Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-03-30

bending over the slim, graceful form,
"he's as delicate as girl Look J
See the blue veins in his arm. Poor
young chap. He has to suffer yet be-
fore that arm will be well.
A little later, his injuries attended
to, the strange patient WAS placed IN
bed He had recovered consciousness
and opened pair of great, dark, beau
tiful eyes to meet Doctor Wills sym
pathetic gaze.
"Where am -" faltered the patient.
'1n the Orthopedio Hospital, sir.
You have broken your arm, and were
brought here by Gao driver. You
are perfectly safe here. Tell me your
name and where shall l send for your
friends?"
"My name" slight hesitation, els
Halton-Parke Halton. My friends?
All! have none! II went to the
house of old friends-they have gone
to Europe. have not been here long
have no place to go to. But L have
money"
Don't trouble yourself, Mr.. Hal
ton. You are all right here. The
wards are full, and I have had you
placed in a private room.
"Thank youl I am able to pay for
it. You will get me we'll as soon as
possible, Dr.. - ?" with slight in
terrogation.
81 am DR.. William Walker, of tins
hospital. I shall do all in my power
for you. It is nothing dangerous, my
dear sir; only you must have rest.
Now, will give you sleeping potion,
and hope 20 find you better in the
morning."
Parke Ralton drank the sleeping
draught, and almost Immediately fell
asleep.
DR.. Will sat watching the pale, beau
tiful face upon the pillow before him
with an odd sensation struggling un'
der his left vest pocket.
"What spirituelle face for a mai
or boy, ratherl' he exclaimed. 81
declare | was never so interested IN
patient before in my life"
The next morning Parke Halton wa
much better, and as the days went by
grew rapidly stronger.
DR.. Will spent more time in the rocn
Of his interesting patient than he ha'
ever been known to do before. Their
seemed some subtle attraction betweel
the two, and as time passed it grey
and strengthened.
At last Parke was fully recovered
and in few days would be discharged
from the hospital.
One night Kate, the nurse, wa
startled by the sound of faint sobbinl
and stifed weeping, which seemed t.
come from the end of the long corri
dor, near the sleeping-room OF D1
Will. She hastened softly to the spot
determined to know what was the mat
ter. This is what she saw:
Parke Halton on his knees at tn
door of the doctors room, weepin
bitterly.
Directly, the young man rose to hi
feet and entered the room, for tn
physician door was never locked, bu
always ready for hssty summons /
the night.
In speechless amazement Kate nc
ticed the young patient steal softly t
the bedside, and, stopping, press
kiss upon the brow of the sleepin
physician then, weeping bitterly
steal away once more.
Out in the corridor the nurse sue
denly confronted the yonng man
Halton fell back with a stifed cry.
Explain yourself, sir" began tn
nurse. "Your conduct is rather III
usual"
"Come to my ROOM" he said, in
hurried Whisper "and | will tell 20
all. | have confession to make -
The next morning, when DR.. Wi
awoke from his slumbers, he foun
upon his bed small locket contalnan
the pictured face of girl. 1t was tn
exact counterpart of Parke Halto1
When he left his room he was met b
Kate, who announced that the youn
man was gone. She had found his be
empty that morning and a sum
money sufficient to more than cove
his expenses at the hospital lying up
on the table. But whatever the secrt
| confided to Kate she kept it inviolat'
DIR. Wills face clouded and trouble
look crept into his eyes. After th'
he became very quiet and taciturr
and altogether changed man.