise. “Are they all—like this?” Jane asked after a m’-le. “Not all,” he said. “Mostly worse. They've never had help, you see. No one here thinks they need it; no one stops to think that Jack, there, is a fattier and tha-t consumptive a mother; that tho baby will be a voter, if he lives; that the boy with typhoid is almost ready for marriage and can t read a word more than his father can; that the old woman is only an example of what they will be if things dori t change.” He throw his shoulders - back. “God, but it’s a work!” he muttered. “You see, now, Jane, why I can’t keep my office shipshape. I know—” he hesitated— “I know just how it looks to you; pretty rotten, as though I was slack and careless and shiftless like the rest of ’em. And maybe I am. I don’t know. I try to help, try to get to the bottom of things, but I’m so busy chopping off obvious ills that I don’t get time to go after the roots.” He drew out his watch. “HikeI 5 ' to the horses. “ We’ll miss Jane’s train.” Then no more words for a long, long time. Something choked. Booth; ho sensed her contempt "for his work. He know how she felt—fresh from that orderly, theory-permeated labor atorv. Her mind, like that apparatus. haA become a chill, glitteriiig thing, had drawn away from life in its search for it. He pictured her boarding that train and— Her fingers squeezed his arm. “Booth.” she whispered.. “Never mind the train. Let’s miss it—and I hope I can ,keep vour office clean. I don’t know muoh, can’t do much, but I can read—and help—and maybe—“Oh, Booth, don’t! I can’t get my breath 1 There ” —contentedly— . “ that’s better. .1 want to stay with you and work with you. hoc;wise it’s real and b’-g and —” But his lips stole tho spoken reasons from his ears.