Motion Picture Story Magazine (Feb-Jul 1911)

120 THE MOTION PICTURE STORY MAGAZINE too, perhaps you had better send the money right over and I will enclose a postal note in payment for them both. Hastily, Helen." "Why, that was very thoughtful of Helen, I am sure," said Mrs. Burton, "but I think your best white dress will do very well if we laundry it nicely today — " "Oh, mother!" interrupted Edith, "you don't expect me to wear that old thing, do you? Why, it's a rag — a perfect rag — and so short ! I will not wear it, that's all. If I've got to go looking so as to make Helen ashamed of me I'll not go at all." Edith was almost tearful and Mrs. Burton felt too weary to endure a scene. Again her hand fluttered across her forehead as tho she felt ill and dazed. "Well, child, I don't like to have you disappoint Helen after she has been so kind in the matter," she said, "but I don't see how we can afford any extra expense just at this time, with your father away — " Edith's face looked so dark at this remark that her mother hastened to gratify her if she could. "Well, fetch me my purse and I'll see just how much we have to depend upon till papa gets back." Together they counted over the few dollars Mr. Burton had been able to leave them, and his wife sighed deeply as she replaced the money in the purse. "No, my little girl, it is impossible. Mother would love to get the new dress for you but — I can't do it. It would take every cent we have. If your papa is successful you shall have it when he comes back, but — " "I don't want it then," stormed Edith. "What good would it do me then — after the party is all over ?" She stamped her foot angrily. "Oh, I can't go, that's all. I might have known it. I never can have anything or go anywhere like other girls. I'll run away some time, that's what I'll do. I'll not stay here and be treated the way I am. It's a shame !" cried the girl, lashing herself into a fury. "Tell Helen I can't go," she called, resentfully, to Bill as she went back to her work. "Mother won't let me." Mrs. Burton, her eyes filled with tears, rose to take the purse back into the house. Her head ached but she forgot it, for the ache in her heart was greater. "I feel as tho I could not keep up much longer," she thought, as she put out her hand to keep herself from falling. A sharp pain darted thru her temples. A sudden darkness enfolded her, and with a little cry she fell to the ground. Bill saw her fall and hastened to her, then called to Edith. No time to think of dresses and dances now. Both Bill and Edith had lived in the hot-lands too long riot to recognize at once a case of sun-stroke, and they knew that Mrs. Burton's already failing health had weakened her powers of endurance. Hasty restoratives were applied but the woman could only moan. Bill, who considered himself somewhat experienced in giving first aid, gave directions and volunteered to stay with the sufferer while Edith hurried to a ranch not far distant where an Eastern doctor was staying for his vacation. Fortunately for Mrs. Burton, Helen anxious to be about her errand and having grown impatient with waiting for Bill to return, had started toward the ranch to meet him. Edith had not gone far before she met her cousin, and quickly told her of her mother's sudden illness and the necessity for getting a doctor promptly. "Take Robin. You'll never get there on foot in this heat," exclaimed Helen, leaping from her horse and urging Edith to mount. "Bill is pretty good in such cases but he will not know where anything is in the house," she continued. "I'll go to Auntie and you get the doctor there as quickly as you can." Fortunately, the doctor was at home and he lost no time in returning with Edith. In spite of her ride to fetch him, Edith had not once thought that her mother's life was in any danger. People often had a little touch of the sun, she thought, and it never resulted very seriously. But Doctor Jenkins did not take such a hopeful view of the case. He looked