The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-11-10
NJ G
ALLAN

lantly forestaled her by attracting the
doing drivers attention with a tap Of his
night-stck
In spite Of caracul and padded cushions,
Miss Alston experienced something very
like chill on the way home. Her maid,
tight-mouthed, but with disapproval that
expressed itself in glances and attitudes,
assisted her to bed. Hot-water bottles and
blankets were for some time unable to dis
pei her persistent chilliness; and when
shortly after nine O'Clock Mrs. Allston
came to her daughters room, Miss Allston
had abnormally frightened eyes and abnor-
mally heightened temperature
Miss Allston's morning medtations,
made more active and numerous by her
horizontal position centered about an in
sulting ambulance man. She determined
to write letter to Bellevue Hospital telling
Of her presence at the little incident in
Madison Square, and offering to pay for the
best treatment for the sick man. Quite
incidentally, she would find occasion to
excoriate--yes, excoriate was the word
the insulting attendant who had come with
the ambulance The single point upon
which she was rot clear was the title Of the
functionary TO whom she should address
her letter. Did hospitals have presidents,
superintendents, or general managers?
She rang for her maid, announced her
improved condition, and declared her in
tention Of getting up.
Most Of the after she spent, in ac-
cordancc with the 1o ctor's sugr rstion, in
motoring; and, in accordance with her own
desire, in meditating.
But dulirg the following two days
the uppermost subject Of her thoughts was
the insulting ambulance man. Her feeling
toward him underwent a curious, if entirely
explicable, Transformation. Her previous
malign intentions with regard to him got
mixed up with her meddlesome, superior,
and ignorant attitude toward him, to the
great exaggeration of the attitude in ques-
ton. In proportion as she remembered
her own shortcomings she forgot his; she
even made allowances for him, on the
ground that he was different from the men
OF her acquaintance, had more to do, led a
sterner sort Of life, was unrestrained by the
well-greased grooves of that Society which
restrained her. She came, at length, to the
conclusion that he was very remarkable
man, and that she had first behaved in a
very silly, and then in a very insulting,
manner toward him. These conclusions
seemed astonishingly important to her.
, She determined, largely as means Of show
: ing that she, also, could be above conven-
tions, to write him note OF apology.
Accordingly, she composed, re-wrote, and
| copied short note to Dr. Herbert B. Viii
Der, Bellevue Hospital, New York City.
It's burden was, significantly enough, not SO
much her regret at having treated him
cavalierly, as at having appeared ignorant
and foolish before him. Principally on this
account her note, upon final re-reading
appeared lacking in the matter of sufi-
cent rdison d'ffre She was thus inspired
to add 4 few lines deploring the prevalence
OF phthisis in New York, and requesting
specifications as to the location Of that
. "Longuevlle- the Hudson" of which he
had spoken.
DR.. Wilber's explanation Of her misunder-
standing established that subtlest Of bonds
between them--the interest of ridiculous
mistake held in common. Being desirous
of finding, so she found, matters in his
brusk note which warranted reply. She
even contrived, in an emincntly proper
manner, to induce him to offer his services
as guide through some Of the by-ways ol
Lungervle. Some days later they met
by appointment, at nine o'clock one gentle
May morning A few faint breaths o.
springtime had managed to penetrate ever
= under the shadowed, damp, dirtily throng
ing approach Of Williamsburg Bridge.
The surgeons greeting was reserved tc
the point of iciness. He indicated, by q
movement Of his cane, the direction they
should follow, and took his place beside her
Il trust you understand that don't lool
upon trips Of this sort in the light OF plea
sure excursions" he said, directing theil
course south and east. II show you thest
things because you expressed interest ii
them, and because believe the more peopl,
who know about them the better. ! dom
consider the lower East Side menagerie.
She had not expected to be received as al
impersonal, if not impertinent, investigates
OF East Side conditions, assisted becaus.
(" the more people who know about them tn,
better"
A glance at the free-spoken doctor
uncompromisine profile made her shut he
lips upon tart retort. Although the fac
was unnoticed by both Of them, he won |
significant victory at that moment
You must have a very poor opinion 0
me" she said.
II beg your parlon--iiot at all, he as
sured her, without turning his face. g.