Together they left the room and entered Kate's door. As soon as
the doctor was busy with her, George slipped back into the closed
room, rolled Peter on his back and covered him, in the hope that
the blood would settle until it would efface the marks of his work
before the Coroner arrived. By that time the doctor was too busy
to care much what happened to Peter Mines; he was a poor old soul
better off as he was. Across Kate's unconscious body he said to
George Holt: "I'm going to let the Coroner make what he pleases
out of this, solely for your wife's sake. But two things: take
down that shingle. Take it down now, and never put it up again if
you want me to keep still. I'll give you what you paid for that
table. It's a good one. Get him out as soon as you can. Set him
in another room. I've got to have Mrs. Holt where I can work.
And send Sarah Nepple here to help me. Move fast! This is going
to be a close call. And the other thing: I've heard you put in
an application for our school this winter. Withdraw it! Now
move!"
So they set Peter in the living room, cleaned Kate's room quickly,
and moved in her bed. By the time the Coroner arrived, the doctor
was too busy to care what happened. On oath he said a few words
that he hoped would make life easier for Kate, and at the same
time pass muster for truth; told the Coroner what witnesses to
call; and gave an opinion as to Peter's condition. He also added
that he was sure Peter's family would be very glad he was to
suffer no more, and then he went back to Kate who was suffering
entirely too much for safety. Then began a long vigil that ended
at midnight with Kate barely alive and Sarah Nepple, the Walden
mid-wife, trying to divide a scanty wardrobe between a pair of
lusty twins.
Gene Stratton-Porter A New Idea Kate slowly came back to consciousness. She was conscious of her
body, sore from head to foot, with plenty of pain in definite
spots. Her first clear thought was that she was such a big woman;
it seemed to her that she filled the room, when she was one
bruised ache from head to heels. Then she became conscious of a
moving bundle on the bed beside her, and laid her hand on it to
reassure herself. The size and shape of the bundle were not
reassuring.
"Oh, Lord!" groaned Kate. "Haven't You any mercy at all? It was
Your advice I followed when I took wing and started out in life."
A big sob arose in her throat, while at the same time she began to
laugh weakly. Dr. James heard her from the hall and entered
hastily. At the sight of him, Kate's eyes filled with terrified
remembrance. Her glance swept the room, and rested on her rocking
chair. "Take that out of here!" she cried. "Take it out, split
it into kindling wood, and burn it."