Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1914-08-29

from the iake blew IN dt the open
window
AS he took the chair beside her bed
he saw her hand hutter on the counter.
pane. and. bending over. just as the
light touched her. be saw that her eyes
were open and on her poor face look
~ lnenable content rested
He took the Guttering fingers in his
hand and said, Nell"
Then she fell asleep
The pink dawn yielded to yellow sun
light aud still she slept. The surgeon
went down TO breakfast and when he
returned she had not awakened.
AZ 10 o'clock the office boy went 20
the head nurses desk and asked:
Where's the main guyT
do You mean Or SEVERN
yep"
"Whnt do you want him tori"
Ills wife wants him
Miss Ashton called him. and he went
out 20 where Mrs. Severn sat In her
automobile
Don't Won know. she snapped.
that ] had to 20 TO the Hunters din
ncr party alone last night|
He brushed Ills hand wearily across
his forehead and something In his look
irritated her.
II cannot leave here yet" he said
He watched the chauffeur turn the
car around IA the narrow street; then
he went slowly back
He made ns usual round. stopping 70
chat with some OF his patients.
The next morning ut dawn the wo-
man in No 20 reused again, and the
surgeon sat beside her
This time she could lift her hand. and
she extended 1t toward him.
Have | been hurt. jack" she asked.
Yes. Neil" ha answered
did the hOr Nv mey"
In fash the understood that
ing and that In heI mind she was
back on the ranch where he had first
met her
Am | badly hurtT" she continued.
you are just shaken M"
I'm tired" she said and slept with
her face toward the light
The fourth morning he sat in his old
place beside her. and she asked:
"Where did you get my nurseT'
IL sent for her"
"She is so good to me In the night
when have horrible dreams and
think that have lived years and
years without you. Jack. Then | call
.t,a ,,t,, 70 mo
DO you dream that. Nellf"
Yes But II cannot ever be. dear
Don't you remember what told you
the night we became engaged
When he spoke his voice was full OF
suppressed pain.
You told me. dear. that you loved
me SO that II we ever drifted apart
the words had long pauses between
them--"you would drift back 10 me-to
die"
Yes" she said and slept
The surgeon had performed three or.
eratlons NJ the hospital OF the Sisters
OF Mercy. and it was in the evening
before he got back TO the patient in
No. ~
In the corridor Miss Ashton met him
with the chart lie scanned II q
lently
when was the last temperature
taken?" he asked
AT & II is slowly rising
Docs She know she Is worseY"
Il don't think so She is calm and
very quiet"
At lie sat alone with her while the
nurse rested.
II want TO look at you. he said. III
you can endure the light"
He moved the shade from the cleo
tric bulb and she raised her eyes 10
his wonderful eyes. with a ring OF
deep violet around the outer rims OF
the gray iris
Are you better?"
no"
The brave eyes never taltered. but
mist OF tears came over them
Il know now. John" she said. the
dream Is the fact
He held her 10 him.
Il love you. Sell"
The swinging light made queer. NOV.
lns shadows around the room
Later the house doctor met hin on
the stairs
"lnternal nemorrhacc, isn't ~" he
asked
81 fear 81
Toward morning the nurse called
him when he entered No. 20 the pa
dent was raised slightly In bed
Were you asleep she asked
NO. don't sleep any more" he an
swcrcd wiSifully
The nurse went ont aud closed the
door
why didn't you write to meg' she
asked
why. Nell. +! wrote ana wrote. and
nj last went back to find you
They could hear the ring OF pa
TENTS bell aud soft footsteps hurryinr
along the corridor
1T was father" she said lose