The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-07-22
HIS CHOCOLATE
GIRL
By B. CRITTENDON LYTLE.
Copyright, 1910, by American Press
Association.

fure have seen a hundred times, car
rying the tray with a pot of chocolate
and cups and saucers on 1t. But in
stead of standing still, as any respect
able figure in a picture should do and
as all picture figures did until the In
vention Of the viatiscope, she is walk
ing across the floor. There! She has
put her tray on table, turned and
walked deliberately out of the room.
Am I In a moving picture shown
I am not. am in bed, a strange bed,
strange room-everything strange.
There is a picture on the wall, pic
ture Of man stealing upon deer to
shoot him. I'll watch to see II the man
moves. No; he doesn't. He continues
to crouch with his thumb on the ham,
mer Of his gun. his forefnger on the
trigger. The deer is nipping the grass.
Perhaps If 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.
I wish one or the other would show
signs of life, or, rather, wish the
chocolate girl would come back.
II wonder how l came to be in this
room. I believe I'll get up and 60
out and find out about it."
/ tried to rise, but fell back on my
pillow.
There must be something wrong
about me. 1t seems that the chimes of
fifty cathedrals are ringing at once in
my head. If one would ring at time
fancy the sound would be very mu-
steal. see colors, too. as II the light
were broken by prism.
Here comes the chocolate girl"
She came in softly, advanced to the
bed, looked down at me, placed her
hand on my forehead-oh, how soft
and cool 1t felt!-then walked away.
Now that she is nearer or there's
more light or can see her better, or
something, I 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 wonder If it is really chocolate
in the pitcher. Those things on the
tray are not the little cups and saucers
of the picture at all. There are one cup
and saucer, a covered dish, plate, a
knife and fork"
Come here" 1 said to the chocolate
girl.
She turned quickly, as IL surprised,
and 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 If you are the chocolate
girl want to say to you that l have
loved you for years in the picture and
now you have stepped out Of 1t and
into the flesh shall love you the
same"
The door opened and a man with
bald head and mutton chop whiskers
came in. The girl turned to meet him.
and they conversed in low tones. I
heard her say, "He is still delirious."
He stayed but a few moments, then
went away.
$50 am delirious! That's all nom
sense. Pm Ill or have been. And this
person whom I at first mistook for the
girl in the picture is my nurse. I'm
glad l told her what I did before I
realized the conditions. When man
is Ill and is ministered to by a pretty
woman he's bound to fall in love with
her. l wonder If it wouldn't be good
scheme to 60 on making love to her
as the chocolate girl. 1t doesn't scare
her a bit, whereas II I were to give
her the real thing it might spoil the
game. She's pretty enough to kiss.
Delirious l might try 1t on; in my
senses 1t would be very different
matter. I shall continue in delirium."
This was the beginning Of my con-
valescence. I 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, so she gave me free rein. l
could see that this being called endear-
ing names by a young man even in
delirium was pleasant to her.
A couple of weeks passed in 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 1t
and said:
-"This is the strangest case I ever
heard of. This mans pulse and tenn
perature are both normal, and yet you
say he is still delirious."
l burst into laugh.
The doctor looked somewhat sur
prised, while the nurse blushed rosy
red.
doctor" I said, you're right. l
woke I'D this morning feeling all right,
recognized that I'm in hospital and
in all respects except one have come
to my senses"
'aThat one?" asked the doctor.
as none of your business. All you
have to do is to give me discharge"
This the doctor did and withdrew.
''Now," I said to my nurse, "Il tell
you the one respect in which l am still
delirious. l still love my chocolate
girl"
was the last patient she ever
nursed, at least professionally, though
she has since nursed me as my wife
The doctor often visits us and never
fails to guy me on my successful effort
at remaining delirious.
Pineapple Seeds.
The pineapple as ordinarily cultvat-