The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-03-06
.aused and looked appealingly in his

II is palnIul anu ulSdSreeaDIe
work. he said
''Yes, know" she quickly cried. Il
have thought of all that. l own sew
eral books on nursing and medical
practice and know quite well what to
expect. ! would have started out for
myself months ago if it hadn't been
for d. tie there. He needs constant
flre, and, while my stepmother-my
father died last winter-is very kind to
him, | did not think it right to- put all
this burden on her shoulders. But the
desire TO go grows stronger and stron-
ger every day"
The strangers eyes sparkled again
at her eagernesS.
''It looks to me now," he said quite
gravely, ''as if there would soon be a
chance to prove your capabilities. If
you come out of the ordeal in d salts
factory manner l think I can safely
promise you berth in the big hospital
with which | chance to have some con-
nection."
''Oh, thank you, sirr' she cried. 'And
what is the ordeal?'
The stranger looked down at the face
of the crippled lad.
"The little chap is asleep" he softly
| said. ''With your permission | mean
to straighten this tortured back and
this ugly shoulder. 1 mean to undo the
mischief wrought by well meaning ig-
norance | mean that this little fellow
shall walk through life as straight and
upright as God intended he should"
The girls eyes dilated.
"And you will do this? she MUIR
| INJURED in an awed tone.
with your permission and certain
| amount of your assistance the stran-
| ger smilingly said.
MY assistancev' she repeated.
"Yes. l have no acquaintances here,
| and l will need some help. Do you
| think you have the nerve to stand by
! me?'
81 will try" she simply answered.
Three days later a square, leather
| covered box of considerable size was
| brought over on the stage from the
nearest railway station. The surgeon
sat up late that night examining and
| arranging it's contents. Then he went
to bed and slept like healthy child.
| The first thing he did when he arose
| in the morning was to stretch out his
long, white hands and stare at them.
| STEADY as the eternal rocks" he
said, with pleased smile.
| Two hours later he made his appear
ance at the door of the little cottage
| valise in hand, where the dark eyed
girl eagerly awaited him.
"Artie awoke in capital spirits" she
whispered, land my stepmother has
gone to spend the day at neighbor' S
and everything that you ordered is
ready"
"Good," he said, with an admirins
glance at her eager face and trim, alerf
| figure.
Then he went in and closed the outer
door.
| When it was all over, the dark eyed
girl walked with the great surgeon t.
the gate. She was very pale, and there
were tears in her eyes.
'Those wonderful, wonderful hands,
she murmured $50 swift, so steady
SO suren'
He smiled down at her like a pleased
boy.
Il make it practice never to fattel
my assistants" he said, 'but will sa.
to you confidentially that the hospita
berth is yours whenever you choose t
call for it." He stopped her thank
with quick gesture as he went on ;
little more gravely. ''It certainly wa
a beautiful operation, and we ma.
both feel proud of it. Our plastere'
and harnessed and jacketed little pa
tient ought to be on the highway t
recovery in a months time. Then yol
can safely leave him. Meanwhile yo
will have to put up with daily ca
from the surgeon in charge"
A cloud crossed the girls face.
"But the-the bill for your services
SIR she murmured. "How are we t
pay that?'
Il admire your frankness, my dear,
laughed the surgeon. "But chase tha
troubled look from your eyes. When
came to Marion, L dropped the shop.
haven't even a blank billhead anon
my effects. Besides this, took tn
case for my own selfish amusement
Oh l can afford these little eccentric
ties. I'd have paid you for it soone
than have missed it. Goodbye An
the great surgeon walked briskly dow
the road quite unconscious that pal
of worshiping eyes followed him III
til swift rush of grateful tears blu
red him from their sight.
Three weeks later. as he sat in th
parior car that was rapidly bearin
him back to the great city, he smilin:
ly muttered to himself:
81 quite failed to carry out my vac;
ton programme. But what of that?
was never better nor surer of mysel
Besides, it has taught me a valuabl
lesson. Fixed habits of life shoul
only be broken off by degrees. ."-Cley'