Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1903-10-07

Miss Cartwright, in her superinten-
dents white uniform. stood facing the
doctor in the great bare Office Of the
Emergency hospital. Her hand trem-
bled as she rested it on the desk at
her side, but the man saw no signs OF
agitation. He was conscious only that
this slender woman was looking UNI
f~alteringly into his eyes and that by
the tone of her voice she was filling
him with the numbness Of despair.
Was it sheer force of will, or was 1t
utter lack Of emotion that kept the
face which confronted him so calm!
It was almost a girlish face, with its
delicate pallor and full red lips. The
eyes we're dark and soft as a child's.
The marvellous white hair, that swept
shining back from her forehead, must
be what set her so apart from other
women, that and the clear resonance
of her voice. He remembered the
sound of a chapel bell that had once
come floating down to him from a
Swiss mountain height. Yes, it was
like that. It echoed from the unmelt-
ing SHOWS.
DR.. Hudson knew that his own face
kept its professional mask, though he
breathed like a man who has been run
ming. A w~hite-capped nurse glanced
in Ut the door and slipped away before
he spoke again.
"It Is quite useless to ask me to be
silent now. When a man has lived to
be 40 he doesn't give up easily the first
woman he has ever loved. II is three
years since / FIRST saw you, coming
down the corridor toward me, your
hair like an aureOle around your head,
three years that / have loved you and
have been silent"
! Miss Cartwright's lips opened. but
! have not
"No. you have not / have had nc
reason to think you could care for me,
You have always been thoroughly pro-
fessional." and he smiled. ct is Just
that. The strain Of this life is kill
ing you. know 20 well what It is ]
wanted to take you out Of It."
He turned away from her to the
window, where a dreary March rats
beat against the glass. A little brown
bird, with drenched wings, iuttered up
on the ledge and, finding no shelter
from the storm, few on against the
wind,
DR.. Hudson went on bitterly: ut Il
q fitting name they have given you
Moonlight, Lady Moonlight" It is
what you are; cold and pale and beau
tiful-tO drive men mad!"
The woman drew in her breath
sharply. Il have told you that this
hurts me, hurts me deeply. You have
been my good friend. but now-you
are cruel!"
Forgive me! { do not mean to be!'
He crossed to her quickly, putting his
firm, warm hand over her cold one
that rested on the desk, and looked
straight into her eyes. viii you tell
me that you do not love met"
The red left her lips, but she faced
him dauntlessly. Il have told you
that l cannot marry you"
"That is not my answer. If the time
ever comes when you can love me
when you do love me, WIN you come
to me and tell me?"
She spoke hurriedly for the frs
time. you have no right-how should
! know that you-?"
"You win know, and you win tell me
PROMISED"
They looked at each other a Ions
moment, his strength against hers
then her eyes fell.
"Yesl" she said 1t breathlessly, Eyes
willi"
He turned and left her without look,
ing back.
Two months later the hospital at
tendsnts brought 8 stretcher through
the great doors and down the hall
Upon It lay the huddled and apparent
j. lifeless form Of = man, with ban
daged head. Miss Cartwright cross
ing the corridor. caught sight Of III,
patients death-whits face, and he
own grew whittier shlL
eNo, not the public ward; bring hin
d here!" and she threw open the doc
Of q private room.
The men looked their amazement q
her strange tone and the unusual com
mand.
Miss Morse"-to q nurse who Ia,
entered-"send DR.. Hudson to me &
once. He is making the rounds. Yol
need not come back"
The men followed the nurse frou
The room and closed the door. Whei
Dr.. Hudson opened It 3 few moment
later Miss Cartwright turned toWar,
him q face whose Wild appeal startle
him into an exclamation.
eHslen!"
Her fingers were on the man
pulse. "Hs Is aliTel be isl But