The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-03-12
HOSPITAL ROMANCE.

urglcal case, and DE-. Bronson WISHES 10
zee you"
These were the words spoken by our
head nurse one beautiful spring morning
AS walked quickly down the long hall
toward the library my heart beat high
With hope. AT last was to have case
lnder Dr. Bronson. How I had enVled
the other nurses as they had lived, day
after day, under his supervision. Truly,
fortune was beginning to smile upon me.
There, seated at the desk, was the doc
tor, and as j entered the room he dlo not
move, so deeply absorbed in thought was
he. Sinking into an easy chair, studied
his face for few moments. He was
young and almost handsome. 1 say al
NEST. because there was restless, wan
dering look in his large dark eyes which
letracted from his appearance, and yet,
though couldn't tell wherein it lay, there
was something intensely fascinating in
his face.
Suddenly my reverie was broken by the
entrance of three ladies-a tall, middle
aged woman and two young girls whom
rightly judged her daughters
The doctor greeted them cordially, and
was soon informed that the young daugh-
ter was to undergo an operation on the
following day, and that she was to be my
patient.
Elizabeth Townley (Beth, her pet name,
seemed TO suit her better was about 20
years old, and, while she was not pretty,
she had a sweet viyacious face and a
wealth of fluffy brown curls. From the
moment met her l admired her, and the
longer / knew her the stronger grew my
admiration.
The following day, at 2, Miss Townley
was brought to the operating room, and
as she lay there, consciousness gone, her
face like marble, save a pink spot on
either cheek, her hair curling in little
damp rings around her sweet face, fan
cied myself her lover and thought how
easily cne could love her-aye, and die for
her ! wondered if the doctor had the
same thought, but when the work began
In earnest we were all too busy TO indulge
in 'sentimentalism.
When at last il was over, and conscious
ness had returned, and the intense anxiety
of surgeon and nurse was over, found
tine TO look at the doctor. All, the old
restless look had almost completely faded
from his eyes, and in its place was an ex-
preston of rest. not uDmixed with deter
mination After this studied both pa
tient and physician. I rarely saw them
together, but knew by the doctors face
whenever he came from his little room
that he was refreshed and strengthened for
bis work Bat Beth was clever and wise,
and she often declared herself heartless
and 'unilnpressible, p" but thought if she
were heartiess il was because she had al
ready given her heart to DR.. Bronson.
A -, IL, 81, I,Ter inc doC
brought her wild flowers and after max
ing his evening rounds would read to her,
while she, - turn, played little melodies
On her guitar or amused him greatly by
relating some Of her schoolday pranks.
She was the life of the lower floor, and
many a lonely heart was made glad by her
merry laugh, her CHEEKY Good morning
Or bunch Of blossoms from her abundant
supply.
Sometimes DR. Bronson would give a
low larsh IF contentment and suppressed
happiness, and l would wonder, Did she
charm away that old look in his eyesg'
But how: she had scarcely seen him ere
IL vanished
so the days slipped-nay, rippled-by on
tbs tide of that sweet, low laughter and
music of contented voices. Gradually Miss
Towniey became able to move about in her
wheel chair DR.. Bronson seemed to be
growing melancholy, and the old restless,
longing lock came creeping back. He
would wheel her up and down the halls
and then leave her by the open door,
where the sweet springs breath came
boating in, and go about his duties, still
watching her with loving care that
seemed pathetic 10 me, for felt that there
was story TO his life that no one knew
and which still withheld its sequel.
One night there was a fearful storm.
The wind blew perfect gale and hurled
the sheets of falling rain against the win
dow panes The thunder dropped its
heaven forged bolts in quick succession,
while the lightning kept the scene bril-
liant as day.
DIR. Bronson was in and out of the
wards all night, but he went oftenest to
Beth's room TO ask:
Are you nervous in this frightful
Storm"
She would answer softly, "Oh, no, "
and then, having 10 excuse TO remain
longer, he would pace the halls nervously,
while the fury of the storm steadily in
creased. He thought once bitterly:
''Oh, if she would only show some sign
Of fear or distress, that ! might 60 TO her
and 90 something just to be near herP'
Here he was interrupted by tremen-
ious crash. 1t seemed as if heaven and
earth were clasped in close embrace and
were swaying and rocking III the furious
blast
With one bound he WAS at Miss Town
ley's bedside She lay there white as mar
ble, her forehead cold and her lips blue.
The corner Of her room next the street
was blackened and burning.
Seeing that no time was to be lost, he
gathered her IN his strong arms and car
ricd her TO the ward across the hall and
laid her down and sent at once for me.
Ii the hour that followed DR.. Bronson
hung over Beth, using every means to save
The life that | saw had become so dear to
him
The fire did little damage, and as soon
AS the storm rolled away TO the east, its
nutterinGs growing fainter and fainter,
ne saw Beth's pale lips grow pink, her
yields culver and then slowly lift and the
,yes rest on the doctors anxious face.
Thank Cod came quickly from his
lips, and he kneIt beside the little, low
bed and bent his head on her outstretched
land. Is il unmanly 10 weep? Some say
is. hut the noblest tears | ever saw shed
we're those that fell from DR.. Bronson S
eyes They were the spray from an ocean
deep and fathomless, the ocean of his great
love
The next day she was taken home. The
west wing of the hospital was closed for
Jepairs. and the patients We're moved 10
another floor, and saw little more of Dr.
Bronson.
Then one day thick envelope came for
me, and upon opening it / read these