The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-06-20


would have said, but l am sure she
would have sent the child away happy.
This Sister was as good and kind as
Sister A .nes, but she had not as much
tact and experience.
Gcraldne's face fell and her eyes
filled up with tears.
"D'youse mean can't come back
widout | hurt meslli?'
"Why, well people don't want to
come to hospital, dear"
II guess youse 'ud want ter if yer
mither licked youse wild rope end" -"
said the child.
The Sister was silent.
Geraldine turned and began tugging
at the door.
don't you want to 60 upstairs and
see the children few minutes?' tue
Sister asked.
Geraldine shook her head without
speaking. She was trying to keep
back the tears. When she got the
door halfway open she turned around.
"Youse woa't take me in widout I
hult mesilI?' she asked again.
"Why, we can't, DEAR" said the
Sister, 81 wish we could"
The door banged to. Geraldine was
gone.
1t was bleak December afternoon
and fast growing dark. The snow
that had been piled up in the streets
had melted, and the pavements were
ankle deep under black slush. The
Sister shud,lered moment at the
thought of thinly clad child out in
the cold and all alone in the great city.
Then she hurried on to the patient she
was tending.
Half an hour latel the hospital bell
rang with tremendous peal Elmer
gency ambulance said the house sur
geon. "N"hody else ever rings like
that. That n.::ns that | can't get
down town this afternoon at all" he
hcavcd sigh, for it was certain
young lady S birthday. And he wanted
to send her some flowers.
just then one of the Sisters came
running 20 find Linn.
as our Geraldin.!" she cried,
breathlessly She's been run over by
a trolley"
Out Of his room flew the young doc
tor and down the steps three at a time.
The child lay on table in the operat-
Iny room. Sister Agnes was bending
over her The doctor made hurried
examination.
"There's nothing to do he said,
huskily. YOU'D better put her to
led She'll he more comfortable"
SO they carried her into the room
which had once been occupied by the
rich little girl and laid her on the bed.
Geraldine opened her eyes and looked
around.
odd l hurt mesilf enough?' she
asked, anxiously.
"What do you mean, dear?' said
Sister Agnes, gently.
Did hurt mesilf enough ter be
took III here? She said | couldn't
come back wilout hurt mesif.'
Sister Agnes ard the doctor gave a
start of horror as they realized what
the child had done.
"Ies, indeed, my darling, you are
hurt enough and to spare! But tell
me, dear, how did it happen?"
sit didn't happen,' said the child,
serenely. 81 done it. Out there
where the trolley runs down hill-it
runs awful fast-.hey cant stop i'll
laid down on the track"
Sister Agnes gave great sob, and
her hand shook as she strokc,l the
| child's forehead. The doctor turned
away abruptly and brushed something
out of his eyes.
| "Oh, it didn't hurt me So bad
was scared when saw it acomin'-
but | shut me eyes"
She was exhausted 10y the effort she
had made to speak. The doctor poured
little brandy between her lips
$50 can stay here now?" she mur-
INJURED, presently.
"lndeed you can, dear. Well never
let you go away again"
a G lad ght came into the child's
face.
"Can | stay here as long as liver
she asked eagerly.
Truthful Sister Agnes glanced ques-
tioningly at the housc-surgeon. He
came close to the bedside, took the
lttle girls hand in both his own and
raised il to his lips.
"lou shall stay here just as long as
you live, Grraldine,' he said very
slowly and tendcrly.
With little sigh of content the child
closed her eyes.
"Cast off by his father, he became a
landscape painter"
"Why did he choose tina. work?'
"Ie wanted to continue drawing the