Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-07-15
IN THE
HOSPITAL.
By CRiTTENDEN
MARRIOTT

aged eyes as the nurse entered. The
month that he had been there had not
served to change the habit OF sight
fixed by all the years that had gone
before
Its for tonight, isn't Il, Miss Lee p
he cried. recognizing her step. ITO
night I'll get rid OF these COMPOUNDED
bandages 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. But OF course the doctor will
have to decide. He'll be here soon"
Cad! How glad I'll be to see once
more" cried the man. 81 never could
have stood II even for n month IL II
hadn't been for you. You've been an
angel to me-"
The nurse blushed softly and cast n
very tender look at the man. She an
swered merrily: "All the nurses here
would have been the same. Nine pa
tients 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
all, despite all the pain and the anxiety,
l am glad this thing happened"
"WhyT'
because x has enabled me to know
you. Oh, OF course have known you
to speak 20 for months and by sight
Tor years, but that isn't knowing how
tender. how sweet. how long suffering,
you could be. Oh. Miss Lee-Ger-
trude"-
Hush! The doctor said you must
keep cool. you know. Excitement
might injure your eyes"
The man sank back I'm his chair.
True" he said slowly. II forgot that
1 haven't any right to speak now. I
forget that the result OF this operation
isn't absolutely certain and that may
be blind-mcrcy, blind,-and that In
any case I must mend my fortunes be-
fore There. Is that the doctor COM
ingY
The nurse glanced out OF the open
door into the hall. Yes" she said; hes
Just down the corridor a way. You're
not going back to your old position
right away. are you. Mr.. Scott2 You
oughtn't TO try your eyes for year or
so, you know"
II suppose not But needs must, you
know. when a certain gentleman drives.
I'll be dead broke when 1 get out OF
here. and I'll have to go TO work. All.
there's the doctor!'
The doctor entered and stood for a
few, moments talking to the man.
Yes he said at last; well take the
bandagcs OF tonight. 1 think"
Thank God, And-and there's no
doubt That everything will be all right,
Is there. doctorT'
We'll hope for the best" returned
the doctor cheerIly, his tone very
comfort I'm itself. although his words
were not especially so. He passed out
or the door hurriedly. preventing fur
Their questions and beckoning to the
nurse as he did so to follow him. A
few steps down the corridor he halted.
Nurse" he said, with n worried look
on his face, do you know whether
your patient has any relatives near
byT
'I'm sure he has not" answered the
girl readily. "I've talked with him re-
peatcdly and learned all about him.
He doesn't seem % have n relative I'm
the world"
The doctors face grew graver. How
Is he of for money!"
"iIe just told me that he would be
dead broke when he got out OF here.
He said he must ut once go back 10
work"
Back to work at once! He'll be
lucky IL he ever gets to work again."
The nurse grew white. "Why?' she
gasped. II thought the operation was
n certainty"
"a certainty! Yes. It is n certainty
almost. but In the wrong direction.
There isn't one chance In hundred
that he'll ever see again."
With n mighty effort the nurse mas
tered her emotion. But DOCTOR" she
gasped. what will become OF himY'
Become OF himT echoed the doctor
irrltahly. "Become OF himi What be-
comes OF blind men who have no
friends and no money! Wen keep
him az 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 himT' she demanded indIg-
nantiy. with utter disregard OF the re.
Quirements OF discipline. "He Is sure
that he will get well. He is building
on II absolutely. lf no doesn't"-
The doctor hooked curiously at the
girl. Then sense OF comprehension
Ia
an old man, but not u 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 possi-
bly,
The doctor turned away, and the
nurse slowly retraced her steps to
SCOTS room. She had known Henry
Scott for year or more and had liked
ana admired him from the first. In
the month that they had been thrown
together by the accident that had
forced Scott to enter the hospital this
Keeling bad grown to something stron-
ger than liking. For some days she had
known what he would say as soon as
ne could see again and had known
what she would say I'm answer. In
common with the rest OF the world
around her. she had never. doubted
that all would be well with his sight
Now came this blow.
Never to see again! To go to the
poorhouse and there drag out his DAYS,
Never! He shall not! He shaIltnotl
But what could she dor Too well
she knew seotts spirit to suppose that
he would accept anything from her.
that he would ever say the words she
ionged to hear-the words that would
give her the right 20 care for him-un-
less bis sight was restored. She muss.
get that right before the bandages
Were removed. She must lead him on
TO speak. But. no! What good would
that do? II he were to be really blind.
she knew he would repudiate the bar
gain.
one must marry him that very day,
before the bandages were removed.
Her heart stood oftu ~ A. 49,