Entangled Hearts

Chapter 33

In November, everyone in Oakdale was rejoicing over the fact that an armistice had been signed, and the war was over! The soldiers would soon be coming back home. Philip Dreyer wondered why Gene Whitmer stopped writing to his uncle. Had he been killed, or taken prisoner, or what had happened to him? Then he wondered what would become of him if it should ever be found that he had stopped letters in the Post Office and had opened them and kept them from the ones to whom they were addressed. He knew that he could be sent to prison, and it began to worry him a great deal.

Rejoicing in the little town soon turned to sorrow as an epidemic of the dreaded influenza broke out, causing the death of many people. The schools were closed to check the spread of it, and everyone was advised to wear gauze masks in public places. These precautions did not prevent Philip from being exposed to the disease. He had come in contact with everyone that came into the Post Office for their mail. His temperature went above normal, and his limbs and back ached frightfully, so Mrs. Luden put him to bed. Mrs. Wilkins was appointed as the temporary Post Mistress to act during the time Philip was confined to his bed. Dr. Wenks had his hands full with so many people down in bed at the same time; he could not find enough nurses to help him. He made his daily visits and ended up at the Luden's in the late afternoon of the third day of Philip's illness. He went into the boy's room for a few minutes, then he came back out into the hallway to discuss the case with Mrs. Luden.

He shook his head slowly and said, "I am afraid for him, Mrs. Luden. The boy is out of his head; the fever has not broken yet. When it does, we will have to watch out, he is pretty weak."

"Oh, Doctor, I have been so worried about him. He raves on so pitifully as if some great crimes were haunting him, but I know he has never done anything wrong," she sobbed.

"Of course, he has never done anything; it is just his delirious mind that is imagining things. You must stop your worrying, or you will be down in bed too. You must go now and try to snatch some sleep. I have time to watch over him for a while before I go. You must rest," the doctor urged.

"You have been so kind to us, Dr. Wenks. I know that you are doing all you can for him." The woman's face was pale, and she looked very tired.

A loud cry came from Philip, the mother and the doctor hurried to his side. "Eli!" he called, "Eli Porter, I want to talk to you! Wait a second! Eli!"

"There," the mother said soothingly. Philip threw his arms in despair, his eyes suddenly wide in horror.

"Stop it! Stop it!" he screamed, "It will crush me! That giant iron ball has rolled loose from the prison chain! Hold it back!"

It took both the woman and the doctor to hold him in bed. Slowly, the tense fighting muscles relaxed as if all their strength had been spent. A quieter look came into his eyes as he turned in agony and looked at Mrs. Luden.

"Was Eli Porter here?" he asked weakly.

"No, Philip, he was not here. Why?" The foster mother gave him a puzzled look.

"I want to talk to him. I am not going to get well; call him to come before I go," he begged brokenly.

"Comply with every wish he makes, Mrs. Luden, humor him," the doctor said to the woman. "He is nearing the crisis, but he does not act as if he wants to get well."

Knowing that the Porters had no telephone, the excited mother went out to the barnyard, undecided about what to do next. Mr. Luden was very busy doing his chores about the large dairy barn; he had all of it to do alone since Philip was so sick, both the boy and the wife had always helped him before. Mrs. Luden was about to call him to go for Eli Porter when she saw a boy nearing the place on horseback. She turned and hurried toward the big gate. It was Joel Wilkins on his way to the store. She hailed him.