Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-08-10
In THE
HOSPITAL
BY cRITTENDEN
MARRIOTT

IlAuth lUat ne HNu neRn tHeEe hNA Aut
served to change the abit OF sight
fixed by all the years that had gone
before.
Its for tonight, isn't IL, Miss LeeT'
he cried. recognizing her step. TO
night I'll get rid Of these COMPOUNDED
handages and see the light of day once
more. oh. you don't know how this
month has dragged It's for tonight.
isn't it,"
Il believe So" returned the nurse
gently. "Rut of course the doctor will
have TO decide Hen be here soon"
Cad! How glad I'll be to see once
moref' cried the man. Il never could
have stood II even for month IL IT
hadn't been for you. You've been an
angel to me-
The nurse biushed softly and cast a
very tender look at the man. She an
swered merrily: "Al the nurses here
would have been the same. Nine pa
tlents out Of ten think we are angels
while they are In the hospital They
/ change their minds afterward"
Il never shall Do you know. after
fAss 1@effAAF stEf ttttfi
am glad this tbing happened"
"WhyT'
Because ii has enabled me to know
! you Oh. of course have known you
to speak TO for months and by sight
fer years. but that isn't knowing how
tender. how sweet. how long suffering,
you could be. Oh. Miss Letter
truee"-
"fnsh, The doctor said you must
keep cool, you know Excitement
might inlure your eyes"
The man sank back In his chair.
True" he said slowly, 81 forgot that
haven't any right 20 speak now.
forget that the result Of this operation
isn't absolutely certain and that may
be bllnd-lucrcy. blind,--and that in
any case must mend my fortunes be.
fore There. is that the doctor com
mgr
The nurse glanced out of the open
door into the halt Yes she said: ''he's
Just down the corridor a way. You're
not going back 10 your old position
right away. are you, Mr. Scotts You
oughtn't TO try your eyes for year or
so. you know
Il suppose not But needs must. you
know, when "A certain gentleman drives.
Ill be dead broke when l get out OF
here. and I'll have 60 go TO work All.
there's the doctor!''
The doctor entered and stood for q
few moments talking to the man.
Yes" he said at last; well take the
bandages of tonight. / think"
.'Theuk God, And-and there's no
doubt that everything will be all right.
is there. doctorT'
Wen hope for the best" returned
the doctor cheerily, his tone very
comfort In itself. although his words
were not especially so. He passed out
OF the door hurriedly, preventing fur
Their questions and beckoning TO the
nurse ms he did SO TO follow him. \
few steps down the corridor he halted.
Nurse" he said. with a worried look
ON his face, do you know whether
your patient has any relatives near
by"
girl readily. 1--WE talked with him re
peatetlly and learned all about him.
He doesn't seem to have relative In
the world"
The doctors face grew graver. How
is he off fer money!
He just told me that he would be
dead broke when he got out of here.
IL hs. a. ho 40.
work. f"
Back to work at oncel He'll be
lucky If he ever gets TO work again"
The nurse grew white. "why?" she
gasped II thought the operation was
certainty"
"a certainty. Yes, II is certainty
almost. but In the wrong direction.
There isn't one chance In hundred
that he'll ever see again"
With mighty effort the nurse mas
tered her emotion. But, DOCTOR she
gasped. 'what viii become of him."
Become of himT' echoed the doctor
irritably. Become OF him? What be-
comes OF blind men who have no
friends and no money! Wen keep
him as long as we can. and then sup.
pose he'll have to go TO the poorhouse
for the rest of his life"
A flush OF anger succeeded the pal
lor of Miss Lees face why have you
deceived hiinT' she demanded indig-
nantly. with utter disregard OF the re-
quirements of discipline HE is sure
that he viii get well. He is building
on il absolutely. II be DOESN'T
The doctor looked euriously at the
girl Then sense Of comprehension
came~ov him. He sighed He was
an old man. but not callous one. IF
you want him to see again. Miss Lee,
he said. be sure to keep him thinking
so. In that lies his one chance. Keep
him cheerful at all hazards. and posi-.
bly,
The doctor turned away. and the
nurse slowly retraced her steps to
| SCOTS room She had known Henry