Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-11-24

your not exciting yourself"
| The patient closed his eyes and be
| gan to mutter incoherently. The doctor
| looked at the nurse and shook his head
Hes delirlous," he said.
The nurse shuddered.
Suddenly the patient opened his eyes
and, fixing them on the doctor, said ex-
citedly
You say a rib has been taken out OF
me?'
Yes
"WeH?"
well, what|
where's the womanT
What woman?"
What woman! Why, the woman
that has been made out of the rib
The doctor glanced ominously at the
nurse, who said nothing. but looked
troubled. Surely the man was badly
''Out of his head"
Il say, where's the woman?" repeat
ed the patient excitedly.
The doctor whispered some words IN
the nurses ear, then. pointing to her,
said to the patient:
This is the woman. Now go TO
sleep"
The patient stared at the nurse then
went on incoherently:
80 you're Eve. are you? Made Of Il
rib taken from my body. We must be
married. BY the bye how in thunder
did Adam and Eve get married with no
one to marry them? Send for clergy
man at once"
The nurse drew back. The doctor
made an effort to pacify the patient.
but without effect. Then he took the
nurse aside and told her that the mans
life depended upon their Quietlng him,
and there seemed TO be no way to do so
but 10 yield TO his wishes. After some
pleading on the doctors part the girl
consented to go through marriage
ceremony which he assured her would
be meaningless. An assistant was
called in to personate clergyman, and
the doctor led the nurse to the bed
Are you a real sky pilot?" asked the
patient.
The man proved poor liar, and the
patient began to rave:
Get out o. here and send real
dominic. Do you think I'm out o. my
head To be fooled this way"
ne Seul the man AWAY ana
suggested that they call clergyman
After all, there was nothing legal
about ceremony with a man who
didn't know what he was doing The
patient raved on, and the nurse finally
consented.
\ real clergyman was called, and the
moment the patient looked at him he
seemed to be satisfied that he was
what he pretended to be. The patient
took the nurses hand, and the cere
mony was performed. The moment It
was over the would be groom closed
his eyes and lay perfectly tranquil
You've saved his life" said the sur
geon to the nurse. Never fear. There's
no danger of your getting into a com
plication. j, physician, was present,
and, knowing that the patients life de-
pended upon our humoring him. he be-
ing delirious, / persuaded you to act n
part. All this / will put In an affidavit"
The nurse did not appear either to
fear that the mock marriage might
bring her trouble or doubt that the
doctors affidavit would be all she
would need TO ward it off if it came.
Indeed, the doctor in speaking of the
matter TO the matron told her that 1t
was singular what an effect even the
semblance of marriage would have
over a woman. The pretended bride.
he said, seemed to be as much affected
as if she were going through the real
thing
The man minus a rib did not return
TO his delirium. When the doctor called !
the next morning and found his mind
clear he supposed the patient had for !
gotten all about the marriage cere
mony.
Doctor" he said. "was 1 delirious
yesterday when L came out from the
influence of ether?'
You were"
turned into a woman?'
you did"
insisted on marriage?"
Yes, and to humor you 1 persuaded |
your nurse to play the part of Eve. |
But it's all right. You needn't worry. |
1t was only a mock marriage"
Meanwhile the nurse, who was pres |
ent, had turned away
Suppose nurse claims it isn't?' pur-
sued the patient
THAT is ridiculous. But even If she
did would I
Nurse" interrupted the man on his |
back, did you intend to marry me yes /
terday or not?'
The nurse turned, with smile and |
blush. 4
az did"
The doctor stared first at one, then at
the other
ooh, that's all right" said the groom.