Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-07-26
HIS CHOCOLATE
GIRL
BY B. CRlTTENDON LYLE
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

ever saw. Can | believe my eyes
There Is The Chocolate Girl the pic
ture ] have seen Il hundred times. car
| rylnG the Tray with pot of chocolate
and cups and saucers on II. But in
stead OF Standing still, as any respect
able figure in picture should do and
as all picture figures did until the in
veniionpf the viatiscope she is walk
inS across the floor. There. She has
| put her tray on a table turned and
walked deliberately out of the room.
Am | In moving picture show ?
| am not. | am In bed. q strange bed
strange room-everything strange.
There Is picture on the wall, a pic
ture OF II man stealing upon deer to
SHOOT him. I'll watch to see If the man
moves. No; lie doesn't. He continues
to crouch with his thumb on the ham.
mer of his gun. his fore1nger on the
trigger. The deer Is nipping the grass
ferhaps IL he gets the mans wind he'll
toss his head and be Off toward cover
over in that wood. No; the deer still
nibbles, and the man still keeps watch
ing him. They are making me tired.
wish one or the other would show
signs Of life, or, rather, wish the
chocolate girl would come back.
Il wonder how came to be I'm this
room. l believe I'll get up and 60
out and find out about It,"
tried to rise, but fell back on NV
pillow.
There must be something wrong
ABOUT me. 1t seems that the chimes of
htty cathedrals are ringing at once in
my head. If one would ring ut a time
fancy the sound would be very mu-
steal. l see colors, too, as If the light
were broken by prism.
Here comes the chocolate girl"
she came in softly, advanced to the
oeu' looked down at me, placed her
mana on my forehead-oh. how soft
ana cool 1t felt!-then walked away.
Now that she is nearer or there's
more light or / can see her better. or
something, / presume that she wears
white dress, white apron with
bib and straps over her shoulders. Her
cap isn't exactly like the picture after
all. L wonder If it is really chocolate
In the pitcher. Those things on the
tray are not the little cups and saucers
OF the picture ut all. There are one Gun
and saucer, a covered dish. q plate. n
knife and fork"
Come here.' said to the chocolate
girl
She turned quickly, as If surprised
ana came to the bed. looking at me crit
ically.
what wish to know is whether or
not you are the chocolate girl"
She put her hand on my forehead
again soothingly. but made no reply.
Indeed. the question didn't seem to sur.
prise her very much.
Because IL you are the chocolate
girl 1 want TO say 10 you that | have
loved you for years in the picture and
now you have stepped out of It and
INTO the flesh shall love you the
same"
The door opened and q man with n
bald head and mutton chop whiskers
came In. Tie girl turned to meet him.
and they cOnversed i'm low tones.
heard her say. HE is still delirious
He stayed but a few moments. then
went away
so | am deliriOus! That's all non.
sense. I'm i'll or have been And this
person whom at first mistook for the
girl In the picture is my nurse I'm
grad ! told her what l did before
realized the conditions. When a man
Is III and Is ministered TO by q pretty
woman he's bound to fall i'm love with
her. | wonder II 1t wouldn't be q good
scheme TO go on making love TO her
as the chocolate girl. 1t doesn't scare
her bit. whereas II were TO give
her the real thing It might spoil the
game. She's pretty enough 10 kiss
Delirious / might try IT on: I'm my
senses 1t would be very different
matter. / shall continue in delirium."
This was the beginning OF my con
valescence. talked TO my nurse. call
ing her my chocolate girl. sweetheart.
dear love-everything a man might ap-
ply to his ladylove. She suspected
nothing. 50 she gave me free rein.
could see that this being called endear-
ing names by a young man even in
delirlum was pleasant 90 her.
couple Of weeks passed I'm this
way. when the doctor called one morn
ing and. coming up TO my bed. felt my
pulse. rammed his thermometer into
my mouth. took It out. looked at It
and said:
This is the strangest case ever
heard Of. This mans pulse and tenn
pcraturc are both normal. and yet you
say he is still delirious."
burst into a laugh
The doctor looked somewhat sur
prised, while the nurse Jlushcd a rosy
red
Doctor" I said. you're right.
woke up this morning feeling all right.
recognized that I'm IN n hospital and
I'm all respects except one have come
Co my senses"
That oneTr asked fhe doctor.
Us none Of your business. All you
have 10 do is 20 give me n discharge"
This tho doctor did and Withdrew.
Il .uf -.