eatrice gladly obeyed. The physician entered briskly, followed by a
tall colored woman.

"Well, Miss Bee," he said genially with a searching glance at her pale
face, "you've had rather a siege of it, haven't you? How long have you
been here?"

"All this afternoon," answered Bee, conscious all at once of being very
tired. She sat down suddenly, and asked weakly: "What are you going to
do?"

"To vaccinate you, my young lady," was the response. "Hoity Toity!" as
the girl turned pale. "What's this? Why, you're not afraid, are you?
Tut, tut! Don't you know that it takes more courage to stay for hours
with a woman with the small pox that to endure a little scratch?"

"I am not afraid," faltered Bee who was trembling excessively.

"I see." The physician patted her hand reassuringly. "Why did you stay
here, child? There was nothing you could do for Rachel."

"Nothing but to give her a drink. She was so thirsty."

"You don't mean that you raised her head and gave her water, do you?"
exclaimed he in surprise.

"Why, of course. How else could she drink?" asked Bee. "She couldn't
raise it herself."

"Weren't you a bit afraid?" Doctor Black had rolled up her sleeve, and
was selecting a vaccine point carefully.

"At first I was; then I was sorry for her. I might look just as bad if I
should have it, you know."

"You are not going to have it, my dear," he said brusquely. "Now give me
that arm. All ready. Just a scratch, and it is over. Well, bless my
soul! Raymond!"

For Beatrice had quietly fainted away. When consciousness returned to
her the sweet freshness of the summer night was about her; the soft
darkness enveloped her like a mantle, and she was being borne along
carefully in someone's arms. For a time she lay, content to be still in
the encircling arms, but as she became more herself wonder crept into
her heart, and she put up her hand and touched the face above her.

"Father?" she whispered.

"Yes, my daughter."

"How came I here, and why do you carry me?"

"I am taking you home, Beatrice. You fainted. Do you not remember?"

"Oh, yes." The girl was silent for a moment, and then she asked, "did
you go in the cabin?"

"I did, Beatrice. I went after you, but do not be alarmed. Dr. Black
made me submit to vaccination. I have been exposed many times, and have
no fear of the disease."

"You are sure, father?"

"Yes, my daughter."

Once more there was silence, but presently the girl's attention was
attrac