The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap

by Paulette Mahurin

  She backed away to get it. “Here it is.” Her hand was shaking. “He’ll be okay, now that Doc’s here. You’re gonna fix our boy. I just know everything’s gonna be…”

  “Will you stop your yapping, woman, and let him do his work.”

  Doc wrapped the baby’s arms in the sheet to hold him steady. He motioned for Frank to hold him bent with his buttocks out so he could administer medicine through the clyster.

  “That’ll hurt him!” Helene yelped.

  Doc continued on with what he was doing. “That’ll help with the vomiting. Frank, hold that leg still.”

  The baby gave a weak cry when Doc inserted the tiny tube. “That’s not a good sign. He’s too dehydrated to complain.”

  Helene’s forehead drew beads of sweat.

  When the medicine was inserted, Doc showed Frank how to hold the baby. Then to Helene, “If we can keep that in him, he should be able to take fluids orally.” Fifteen minutes later Doc said, “Helene, go ahead and give him a bottle.” Little Frankie’s crying turned into screaming. “That’s much better. He’s getting more energy.”

  “Fine for you to say, Doc,” Frank laughed. “He ain’t screaming in your ears.”

  When she was finished giving her son his bottle, Helene commented, “His skin don’t feel doughy anymore. That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” replied Doc.

  “Don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to my little guy,” she whimpered.

  Just then Mabel entered the living room door from outside. “Cranky had three balls in his mouth!”

  “Shhhhhh honey. Doc’s helping your brother here.”

  “What’s wrong with him?” she squealed.

  “We’ll tell you later. Go and play in the bedroom,” said Helene.

  “I don’t want to play alone anymore!”

  Frank piped up, “Do what your mother says!”

  Mabel retreated to the bedroom pouting.

  Frank took a look at little Frankie and felt encouraged. “He’s turning pink, Doc.”

  Comforted, Helene said, “Thank goodness. That’s my good boy.”

  They waited for twenty minutes to see if the baby would vomit, and when he did not, Doc said to Frank out of earshot of Helene, “He’ll be fine. Off now for my last patient.”

  “Who else you seeing this far out?” asked Frank.

  “Your landlady.”

  “Give her our best,” he said. “She’s a good woman helping us so much.”

  “I’ll be sure to pass that along.” Doc packed up his things, gave Helen’s shoulder a reassuring pat, shook hands with Frank, then said, “I’ll be back out tomorrow to see how he’s doing.” He left and headed out to Mildred’s place. When he arrived, Edra met him at the door. He could see that she had been crying.

  “Sorry I’m so late. Been over at the Whitmore’s. Had to get some fluids in their little one. How’s Mildred doing?”

  “She doesn’t want to eat and only takes little bites to appease me. She’s up at night tossing and turning. We can’t keep up with the laundry from all the sweating. Her spirit is down. I’m worried about her.” Although Mildred tried to reassure Edra things would turn to their benefit from the aftermath of what happened, it did nothing to assuage her worry.

  “She’s in the bedroom?”

  “Yes, she’s asleep now.”

  “If she hasn’t been sleeping well, let’s not disturb her right now. Let me talk to you first. How’s about a cup of tea?”

  Edra brought a tray with tea and biscuits to the living room and placed it on the side table.

  “Thanks Edra. So tell me what’s been happening with Mildred since I last saw her.”

  “She perked up. Seems the iron worked, but then she went to town.”

  “I heard about that.”

  Edra began crying. “It’s just too much for anyone to deal with.”

  “Don’t let it get to you. Everyone’s attention is on the latest telegram. No one has their mind on Mildred and Charley.”

  “I wish that were true,” mumbled Edra.

  “Of course it’s true. I’ll tell ya, if I let everything that was said about me bother me, I’d take to my bed also,” he laughed. “Then I’d high-tail it out of town.”

  He tried to play down the symptoms, to calm Edra. He’d been through this with them before. He knew Mildred held things in tightly. Through the years he learned that when she’d had emotional challenges they manifested in bodily problems. She never had to say a word to him for the reactions in her body were obvious: worry on her face, fitful sleep, poor appetite that usually ended up in anemia, stomach problems with vomiting, bouts of dehydration, and exhaustion. He had a keen intuitive sense; when someone was really ill the hackles on the back of his neck would raise and his gut instinct was rarely wrong. He was well aware of the town talk lately and the situation with her and Charley, and knew how this must be affecting her. He also knew the two women were tight, even contemplated from time to time how involved they were with each other; a thought he would never let see daylight. Mildred’s beneficence, loans turned into subsidies to a lot of people, including him when he needed medical supplies, was not lost on him. She never turned anyone down no matter how they treated her. His return kindness was to hold her and Edra in a safe place and do whatever he could to be supportive of their needs.

  “She feels defeated.”

  “Over all that nonsense?”

  “People don’t take to her. All the ridicule over the years. If something happens to her, I have nobody,” she sobbed.

  “Hey there. Hey now, you’re getting way ahead of yourself. And it’s not true that nobody likes her. Why Frank Whitmore just told me some mighty nice things about Mildred. And Charley. They struck up a nice friendship. Charley don’t take to just anybody. He’s a good man, that Charley.”

  “You think so?”

  “You bet. Minds his business, helps the children at the school, was devoted to his Emma. Don’t come better than Charley Milpass. He sat beside Mildred when Pursey brought her in. Wouldn’t leave her side till she came to. If you got two friends in this world, you’re lucky. Plenty people know they’d be out of business, hard up, were it not for Mildred’s support.”

  “I don’t know about Charley, and the people in this town are so mean to her.”

  “So what? She’s strong. Been through it before with town stupidity. It’ll pass and you’ll be just fine. Charley’s been in my place just about every day asking after her. He doesn’t say much but Emma’s death was hard on him.” He made a point to emphasize, “He’s pretty tight-lipped. Seems genuinely concerned about Mildred.”

  “He has?” Her demeanor changed with that information. But why is he still paying so much attention to her? That’s what worries me. Have I misjudged him? “I’m just worried about Mildred.”

  “Sure you are, Edra. So now tell me what’s been going on with Mildred.”

  “Pretty much what I told you.”

  “Physically. Nothing else? Pain? Vomiting? Fever?”

  “Not sure about the fever with all the sweating at night.” Then she remembered, “A while back, maybe a few weeks, she vomited brown specks.”

  “Has that happened again since then?”

  “Not that I know of. I’d forgotten all about that till you asked. Think she had a nose bleed the night before.”

  “I wouldn’t worry about it if it was just that one time. Could have also been a burst capillary from vomiting. If it continues let me know. As for the sweating at night, it’s also been overly hot,” he replied. “How much is she actually eating and drinking?”

  Edra told him what Mildred had consumed over the last twenty-four hours.

  “And the last week?”

  She told him.

  “That’s not going to kill her. She might lose some weight but really, it’s okay what she’s eating and even better she’s drinking enough.”

  Edra asked, “Do you want to see her now?”

&nbs
p; “Let her sleep. She probably needs it more than me waking her to figure out why she’s not sleeping,” he laughed. “I’ve got to come back out here tomorrow to see the Whitmore’s baby. I’ll stop in on you then. You’re clearly doing your job, getting what nourishment you can into her.”

  “Doesn’t seem like enough to me.”

  “You got good motherly instincts but believe me, she’s a long way from starving.”

  “Okay. If you say so.” She wanted to say more, changed her mind, then thanked him.

  “You bet. You take care now. And my suggestion to you,” he held up his cup of tea, “more chamomile tea for you. Help you relax.”

  Doc said his good-byes and left with the thought that he should stop by and see Charley on his way home.

  “So, how’s she doing?” Charley’s voice cracked.

  “I think a visit from you would be a darn good thing for her.”

  Charley took a relaxed breath. “You sure?”

  “Yeah, and Charley, I wouldn’t involve anyone else in your business with Mildred.”

  “Don’t plan to, Doc.” He contemplated, Once you put it out there, there’s no taking it back. No way I’m gonna contribute to the insanity already afoot. “Learned long ago to keep my mouth shut and pay attention.”

  Doc patted Charley on the back. “Good.”

  Charley fell asleep that night while reading Nature by Emerson. The next morning, as he moved in his sleep, the book fell to the floor with a thud and woke him. His eyes opened to the sun flooding in through his bedroom window, and he smiled, feeling refreshed after the first good night’s sleep he had had in many days. He jumped out of bed, got dressed, and made himself a bite to eat.

  Charley whistled to himself in anticipation as he rode out for a visit with Mildred.

  Edra answered Charley’s knock at the door with a surprised look.

  “You’re not expecting me?” he asked.

  “No.”

  “Doc told me to stop by.”

  “Oh he did, did he?” She was just about to send him away when she noticed a book in his hand. “You came here to give us that?”

  “I’m reading this. Thought we could talk about it.”

  Edra surprised herself with a nervous laugh. She was torn between her suspicions of his intentions toward Mildred and a feeling inside that he was a good person just trying to be friends with them. She thought for a minute about the last time they discussed books, and changed her mind about him staying. “Okay, Charley. Have a seat out there. I’ll get Mildred.”

  Mildred was resting on the bed. “I heard you talking to someone. Who’s here?”

  “Before you react, Doc told him to come. And it might not be a bad idea.”

  “Charley?”

  Edra smiled. “He brought a book with him to talk about.”

  “I don’t want to.”

  Edra urged, “What’s the harm? You’re the one always tells me to face things.”

  “I don’t have the energy to argue with you, Edra.”

  “Then don’t. Come on out. Let’s hear what he’s been reading.”

  “A woman can’t get herself any rest,” she mumbled, following Edra to the porch.

  Charley noticed how gaunt Mildred’s face looked. “Mildred.”

  “Hi Charley.”

  “I see you brought Nature with you,” said Edra. “Emerson used to be a minister. Claims it is possible to reach spiritual states without organized religion.”

  “That’s what you’re reading?” asked Mildred, “About religious…” She stopped and made a gesture to get up and leave.

  “Wait! Don’t go,” begged Charley. “There’s more to it. Emerson emphasizes studying and responding to the natural world. Gus said he heard him lecture once. When I’m done with this, I want to read Walden.”

  Edra asked with interest “How come you chose these two?”

  “Gus says that Walden talks about resistance to meddlesome dictates in organized society. I think those were Gus’s words. I had no idea what he was talking about. He wouldn’t answer when I asked, instead told me to read these books.”

  “Does it make sense to you now?” asked Edra.

  “I haven’t read Walden yet but I know that Emerson was a student of Thoreau.”

  “Thoreau lived by himself for two years in a cabin in the woods by a pond,” Mildred commented. “His writing was radical.”

  “Radical?” asked Charley.

  “He expresses a deep-rooted tendency toward individualism,” responded Mildred.

  Edra joined in. “Yes, as opposed to a crowd and political mentality.”

  Mildred’s cheeks took on a slightly rosier complexion. Edra relaxed as she saw Mildred’s energy perking up.

  “Gus is a tricky guy,” Mildred laughed.

  “How so?” asked Charley.

  “After our last go round in town he’s got you reading these things. I’d say that was clever.”

  “Got another one he said I must read.”

  Edra asked, “Which one?”

  “The Scarlet Letter.”

  “What!” Edra blushed.

  Charley asked, “You read it?”

  “Yes, we both have,” said Mildred.

  The women laughed.

  “Did Gus tell you what it’s about?” asked Mildred.

  “No.”

  Mildred smiled with embarrassment. “It’s about a woman cast out of her community for committing adultery. Some religious people think it’s immoral to read it.”

  Edra looked preoccupied. “I think The Scarlet Letter and Uncle Tom’s Cabin were both banned around the time of the Civil War.”

  “Yes, they were,” said Mildred.

  “Well then, I guess Gus has me reading some interesting books,” Charley said.

  “I’d say so,” laughed Edra.

  Mildred smiled and asked Edra, “How’s about something to drink. Charley, would you like something?”

  By the time Doc returned in the late afternoon, Mildred was up and helping with the usual household routines. Edra met up with him by his carriage. “Thanks.”

  He looked puzzled.

  “For telling Charley to stop by.”

  “And Mildred?”

  “It helped get her mind off…you know.”

  Doc put his hand on hers. “Always welcome good news.”

  “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” OSCAR WILDE

  22

  Three days passed since Charley’s visit and despite the fact that Mildred felt better she still did not want to go to town and have to stomach running into Josie, Pat, or any of the other women involved in the recent upset. Although most of the town seemed to be well over the gossip about Charley and Mildred, for Josie and her group there was no letting up. Doc had inadvertently fueled the flame when he was overheard in Gus’s store ordering a herbal remedy for female problems. Madeline was in the store at the time and was familiar with the medicine. Since she knew that Doc had recently gone to Mildred’s and had not heard of anyone else in town suffering from anything similar, she leaped to the conclusion that it must be for Mildred. It never entered her mind that it was also used for relief of non-pregnancy nausea and vomiting, which is what Doc used for the Whitmore’s baby.

  “We haven’t seen Mildred around here for ages,” she said to Josie and Hanah later as she described what she had heard in Gus’s store.

  “What was it that he ordered?” asked Josie.

  “Same herbal remedy that Doc prescribed for me when I cramped up with my first child.”

  Josie slapped her hand on her lap. “Why, that homely hag. I knew it! That’s it! We are going there to see Mildred once and for all.”

  “How you going to swing that?” asked Madeline.

  “I have an idea. But first we need to pay Helene a visit.”

  Hanah was puzzled. “Why Helene? What do you have in mind, Josie?”

  Josie pushed away the chair she was sitting on, then grabbed her bag
and sweater. “I’ll explain it on the way,” she said to the two women.

  She did so as they rode out to the Whitmore’s ranch. “If Frank’s there, just make idle talk till we can get Helene alone.”

  “Well, we’ll see what Helene has to say about it, I guess,” said Hanah with some doubt after hearing Josie’s idea.

  Helene listened to what Josie had to say about all of them paying Mildred a visit and felt nervous. She did not want to go against Josie but was afraid if she went along with her she’d further upset Frank. “I don’t know. Got my hands full with the baby.”

  “It wouldn’t be a long visit. Let’s have a look at the baby.” She started to push her way past Helene into the house.

  “Wait! He’s sleeping. He is doing better, but I have to keep an eye on him. Can’t leave him…”

  “We can take him with.”

  Helene squirmed. “I don’t have the time to make a pie and all.”

  “Hanah can make the pie.” Josie shot Hanah a look.

  “Yes, of course. I’ll do it,” said Hanah.

  Helene’s gut churned. At a loss for any further excuses and with great reluctance she asked Josie, “Why do you even need me to go with you? Frank warned me to keep out of Mildred’s…”

  “You’re the one that goes out there, aren’t you?”

  “Well no, Frank does when he pays the rent.”

  “I mean of us women,” snapped Josie.

  “Oh, yes of course, when Frank can’t.” Just then she heard her baby crying in the other room. “Excuse me a minute.”

  “That Helene is so dumb,” Josie whispered to Madeline and Hanah. “Why the hell does she think we came all the way out here?” Helene walked back carrying little Frankie. “Helene,” Josie smiled, “we need you to go. You just tell them you decided to visit with a fresh-baked pie to pay your respects, and asked us to come along for support. Be too suspicious without you.”

  “I don’t know…”

  “We can’t do it without you!” Josie hammered.

  On the day of the visit, Josie arrived at Hanah’s just as she removed the pie from the oven. “It’ll cool on the way to Helene’s,” Hanah assured her.

  “Where is everyone?” Josie was annoyed.