Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-12-26
Evening Star S
Daily Story
HELEN'S HOLIDAY
by DOROTHY BLAoKMoRE.

ton looked forward to her holidays
with greater anticipation. She was
tired and weary of measuring ribbons
and of going home to the tiny hall
room at night, where no comfort pre-
vailed save that of having her little
sister waiting for her.
Helen had managed, by saving even
the pennies, to support herself ana
Dolly, a slim child OF thirteen, for ten
years. For the last five of those
years she had also by dint of saving
lunch money accumulated meager
sum that enabled her to take a much
needed holiday. She and Dolly found
a cheap little boarding house by the
sea and there, for two weeks out Of
the year, they managed to forget that
toll and WEAKNESS was the greater
part of their existence.
81 can hardly wait until Saturday,
Dolly mine," Helen said as she Slip
ped her arm, about the slim little sis
ter whose cheeks were only a shade
less pale than her own. II think IL
J, I hadn't had you to come home to
these last few months couldn't have
stood the strain. We will have the
time of our lives this year down at
the seaside" She gave her sister an
extra hug before looking over the
scanty wardrobe preparatory to put
klnB II IN inc TRUNK.
But, aias! Helen was destined not
TO get her holiday at the seaside. On
The Friday morning before they had
intended to leave she was seized with
pains that flung her onto her bed in
an agony of suffering. Try as she
might to stand and to overcome the
physical pain she could not and was
forced to succumb.
Dolly, white and frightened, insist
ed on running out to the old doctor
who had brought her safely through
the measels and all her childish COM
plants.
The old doctor had gone away, but
his substitute quickly followed the
frightened child to the boarding
house and up to the hall room where
Helen tried bravely to ward off the
approach of illness.
1T means" the young doctor said,
gravely, that you will have to go to
the hospital tonight. An operation
at once is necessary"
II cannot possibly co." Helen ex-
claimed quickly, and glanced at
Dolly. MY sister is entirely alone
and II
"She might be-alone--if you put
this Off" DR.. Carter said gently. He
thought only for a moment then
looked smilingly at Dolly. MY
mother will be delighted to have this
youngster with her-until you have
recovered" he said, turning his eyes
full on Helen.
Dolly few to her sisters arms and
clung there weeping wildly until DR..
Carter drew her gently away.
I'VE will only take your sister to q
comfortably big room in the hospital.
cut out a nasty little appendix that
has been robbing her Of pink cheeks,
and bring her back to you looking
like a fighting cock"
Hen" suggested Helen, smiling
family.
The doctor laughed and Dolly found
herself feeling more cheerful.
). my mother will bring you to the
hospital every day." he continued,
"and you can pick flowers with your
own little fingers to bring to-sister." I"
He turned from the sudden light in
Dolly's eyes and saw tears in the
elder sisters. WHAT he cried.
laughingly. Have you never picked
5iowers?"
We've lived in u hail room all our
lives" apologized Helen. "It will be
"a taste of heaven for her to live
Where there are flowers growing"
TT won't be heaven till you get
there" Dolly said quickly. After a
moment she stood up like a little SOL
dier and said she was going to be
brave and cheerful until Helen's
''nasty little appendix" was a thing
Of the past.
DR.. Carter walked more or less
blindly as he made his way back to
the Office. 1t was not often, even
in his profession. that he played a
= part In a scene that made his throat
ache SO painfully. He could not for
get the brave struggle to smile that
Helen Royston had made. nor the
love that enveloped the two sisters
like a halo.
He telephoned to the hospital and
to the surgeon to whom he wanted
to trust the case.
do everything you cam" he added
when the arrangements had been
mPde. This girl has a small sister
depending on her. You know the
rest" When he had hung up the
receiver DR.. Carter found time to
order flowers to be sent to the room
that was to be Helen Royston's at
the hospital.
1t was he himself who drove her
down that evening, and they stopped
at the home of his mother to leave
Dolly under Mrs. Carter's care.
IF you are good girl" he told her,
trying to make light of the situation
of parting, "I will come for you Sun
day and whirl you down to see your
appendices sister"
After the parting Helen felt her
nerves relax and she wept softly.
"It will be over before you know
about It," DR.. Carter told her with
his gentle, soothing tone playing upon
her tired nerves and resting them
wonderfully.
1T Is not the operation-that un-
nerves me-" she said quickly. II was
going with Dolly to the seaside to-
morrow, and now" She did not
8inish her sentence, but DR.. Carter
realized afresh the brave spirit con-
tained In Helen Royston's frail body.
During the following two weeks
Helen knew that a holiday spent In a
hospital under certain conditions was
an experience that comes to one only
once In q lifetime. She saw sweet
smelling flowers on all sides of her,
fruits Of all kinds and wonderful
nurses that were angels in disguise.
She also saw Dolly every day, and it
was q Dolly whose cheeks were re-
spending to the excellent care she
was getting, and Helen grew better.
She saw and loved the mother Of DR..
Carter. who came daily with Dolly,
and, last, but not least. the young
doctor himself seemed to be taking a
place in her life that she had never
expected any man to take. 1t was
love that had come to her, but Helen
scarcely realized that anything so
wonderful could happen to her, SO
modest was her nature. Ribbon coun-
ters, hallrooms, badly lighted, and
weary hours of waiting for a holi-
day that never came, vanished from
her consciousness. All that seemed
now to be OF vital Importance was
the coming and going Of Dr. Carter.