The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-15

| ed fender picked them ND neatly and with
| dispatch and carried them along with IL.
When the car stopped In the middle OF
the next block. and the excited crowd
closed in upon IL, it was found that the &C
cident was really more serious thing than
it had at first appeared John was badly
! bruised and shaken up but able in a few
! moments 20 stagger 10 his feet: but as for
/ Mary that WIS quite a different matter
/ In falling she had struck her head against
/ the fender. and lay white and limp. giving
/ no sign Of life when lifted up. John felt
/ sure that she was dead. and leaned sick
and faint against a post near by.
I Things move rapidly in a great city, and
! il scarcely seemed a moment before a pa
troll dashed W. In a trice strong arms
I had lifted the unconscious girl into it, and
/ John. stunned and dazed crept in beside
/ her not knowing what he Did or where
/ he went. In an agony OF fear he hung
above her. saving over and over again the
I loving words for which his hating tongue
/ had found no expression before.
Arrived at the hospital he recovered
somewhat. and when they had laid her yet
white and still upon a cot, he grew Drawer
and stronger at the physicians words Of
encouragement only stunned by the
blow. / assure you" he said cheerfully.
There's a cut on the head, but it's not a
bad one. and when il is dressed. well soon
bring her around Undo her hair, will you
please, nurse
Johns eyes followed wistfully the wo-
mans def fingers as she removed hair
pins and unwound coils. Suddenly her
hands made a movement which had the ef-
feet Of paralyziug him. He looked at her
with surprise and horror. Nearly the whole
OF Marys hair seemed to fall of in her
hen m hlr he n h.
merest wisp. She tossed it carelessly upon
a table near by, aud seized the scissors TO
trim the locks around the wound. John
gdzed with an increasing fascination upon
the shining mass on the table. IL was fast
eue5 .Sgethor with a hard little loop. He
had seen such things before in hair dress
cr's windows.
As he gazed earnestly at it, his heart
grew large and light. II seemed to him
as if he must shout for Joy. All the dark,
dismal clouds which had heretofore hung
over the skies Of his courtshp had sudden
~ rolled away What a glorious vista the
future offered,
When the wound was neatly dressed the
nurse went away. leaving her fast-recov-
cring patient in his charge. Did the kind
soul appreciate the situation John be
lieyed that she did. With proud assur-
ance he lifted her dear head upon his
shoulder. and stroked back the pretty ten
drills which fell over her forehead. If the
button which the nurse had wound trinity
and tightly at the back Of her head had
been less tiny and funny. he would not
have been so hilariously happy
Mary. darling" he whispered softly.
Then he seemed TO choke aud hesitate. The
old embarrassment had returned, and
threatened TO make him dumb, but he
looked at the hair on the table took fresh
courage. and went brayely on with what
he had wished long to say. i was stu
pid thing to let you get hurt this after
noon. | don't know as you'll think you
could trust me to take care Of you always,
as | want to do since this has happened.
Could YOU Mary
Mary nestled the little button more CO.
lilly into the hollow Of his shoulder. The
faint color had begun to creep back into
her checks. and there was a light in her
eyes and a smile on her face which made
Johns heart thump furiously.
oh Jack she sighed. weakly, but con-
tentedly, what an awfully long time
you've been saying it,